Unit 3 -- Rome: Republic to Empire
- The Expansion of the Republic
- Rome consolidated its position in Italy, 5th and 4th centuries B.C.
- Conflict with Carthage and Hellenistic realms
- The Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.), defeated Carthaginians (former Phoenician colony)
- First Punic War – fought over Sicily and control of the Med. – Rome wins and will later take Sardinia and Corsica
- Second Punic War – Hannibal and the Elephants – Hannibal marches his elephants over the Alps and then up and down the peninsula. He eventually goes home to defend Carthage.
- Third Punic War – Carthage no longer a power, but Rome goes attacks the city anyway. Carthage is destroyed. People killed or enslaved. Salt poured on the ruins so that nothing will grow in the same spot. This war signals the shift from Republic to Empire and a real shift in Roman terror.
- Rome became the preeminent power in the Mediterranean
- As Rome grows, power will be maintained through a shift to local autonomy (Sanhedrin). This idea will be both good and bad for Rome, as during the Republic, all citizens were Roman. Now all citizens will share in the benefits of Rome, but will maintain their own nationality.
- "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Give to God what is God’s."
From Republic to Empire
- The Third Punic War showed a shift from Rome’s republican days to a drive for empire. By 100 B.C., Rome was the preeminent power in the Mediterranean and was ready for conquest
- Important fact to remember: Rome will allow for local control as a way to manage the empire
- Julius Caesar
- Great Roman general, beloved by the army and people
- Conquered Gaul, became more popular
- Seized Rome in 49 B.C.
- Claimed the title "dictator for life," 46 B.C.
- Assassinated in 44 B.C.
- Augustus
- Octavian, the nephew of Caesar, brought the civil conflict to an end
- The Senate bestowed upon him the title Augustus, 27 B.C.
- Augustus's administration
- A monarchy disguised as a republic
- preserved traditional republican forms of government
- Created a new standing army under his control
- The imperial institutions began to take root
- The pax romana (31 BC to 180 AD)
- Meant "Roman peace," lasted for two and half centuries
- Facilitated trade and communication from Mesopotamia to Atlantic Ocean
- Roman roads and postal system linked all parts of the empire
- Roman laws: innocent until proven guilty – bring legal stability to the empire, although judges enjoyed great discretion
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Cultural Change in the Late Roman Empire
Prominence of Christianity
1. The institutional church
a. Conflicting doctrines and practices among early Christians
b. Established standardized hierarchy of church officials
c. The bishop of Rome, known as the pope, became spiritual leader
When the Roman Empire collapsed, Christianity served as a cultural foundation. Europe united behind Christendom, but the internal improvements fell. Whereas Rome had been a secular empire with many religions, Christendom was not really an empire at all, but the Church held immense power.