The Pax Romana

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The Pax Romana

• Ancient Rome Unit

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Causes for Decline of the Roman Republic

• After Roman Republic begins policy of
  imperialism, which quickly leads to decline.
• What is imperialism?
• characterizing the rule or authority of a
  sovereign state over its dependencies.
• What wars do you believe would have started this?
• After the Punic Wars, the Republic is consumed by
  civil war.
• Factors are described in the FALLS Mnemonic that
  we just learned.
• Leads to chaos, corruption, and end of Republic.

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Fall related to the new pressures of new social
and economic conditions.

• Political leaders often resorted to violence to
  solve problems instead of compromise.

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A huge migration of small farmers into cities
no jobs
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Lots of slaves from newly conquered territories

• By the fall of the Republic, between 1 3
  million people living in Rome were slaves. (35
  of population!!)
• Slave rebellions in places like Sicily (led by
  Spartacus) led to grain shortages and chaos.

http//www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/vms/carlton/Rome_Readi
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Loss of value of Roman money, inflation
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Spark Death of Julius Caesar and the fighting
over his heir (44 B.C.)

• Julius Caesar took power as part of the First
  Triumvirate (a group of three leaders).
• Caesar wrestled power away from the other two
  leaders and in 49 B.C. became the dictator of
  Rome.
• Many Senators, led by Brutus, felt he was too
  powerful and conspired to kill him.
• On March 15, 44 B.C. (The ides of March),
  Caesar is ambushed and killed by members of the
  Senate.

http//www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/vms/carlton/Rome_Readi
ng_1.html
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Who is Julius Caesar?

• 60 BC First Triumvirate (have to remember this
  term!) takes control group of three that rule.
• Julius Caesar is one of the three
• After a few years, other two die one dies, one
  murdered.
• Caesar gains control, named dictator for life.
• People afraid he would gain too much power
• So what do they do?

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Death to Caesar

• 60 senators plot to kill him
• Stabbed to death on the Ides of March in the
  Senate.
• Does he have a clear heir?

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Video Clip

• While watching this video, identify the following
  two people.
• Mark Anthony
• Octavian Augustus

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The Pax Romana Roman Peace (27 B.C.-180 A.D.)

• So to review
• Caesar dies 44 B.C.
• Augustus is in Caesars will, Marc Anthony is
  angry.
• They fight, then cooperate, with Marc Anthony
  ruling in the East and Augustus in the West.
• Augustus gains total control in 31 BC after
  defeating Anthony and Cleopatra becomes 1st
  Roman Emperor.
• 27 B.C. Augustus begins a series of reforms to
  usher in the Pax Romana.

2nd Triumvirate!
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The Period known as the P.A.X. Romana is
remembered for three reasons.
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Peace for Two Centuries (27 B.C. 180 A.D.)

• Why?
• The Roman Empire was too strong and united to be
  challenged.
• The Roman military was nearly invincible.

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Augustus Caesar established the Pax Romana

• Often said Emperor Augustus, Found Rome a city
  of brick and left it a city of marble.
• Unified and enlarged Roman Empire using imperial
  authority and strong military.

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Xpansion and Solidification of Roman Empire
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Reflection

• We just defined the characteristics of the Pax
  Romana (PAX). What are some things that Augustus
  probably did to create the Pax Romana?