From Romulus to Romulus

The Rise and Fall of Rome

Romulus and Remus

Legendary RomeAeneas and Trojan Refugees settle in ItalyRomulus founds Rome 753 BCESeven KingsTarquinius Superbus deposedRepublic founded 509 BCE

The Pre-Roman World

War With Carthage264-241 BCE: Rome wins control of Sicily238 BCE Rome takes advantage of revolt

in Carthage to seize Sardinia218-201 BCE: Hannibal invades Italy, but

Carthage loses Spain and N. Africa to Rome

149-146 BCE: Alarmed by Carthage’s recovery, Rome launches a final war to destroy Carthage

Rome Expands

Rome Expands

Many-Front War

Rome Expands

The Republic CrumblesTiberius and Gaius Gracchus try but fail to

implement social reforms 130-122 BCESocial War 91–88 BCE: Rest of Italy tries

to secede from RomeCivil War 87-81 BCE, followed by purge by

Lucius SullaCatilina 63-62 BCE: Failed coupFirst Triumvirate 60-53 BCE: Caesar,

Pompey, Crassus

Julius Caesar Born 100 BCE Consul 60 BCE First Triumvirate 60-53 BCE: Caesar, Pompey,

Crassus Conquest of Gaul 58-49 BCE Attempted invasion of Britain 55 BCE 50 BCE: Caesar-Pompey alliance breaks up 50-45 BCE: Civil War; Caesar wins 44 BCE: Assassinated

Rome Expands

Empire!Civil War

Antony against Brutus and CassiusAntony and Octavian against Brutus and

CassiusOctavian against Antony and Cleopatra

Octavian declared Emperor 27 BCE as Caesar Augustus

Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, Claudius68-69 CE: Year of the Four Emperors

Rome Expands

Rome Expands

Rome Expands

The Empire at its PeakFlavian Dynasty

Vespasian (69–79) Titus (79–81)Domitian (81–96)

Five Good EmperorsNerva (96-98)Trajan (98-117)Hadrian (117-138)Antoninus Pius (138-161)Marcus Aurelius (161-180)

Near Collapse 235-284 20-25 emperors and many claimants Internal dissension weakens frontiers Dacia (modern Romania) lost Empire fractures into three parts 258-275 Economic stagnation and hyperinflation Two tough general-emperors, Claudius Gothicus

and Aurelian, stabilized Empire Diocletian (284-305) created autocracy,

reformed military, bought another two centuries for the Empire

Final Decline Constantine the Great (306-337)

Legalized Christianity 313 Theodosius I (379-395)

The last ruler of the whole empireMade Christianity official 391Empire divided East-West 395

Eastern Invasions Romulus Augustulus deposed 476 Eastern half endures as Byzantine Empire to 1453

Roman Empire Splits, 395 A.D.

Fall of Rome

Fall of Rome

Fall of Rome

Did Anyone Try to Stop It?Majorianus 457-461“The successor of Avitus presents the

welcome discovery of a great and heroic character, such as sometimes arise, in a degenerate age, to vindicate the honor of the human species.” (Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Ch. 36)

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1782

Edward Gibbon suggested four reasons for fall of Rome:

“Immoderate greatness”--growth of bureaucracy and military

Wealth and luxury Barbarian invasions (cause or symptom?) Spread of Christianity

Two Empires Face a Fateful Choice

The U.S., Northwest Ordinance - 1787 Provided for division of new territories into

additional States Admission of new States incorporated into

Constitution Hence no distinction whatever between original

States and later States. Rome - 201 BCE

Rome acquires Spain from Carthage Rome decides to exploit the new territories as

source of tax revenue and slaves.

Results of Rome’s Choice Non-stop guerrilla war in Spain for over 300

years Rome abandons its traditional citizen army for

a permanent standing army Conscripted soldiers frequently became

dispossessed while serving in Spain (Destroyed the middle class)

Rome's erratic but real progress toward equality reverses. Power and wealth re-concentrate in the hands of the upper class

Soldiers become dependent on generals for welfare and equipment

A Bit of Perspective