Introduction for Chapter 6

6 The World of Rome CA. 1000 B.C.E.–400 C.E.

> How did the Romans build and control an empire that spanned the Mediterranean world? Chapter 6 examines the Roman Empire. With a republican government under the leadership of the Senate, the Romans conquered Italy, then the western Mediterranean basin, and then areas in the East that had been part of Alexander the Great’s empire. The wars of conquest led, however, to serious problems that the Senate proved unable to handle. After a period of civil war that ended in 31 B.C.E., the emperor Augustus restored peace and expanded Roman power and law as far east as the Euphrates River. Later emperors extended Roman authority farther still, so that at its largest the Roman Empire stretched from England to Egypt and from Portugal to Persia.

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Woman from Pompeii This brightly painted fresco from a villa in Pompeii shows a young woman carrying a tray in a religious ritual. Pompeii was completely buried in ash in a volcanic explosion in 79 C.E., and excavations have revealed life in what was a vacation spot for wealthy Romans. (Detail of the Initiate, from the Catechism Scene, North Wall fresco/Villa dei Misteri, Pompeii/The Bridgeman Art Library)

Major Periods of Roman History:

  • The monarchical period (753 B.C.E.–509 B.C.E.) in which Rome was ruled by kings
  • The republic (509 B.C.E.–27 B.C.E.) in which Rome was ruled by the Senate
  • The empire (27 B.C.E. to 476 C.E.) in which Roman territories were ruled by an emperor

LearningCurve

After reading the chapter, use LearningCurve to retain what you’ve read.

753 B.C.E. ca. 3 B.C.E.–29 C.E.
Traditional founding of the city of Rome Life of Jesus
509 B.C.E. 69–96 C.E.
Traditional date of the establishment of the Roman Republic Flavian emperors; restoration of order after civil wars
451–449 B.C.E. 96–192 C.E.
Laws of the Twelve Tables written and issued Antonine emperors; prosperity and the height of the pax Romana
ca. 265 B.C.E. 235–284 C.E.
Romans control most of Italy Third-century crisis; civil war; invasions; economic decline
264–241 B.C.E.; 218–201 B.C.E.; 149–146 B.C.E. 284–337 C.E.
Punic Wars Diocletian and Constantine attempt to reconstruct the empire
53–31 B.C.E. 313 C.E.
Civil wars among rival claimants to power Emperor Constantine issues Edict of Milan, allowing practice of all religions in the Roman Empire
44 B.C.E. 380 C.E.
Assassination of Julius Caesar Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion of the empire
31 B.C.E. 476 C.E.
Octavian (Augustus) defeats Antony and Cleopatra Odoacer deposes the last Roman emperor in the West
27 B.C.E.
Senate grants Octavian the title “Augustus”; date marks the beginning of the Roman Empire
27 B.C.E.–68 C.E.
Julio-Claudian emperors; expansion into northern and western Europe