Roman Empire

20 Pages·2017·9.74 MB·English

Roman Empire
What
happened
in
CDLXXVI
What
?
did the
tortoise
teach the
Romans?
Why the
LONG FACE,
Quid novi?
S enator?
Translation: “What’s new?”
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Roman_Empire_FC.indd 1 3/13/17 11:01 AM
II (2)
The Empire Begins
and (cid:38)leopatra(cid:183)s (cid:193) eet in a sea (cid:69)attle at (cid:36)c(cid:16)
tium, in Greece.
The assassination of Roman ruler Julius Soon after that victory, Octavian became
Caesar in 44 led to civil war. Over the the sole ruler of Rome. He took the name
BCE
next 13 years, the Roman world suffered Augustus Caesar and the title princeps
from an ongoing struggle among political (cid:11)(cid:180)fi rst one(cid:181)(cid:12). (cid:55)he (cid:53)oman (cid:53)ep(cid:88)(cid:69)lic was
rivals. Those battling for power included over. But because Augustus was both
Caesar’s adoptive son Octavian and Marc strong and wise, he won widespread s(cid:88)p(cid:16)
Antony, who had served as a general under port. Augustus reigned until his death in
Caesar. Antony eventually allied himself 14 . The empire he established would
CE
with Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen. But in last for hundreds of years.
31 , Octavian’s forces defeated Antony
BCE
THE FORUM WAS Rome’s main
political, religious, and busi-
ness center. Built on flat ground
surrounded by the city’s hills,
the forum was home to many
important temples, monuments,
and public buildings. The
Roman senate met there, in a
building called the Curia.
S l AUGUSTUS lCALIGULAWAS l NEROISREMEM-
R
Caesar, Rome’s cruel. Some say bered as the ruler
E
L first emperor, he wanted his who played his
U restored peace horse to be an fiddle while
R to Rome. official! Rome burned.
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III (3)
l UNDER AUGUSTUS’S l AUGUSTUS’S REIGN to Rome and sub-
leadership, the marked the begin- mit to the Roman
empire grew and ning of the Pax army’s control. The
prospered. By the Romana (Roman Pax Romana ended
end of his reign, Peace). For about during the reign of
Rome controlled 200 years, the entire Emperor Marcus
lands in Africa, Mediterranean world Aurelius (161–180
Asia, and Europe. remained remark- CE). Marcus (left)
Augustus helped ably calm under faced revolts and
unify this diverse Rome’s protection. invasions at the
empire by granting Many provinces were empire’s borders
citizenship to free allowed to govern in Syria, Germany,
men in the prov- themselves, but they Britain, and else-
inces. He also made had to pay taxes where.
taxation fairer and
tried to improve the TODAY
lives of the poor.
l TRAJAN, A l HADRIANWASA l MARCUS AURELIUS, l CONSTANTINE
kind emperor, great emperor. last emperor of the made Constan-
encouraged His architects Pax Romana, cam- tinople the capital
education and built many mag- paigned against of the Eastern
the arts. nificent buildings. the barbarians. Roman Empire.
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IV (4)
Trade and Money
Roman Trade Network in 180 CE
The emperor Augustus believed that RRoommaann EEmmppiirree
building a network of roads across IInntteerrnnaall TTrraaddee RRoouuttee BBBBBBRRRRRRIIIIIITTTTTTAAAAAAIIIIIINNNNNN
the empire was vital, not only for EExxtteerrnnaall TTrraaddee RRoouuttee GGGGEEEERRRRMMMMAAAANNNNYYYY
LLLLLLoooooonnnnnnddddddiiiiiinnnnnniiiiiiuuuuuummmmmm
conquests and defense but – just as
important – for trade. The wealth
GGAAUULL
that trade created allowed Roman ((FFRRAANNCCEE))
AA TT LL AA NN TT II CC
c(cid:88)lt(cid:88)re to (cid:193) o(cid:88)rish.
OO CC EE AA NN LLLLLuuuuugggggddddduuuuunnnnnuuuuummmmm
Besides roads, the Mediterranean
Sea and the empire’s major rivers AArreellaattee SSSiiirrrmmmiiiuuummm
RRRRRRoooooommmmmmeeeeee
served as essential trade routes. BBaarrcciinnoo
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Byzantium Trapezus
Ships carried millions of sacks of
ASIA
SSPPAAIINN GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
grain from Egypt to Rome each year. MINOR
Antiocha
Each province of the empire pro- CCCCaaaarrrrtttthhhhaaaaggggeeee
duced its own exports. For example,
Spain exported olive oil to other LLLLLLLLLeeeeeeeeeppppppppptttttttttiiiiiiiiisssssssss MMMMMMMMMaaaaaaaaagggggggggnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa
NN
provinces. WW EE AAAAAAAllllllleeeeeeexxxxxxxaaaaaaannnnnnndddddddrrrrrrriiiiiiiaaaaaaa Tyrus ARABIA
The Romans traded far beyond AAFFRRIICCAA EEEEGGGGYYYYPPPPTTTT
SS
their empire – with China, India,
Persia, and non-Roman Africa. Silk
cloth was a key import from China.
Asian and African traders introduced
the Romans to new spices. Pepper
from India became a Roman favorite
for cooking. Romans also used spic- lMATERIALGOODS
weren’t the only
es to make medicines, cosmetics,
things traded
and perfumes.
throughout the
Roman Empire.
There was also a
busy trade in ideas
and beliefs. The
Romans spread
their state religion
across the lands
they conquered.
But the religions
of the conquered
peoples also made
their way to Rome.
Some Romans
uTHE ROMANSHAD value for each kind portrait. Augustus worshipped gods
learned about the of coin so that and the emperors like Mithras (left),
use of coins from traders across the who followed him from Persia, and
the Greeks. But empire could use continued this Isis, from Egypt.
it was not until the same money. practice. Most Greek philosophy
23 or 24 BCE that Coins were made Roman coins dis- also appealed to
Augustus estab- of gold, silver, play the image of many Romans,
lished a standard bronze, and cop- the emperor who who adopted the
currency, or money, per. Julius Caesar ruled at the time ways of living
for the whole had issued coins they were minted. recommended by
empire. He set a stamped with his Greek thinkers.
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V (5)
rTHE ROMANS
Roman Trade Network in 180 CE were master road-
builders. Over
centuries, they
Roman Empire
constructed 50,000
Internal Trade Route BRITAIN miles of roads link-
External Trade Route GERMANY ing all parts of the
Londinium
empire. Their roads
were higher in the
middle and lower
GAUL
at the sides so that
(FRANCE)
rainwater would
A T L A N T I C
drain into ditches.
O C E A N Lugdunum
The roads were
Arelate Sirmium so well made that
stretches of Roman
Rome
Barcino TTTTTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaaa road still exist
BBBByyyyzzzzaaaannnnttttiiiiuuuummmm TTTrrraaapppeeezzzuuusss today in Europe,
AASSIIAA
SPAIN GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Africa, and the
MMIINNOORR
Middle East.
AAAAAAAAAAAnnnnnnnnnnntttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiioooooooooooccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa
Carthage
Leptis Magna
N
TTTTTyyyyyrrrrruuuuusssss
W E AAAAAAAllllllleeeeeeexxxxxxxaaaaaaannnnnnndddddddrrrrrrriiiiiiiaaaaaaa AARRAABBIIAA
AFRICA EEEEGGGGYYYYPPPPTTTT
S
u TRADEBETWEEN goods back and
the Roman Empire forth along it. They
and the far-off brought silk from
land of China was China to the West
made possible by and wool, gold,
the Silk Road. The and silver from
Silk Road was a the Roman Empire
4,000-mile path to China. Trade
across central Asia. along this route u WHEREVERTHEY cities that were bathhouses, the- So did Lyon,
Teams of mer- reached its height went, the Roman modeled on Rome aters, and arenas. France; its ancient
chants and their in about 200 CE, armies built forts. itself. Like the The city of London, Roman name was
animals – camels, during China’s Han Some of these empire’s capital, England, originated Lugdunum.
donkeys, and hors- dynasty. military outposts they had their own as a Roman city
es – transported developed into forums, markets, called Londinium.
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VI (6)
The Roman Army A PLATEOFARMOR
made of metal
strips tied together
The Roman Empire’s power with leather straps
protected the upper
came from its well-trained
body. Although this
army. Roman soldiers made metal jacket was
conquest possible. Once heavy, the metal
strips allowed the
lands were captured, troops
soldier some free-
kept conquered peoples un- dom of movement.
der control and protected Soldiers had to
help each other
the empire’s borders.
put on and lace
Roman soldiers were busy. up their armor.
(cid:58)hen the(cid:92) weren(cid:183)t fi ghting,
the(cid:92) were (cid:69)(cid:88)ilding (cid:73)orts and
(cid:69)ridges, s(cid:88)per(cid:89)ising mines
and (cid:84)(cid:88)arries, or making
road repairs. On many days UNDERHISMETAL
the(cid:92) hiked (cid:21)(cid:19) miles carr(cid:92)ing jacket, the
soldier wore a
60-pound packs.
tunic of wool.
(cid:36)s emperor, (cid:36)(cid:88)g(cid:88)st(cid:88)s en(cid:16)
acted dramatic reforms, or
changes, to (cid:53)ome(cid:183)s arm(cid:92).
SOLDIERSCARRIED
He cut its size in half and or- metal-tipped
throwing spears,
gani(cid:93)ed it into (cid:21)(cid:27) militar(cid:92)
daggers, and
(cid:88)nits called legions, each
short, double-
with a few thousand sol- edged swords.
diers. (cid:41)or training and fi ght(cid:16)
ing, each legion was split in(cid:16)
to smaller gro(cid:88)ps, called
centuries, of about 100 men
THISBELT, ORAPRON,
each. Their commanders of leather strips
were called centurions. protected the
lower body. Heavy
(cid:39)(cid:88)ring the time o(cid:73) the re(cid:16)
weights on the
public, soldiers had been bottom of each
strip kept the
paid not with money, but
apron in place.
with (cid:89)al(cid:88)a(cid:69)les taken (cid:73)rom
the people they conquered.
(cid:36)(cid:88)g(cid:88)st(cid:88)s changed this, too.
(cid:43)e ga(cid:89)e soldiers reg(cid:88)lar pa(cid:92)
THESOLDIER’S
and created a retirement heavy sandals
were studded
program (cid:73)or them. (cid:37)eca(cid:88)se
with nails.
of these reforms, more men
made the army a career. The
army became more profes-
sional – and more loyal to
Rome than to any one army
leader.
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VII (7)
CENTURIONSAND rWHENATTACKING
other command- a city, Roman
ing officers wore soldiers sometimes
crests on their linked their shields
helmets so their above their heads
soldiers could in what they called
spot them easily the testudo, or tor-
in battle. The hel- toise. The shields
met covered and protected them
protected the head from the stones
without blocking and missiles
vision. Flaps hurled by their
protected the enemies. It made
cheeks and neck. a roof so strong
that other soldiers
could walk over it.
rTHE ROMANS
called this
giant slingshot
a ballista. It
fired heavy
rocks over
1,200 feet.
CENTURIONS WORE
red tunics under
their armor.
u THESIGHTOFA
huge battering ram
struck fear in the
THESOLDIER’S hearts of Rome’s dCATAPULTSSENT
rectangular shield enemies. Mounted spears soaring into
was made of many on a wheeled the enemy’s camp.
layers of thick platform, the ram Sometimes burning
wood wrapped in pounded against rags were attached
leather, with an the walls and gates to the tips of the
iron rim at the top of a city or fort until spears.
and bottom. The they splintered.
soldier’s heavy Then the Roman
pack held his per- army surged in.
sonal gear, enough
grain for about
15 days, cook-
ing utensils, the CENTURIONSGAINED
stakes needed extra protection
to build a camp, from these metal
and a pick, an ax, leg shields called
or a saw. greaves.
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VIII (8)
The Life
of the Poor
SHORTLYAFTERBIRTH,
a new baby was
placed at its father’s
feet. The baby was
In ancient Rome, there were not accepted into
great differences between the the family until the
father picked up and
lives of rich and poor people.
held his newborn
The poor lived in the dirtiest, child.
noisiest, most crowded parts of
the city. Their houses were
poorly constructed four- and
fi(cid:89)e(cid:16)stor(cid:92) apartment (cid:69)(cid:88)ildings
that usually lacked heat, water, BECAUSE THEIR ENSLAVED PEOPLE,
apartments had
like the young
and kitchens. The rooms of the no kitchens, the
boy getting water,
poor ate cooked
poor had little furniture – per- were poorest of
meats and other
all. Many people
haps only a chair or stool and a hot food at stalls,
captured in battle
bed. Few poor children learned or they bought during Roman
cooked food to
to read or write. This lack of conquests were
bring home. Some
forced into slav-
education among the majority people cooked on
ery. The Roman
of Romans was one of the em- small stoves in the Empire’s depen-
street.
pire’s great weaknesses. dence on slavery
was another of its
weaknesses.
INTHESTREETS,
children pushed
hoops, flew
kites, and played
games like blind
man’s buff.
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IX (9)
WALKING DOWN A BYTHEFIRST
Roman street could century CE, Rome
be messy, because had over 45,000
apartment dwellers blocks of apart-
tossed all kinds ment buildings.
of garbage out of Living in these tall,
their windows. narrow buildings
was often danger-
ous. Most were so
poorly made that
sooner or later they uWHENBABIES
collapsed. Walls were nine days
cracked or roofs old, they received
fell in, and fire was this charm, called
a constant danger. a bulla, which
was worn around
the neck to chase
away evil spirits.
u LIKECHILDREN
today, Roman
children loved to
play with dolls.
This wooden doll
has movable arms
and legs.
FEWPEOPLEHADAPRIVATE
water supply or indoor
plumbing. Water was
collected from public
fountains. But the very
rich had water piped
directly into their homes.
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N
I
A
T
I
R
B G
E
R R
LONDINIUM HI M
N A
E
N
Y
N
A
E
C
O

C
I G A U L
T
N (FRANCE)
A
L
T LUGDUNUM
A
RAVENNA
CORSICA
ROME
S P A I N
SARDINIA
ITALY
D I T E R R A N E A N S E A
TINGIS E
M
SICILY
CARTHAGE
N
U
U R E T A N I A MIDIA
A
M
A F R I C A
S a h a r a D e s e r t
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