Turning Point - Roman Empire
Turning Points in History
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Timeline Event
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Roman Empire
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When
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27BCE - 476AD
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Where
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Mediterranean Region, N. Africa, Europe (Southern, Gaul, Britannia), Middle East
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Participants (Who) | }}
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{{ #if: Augustus Caesar - First Emperor | *Augustus Caesar - First Emperor| }} {{ #if: Hadrian - Emperor & Builder | *Hadrian - Emperor & Builder| }} {{ #if: Marcus Aurelius - Emperor & Philosopher | *Marcus Aurelius - Emperor & Philosopher| }} {{ #if: Diocletian - Emperor & Splits Empire in Two | *Diocletian - Emperor & Splits Empire in Two| }} {{ #if: Constantine - Emperor establishes Christianity as Religion of Empire | *Constantine - Emperor establishes Christianity as Religion of Empire| }} {{ #if: Jesus - Founder of Christianity | *Jesus - Founder of Christianity| }} {{ #if: | *| }} |
What Happened | }}
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Octavian on the death of Julius Caesar becomes the first emperor. The empire is very successful until the late 200s AD. They have extensive trade, building projects, acquire new territory, and become the most powerful empire in ancient times. Some of the most notable emperors are; Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and Diocletian.
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Causes/Why Happened | }}
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Once the Roman Republic establishes Rome as a powerful force, Augustus builds upon the successes and other emperors follow. Rome becomes so extensive and expansive that it is difficult to control taxation and governance. Diocletian splits the empire into two parts (East and West) with separate capitals and government administrations. Eventually the Western Roman Empire Falls and sends Europe into the Dark Ages, while the Eastern Empire flourished for a thousands years known as the Byzantine Empire.
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Results/Outcomes | }}
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The Roman Empire became the most powerful empire in history, and after its fall, other empires and civilizations try to emulate and still use many of the technologies created today.
Vocabulary
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Roman Empire Beginnings
In 27 BC, Octavian became the first Roman Emperor. He changed his name to Augustus. This saw the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Under the rule of the Emperors, Rome became extremely powerful. The Roman Empire, at its largest size, covered much of Europe, North Africa and the Near East.
The growth of the Roman Empire was due to the Roman army - the fittest, greatest and best equipped army in the world at the time. At first soldiers were volunteers. Later they were reorganized and paid good wages. This is when they became a powerful and disciplined fighting force.
During his reign, Augustus achieved a lot. He expanded the empire, adding Egypt, northern Spain and large parts of central Europe before invading Germany. At home, he spearheaded a conservative approach that used the glory of Rome’s past as a blueprint for its future. But problems remained. His moral conservatism had clashed with the public promiscuity of his daughter, Julia. He was forced to banish her. What’s more, Augustus was growing older and weaker. Despite his successes, the plotting continued. Everything that Augustus had worked so hard to achieve was in danger of collapsing as he faced crisis after crisis, both at home and abroad.
Nevertheless, Augustus clung onto power for another 10 years. When he died, in 14 AD, the Senate declared him a god. With his two grandsons already dead, power passed to his stepson, Tiberius.
So what did he do?
Augustus had ended 100 years of civil war and achieved over 40 years of internal peace and prosperity. His vision and power had expanded the Roman Empire to become far more than a collection of countries. Instead, it was a diverse society and enormous marketplace in which people across Europe, north Africa and the Middle East could trade and travel under Rome’s protection. He had won over the Senate and founded a dynasty. But this would feature as many villains as heroes, and would take Rome on a roller-coaster ride into assassination, insanity and terror.
Social Class and Gender Roles
There was a huge divide in Roman society between citizens and non-citizens. Power was not shared equally. Rich citizens had more political power. Citizens could be identified by their togas. They were allowed to vote in elections and serve in the army. Most upper class Romans became involved with politics or the army. Poorer citizens worked as farmers, shopkeepers or craft workers.
Those without vote - women, slaves and those people born in Roman controlled areas (provinces) - had the least power. These were non-citizens. If they worked very hard for the Roman citizens they could be granted a special award of citizenship.
The Empire was enormously successful and controlled a huge area. Yet the Roman Empire began to decline after AD 180. There were many invasions from Barbarians. In AD 395 the Empire was divided into two - a Western and an Eastern Empire. Rome did not last much longer. It was invaded and almost destroyed in AD 410 and was finally taken over in AD 476. The Eastern Empire (known as the Byzantine Empire) remained powerful up to the Middle Ages.
Most Important Roman Emperors
- Augustus - Rome's first emperor. He also added many territories to the empire.
- Claudius - He conquered Britain.
- Nero - He was insane. He murdered his mother and his wife and threw thousands of Christians to the lions.
- Titus - Before he was emperor he destroyed the great Jewish temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.
- Trajan - He was a great conqueror. Under his rule the empire reached its greatest extent.
- Hadrian - He built 'Hadrian's Wall' in the north of Britain to shield the province from the northern barbarians, and the Pantheon.
- Diocletian - He split the empire into two pieces - a western and an eastern empire.
- Constantine - He was the first Christian emperor. He united the empire again chose his capital to be the small town Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople.
- Romulus Augustus - He was the last emperor of Rome, nicknamed Augustulus which means 'little Augustus'.
Rise of Christianity in Ancient Rome
Christianity spread from the Middle East into the eastern half of the Roman Empire. By the third century A.D., Christianity had spread throughout the empire. In A.D. 306, Constantine became Rome’s emperor. Before a battle, he had a vision of a cross in the sky. If he followed the directions given to him by the angel, he would win. He promised to become a Christian if he won the battle. He won the battle and kept his word. Christianity became the religion of Constantine’s empire. News of this new religion traveled along the trade routes and spread throughout the Roman world.
