The Roman Empire By Joseph Enge

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The Roman EmpireBy Joseph Enge
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• I. Around 750 BC a small settlement was
  established where the city of Rome, Italy still
  is today.

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• A. Rome's influence and control grew, area by
  area, beginning about 500 BC.

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Punic Wars
Hannibal
Hannibal Scipio Meet at Zama
Defeat at Zama
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• B. By 100 BC Rome controlled almost every land
  that bordered the Mediterranean Sea, which they
  called "Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea).

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• C. The Roman Empire reached to its greatest
  boundaries about 100 AD.

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• D. Finally, 400 AD (approximately) marks the
  "official end" of the United Roman Empire.

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• E. The years 27 BC to 180 AD were the period of
  "Pax Romana", or "Roman Peace." There was peace
  and order literally throughout the far-flung
  empire during these 200 years.

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• II. When the Roman Empire was at its "peak" it
  controlled most of the world known to "Western
  Civilization."

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• A. The success of the Roman Empire involved
  several factors.
• 1. The Roman army was powerful and
  well-organized.
• 2. Roman representatives usually employed
  skillful diplomacy.
• 3. The Roman legal system was flexible and
  efficient (written.)
• 4. Government was handled efficiently.

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• 5 Infrastructure (roads, cities, aqueducts, etc.)
  were almost always improved.
• 6. Conquered people were brought into Roman
  society in various ways.
• a. some were given Roman citizenship
• b. some were given full rights
• c. some were given certain rights
• d. most retained a lot of independence

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Roman Art Architecture
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• 7. Public entertainment was provided.
• a. The Coliseum
• b. The Circus Maximus

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• B. Eventually, obviously, the Roman Empire fell
  apart. This happened over a period of time longer
  than 200 years involving several factors.

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• 1. Between 37 AD and 476 AD (439 yrs) over 70
  emperors ruled Rome (approx. 1 every 6 yrs.,
  instability in govt.)

Augustus Marcus
Aurelius Constantine
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• 2. Judea, the land of the Jews, was terribly
  mismanaged. High taxes, harsh enforcement of laws
  and, most of all, interference with their
  religion led to revolt between 66 and 70 AD.
  Emperor Hadrian outlawed the Jewish religion and
  renamed Judea Palestine around 135 AD.

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• 3. Germanic people invaded parts of the Empire,
  increasingly during the 4th and 5th centuries AD.
• a. This not only cost lives and caused
  disruption
• b. It also encouraged economic disasters
  balance of trade was destroyed (imports
  exceeded exports)
• c. In 476 Odoacer, a German, became ruler of
  Rome.

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• III. Some interesting and still famous people
  were in power at times in Rome's history.

Cincinnatus
Sulla
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• A. Julius Caesar rose through the military, was a
  dictator from 49 to 44 BC when he was
  assassinated on the floor of the senate.

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• B. Mark Antony, once Caesar's chief lieutenant,
  ruled with Caesar's adopted son and heir Octavian
  for over 10 years. Antony fell in love with
  Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. Antony and
  Octavian fought in 30 BC, both Antony and
  Cleopatra committed suicide.Note the Pax Romana
  soon followed.

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• C. Caligula was a madman who killed many people,
  including his sister, and appointed his favorite
  horse senator.

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• D. Nero murdered his wife and his mother, and
  very possibly started the fire in 64 AD that
  lasted 9 days and burned half of Rome.

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• IV. Christianity is a religion founded in
  Palestine (then a Roman province) based on the
  teachings of Jesus (who was a Jew.)
• A. The New Testament of the Bible tells of his
  life and teachings.
• 1. He condemned violence and selfishness.
• 2. He encouraged brotherhood, love, and
  caring
• 3. His followers called him the Messiah
  "anointed one", the leader who would usher
  in the final judgment at the end of time.

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• B. Jesus was feared by the Romans they thought
  he encouraged political turmoil. He was condemned
  for blasphemy by fellow
• Jews for proclaiming himself to be the Messiah.
• C. Jesus was put to death by crucifixion around
  33 AD on order from Pontius Pilate the Roman
  Governor of Judea.

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• V. Christianity gained believers during the 1st
  century AD with the help of Paul and other
  apostles (missionaries). And, so, the Christian
  Church grew.

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• A. The church became well organized at about the
  same time that the government of Rome fell apart.
• B. As Rome stopped doing the necessary work of
  government, the church took over
  responsibilities. It gradually became the
• strongest force in the Western World.