The Roman Empire

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The Roman Empire
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I. The Pax Romana

• A. 27 B.C. - Octavian given title of Augustus
  became known as Augustus Caesar
• 1. Republic became an empire, or a
  form of government that unites
  different places and peoples under one ruler
  expanded empire
• 2. Began period known as Pax Romano, or
  Roman Peace lasted over 200 years
• 3. Rome relatively peaceful, stable,
  strong, and fair

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B. Julio-Claudian emperors

• -ruled next 54 years after death of
• Augustus in 14 A.D.
• 1. Tiberius generally good leader disliked by
  the people
• Caligula tortured or murdered enemies murdered
  by palace guard
• Claudius improved government, extended empire
  violent death
• Nero mentally unstable committed suicide

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C. Five Good Emperors

• Three stand out
• 1. Trajan conquered new lands empire became
  the largest it would ever be
• Hadrian built walls at empires boundaries
  Hadrians Wall
• Marcus Aurelius wrote philosophy, improved law
  defended against invaders

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What was the Pax Romana?

• Period during reign of Augustus when Rome was
  relatively peaceful and stable

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II. The Rise of Christianity

• 63 B.C. - Judea came under Roman control
  birthplace of Christianity
• B. 27 A.D. - Jesus began to teach information
  about Jesus from the Gospels
• Authorities disliked Jesuss popularity Jesus
  arrested
• Sentenced to die by crucifixion disciples or
  followers believed Jesus rose from the dead,
  walked among them, rose into heaven new faith,
  Christianity
• C. Christianity spread end of 300s official
  religion of Roman Empire

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Why did the authorities think that Jesus was
becoming a serious problem?

• Disliked his popularity thought he was putting
  himself above religious, civil law

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III. The Decline of the Empire

• Early 200 A.D.s problems in empire
• Assassinations, corruption, neglect, crime,
  rising taxes
• Gladiators slaves trained to fight to the
  death entertainment for citizens
• B. 284 A.D. Emperor Diocletian chose a
  co-emperor split between east and west
• C. Emperor Constantine took over part of empire
  established Constantinople
• D. Empire plagued by series of invasions
• 476 invaders overthrew last Roman emperor
• Western empire fell apart eastern empire became
  known as Byzantine Empire

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Why did the Roman Empire split into two empires?

• It could no longer be ruled well by one person,
  so Diocletian chose a co-emperor.

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IV. Romes Contributions

• Engineering and
• Architecture
• 1. Planned cities, built water and sewer systems,
  paved roads
• Built aqueducts structure that carries water
  from place to place
• Built arches, made concrete, built huge
  structures for outdoor events

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IV. Romes Contributions

• Language and Literature
• 1. Greek alphabet from Etruscans, Romance
  Languages from Latin
• 2. Writers Cicero, Virgil, Ovid,
  Tacitus, Plutach, Suetonius

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IV. Romes Contributions

• Government and law
• 1. Roman laws written down, placed in public
  view laws interpreted by judges
• 2. Concept of innocent until proven guilty
• 3. All European countries once part of Roman
  Empire based laws on Roman law