Pax Romana

Pax RomanaPax Romana

Roman PeaceRoman Peace

Begins with the rule of Augustus Begins with the rule of Augustus CaesarCaesar

www.uoregon.edu/~arthist/arthist_204/monumentimages/primaporta_augustus.www.uoregon.edu/~arthist/arthist_204/monumentimages/primaporta_augustus.gifgif

Defeats forces of Defeats forces of Marc Antony and Marc Antony and CleopatraCleopatra

Solidifies power Solidifies power around 27 B.C.around 27 B.C.

Becomes “Emperor Becomes “Emperor of Rome”of Rome”

Pax RomanaPax RomanaEconomic ImpactEconomic Impact

Established uniform system of money Established uniform system of money - expands trade- expands trade

Guaranteed safe travel and trade in Guaranteed safe travel and trade in empireempire– Army - Roman legionsArmy - Roman legions– Great road system - 50,000 miles of Great road system - 50,000 miles of

highwayhighway– Promoted prosperityPromoted prosperity

Pax RomanaPax RomanaSocial ImpactSocial Impact

Returned stability of social classesReturned stability of social classes Increased emphasis on familyIncreased emphasis on family

Pax RomanaPax RomanaPolitical ImpactPolitical Impact

Created Civil ServiceCreated Civil Service Developed uniform rule of lawDeveloped uniform rule of law

– 12 Tables12 Tables

Rulers of Pax RomanaRulers of Pax Romana

Julian Rulers (14-68 A.D.)Julian Rulers (14-68 A.D.)

Army Rulers (68-69 A.D.)Army Rulers (68-69 A.D.)

Flavian Rulers (69-96 A.D.)Flavian Rulers (69-96 A.D.)

Five Good Emperors (96-Five Good Emperors (96-180 A.D.)180 A.D.)

Julian RulersJulian Rulers

All descendents of Julius All descendents of Julius CaesarCaesar

NeroNerothepaolas.com/Emperors/Emperors/Scans/Nero.jpgthepaolas.com/Emperors/Emperors/Scans/Nero.jpg

Rules from 54-68 A.D.Rules from 54-68 A.D. Good administrator Good administrator

but viciousbut vicious– Responsible for many Responsible for many

murders including his murders including his own motherown mother

– Rebuild Rome after Rebuild Rome after great fire – possibly set great fire – possibly set by Nero to persecute by Nero to persecute ChristiansChristians

– Had Peter (crucifixion) Had Peter (crucifixion) and Paul (beheaded) and Paul (beheaded) executedexecuted

Five Good EmperorsFive Good Emperors

NervaNerva (96-98) (96-98) TrajanTrajan (98-117) – Rome expands to (98-117) – Rome expands to

greatest extentgreatest extent Hadrian Hadrian (117-138) – Solidified conquests (117-138) – Solidified conquests

and set up postal service – Hadrian’s walland set up postal service – Hadrian’s wall Antoninius PiusAntoninius Pius (138-161) (138-161) Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius (161-180) Barbaric (161-180) Barbaric

invasions begin – Pax Romana dies with invasions begin – Pax Romana dies with himhim

Roman Empire Begins Roman Empire Begins DeclineDecline

Spiral starts after the Spiral starts after the death of Marcus Aurelliusdeath of Marcus Aurellius

Fall of the Roman Fall of the Roman EmpireEmpire

Begins with rule of Begins with rule of Commodus, Marcus Commodus, Marcus

Aurelius’ sonAurelius’ son

Three Stages of DeclineThree Stages of Decline

1.1. ““Crisis of the Third Century” – many Crisis of the Third Century” – many economic, military, and political economic, military, and political problemsproblems

2.2. Time of revival – empire cut into Time of revival – empire cut into two halves (Eastern half is two halves (Eastern half is strengthened but West continues strengthened but West continues spiral)spiral)

3.3. Western half falls to Barbaric Western half falls to Barbaric invadersinvaders

Crisis Weakens EmpireCrisis Weakens Empire

Contributing FactorsContributing Factors

Economic DecayEconomic Decay

Poor HarvestsPoor Harvests Disrupted trade (Barbarians)Disrupted trade (Barbarians) No more plunder from warsNo more plunder from wars Gold and Silver drainGold and Silver drain InflationInflation Crushing tax burdenCrushing tax burden

Political DecayPolitical Decay

Political office seen as burden, not Political office seen as burden, not rewardreward

Military interference in politicsMilitary interference in politics Civil War and unrestCivil War and unrest Division of EmpireDivision of Empire Moving capital to ByzantiumMoving capital to Byzantium

Military DecayMilitary Decay

Threat from Persians and barbariansThreat from Persians and barbarians Low funds for defenseLow funds for defense Problems recruiting Roman citizens – Problems recruiting Roman citizens –

recruiting of Barbariansrecruiting of Barbarians Decline of patriotism an loyalty Decline of patriotism an loyalty

among soldiersamong soldiers

Social DecaySocial Decay

Lack of interest in public affairsLack of interest in public affairs Low confidence in empireLow confidence in empire Disloyalty, lack of patriotism, Disloyalty, lack of patriotism,

corruptioncorruption Contrast between rich and poorContrast between rich and poor

Immediate Causes of Immediate Causes of FallFall

Pressure from the HunsPressure from the Huns

Invasion by Germanic Invasion by Germanic tribes and by Hunstribes and by Huns

Fall of Roman EmpireFall of Roman Empire(only a movement in reality)(only a movement in reality)

Conquests by BarbariansConquests by Barbarians

Sack of RomeSack of Rome

Important Emperors of Important Emperors of The MoveThe Move

DiocletianDiocletianwww.stephen.j.murray.btinternet.co.uk/diocletian.jpgwww.stephen.j.murray.btinternet.co.uk/diocletian.jpg

Rules 284-305Rules 284-305 Split empire in two Split empire in two

parts – takes parts – takes control of Eastern control of Eastern empire and names empire and names some else to rule some else to rule the western halfthe western half

Tries to stop Tries to stop decline – somewhat decline – somewhat successfulsuccessful

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ConstantineConstantinewww.mingyuen.edu.hk/history/5rome/03king/constantine.jpgwww.mingyuen.edu.hk/history/5rome/03king/constantine.jpg

First Christian First Christian emperor on Empireemperor on Empire

Reunites both Reunites both halves of empirehalves of empire

Moves capital from Moves capital from Rome to Rome to Constantinople Constantinople (Byzantium) (Byzantium)

TheodosiusTheodosius

Make Christianity Make Christianity the official religion the official religion of the Roman of the Roman EmpireEmpire

Invading Barbarian InvadersInvading Barbarian Invaders

Goths (Ostrogoths / Visagoths)Goths (Ostrogoths / Visagoths) FranksFranks VandalsVandals SaxonsSaxons BurgundiansBurgundians LombardsLombards

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Important InvadersImportant Invaders

Attila the HunAttila the Hun