Western Roman Empire

It was first a republic. The Roman republic started in 509 B.C.E and ends in 44 B.C.E. also the day of Julius Ceasars death. (March 15th 44B.C.E) The Western Roman Empire begins on the day the republic ends.

Western Europe and Modern Day Italy and North Africa; France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, United Kingdom, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Ect.

*Rome was built on 7 hills along the Tiber River *Italy-peninsula helped trade and economy and defence *the north is protected by the Alps

*Julius Ceasar became dictator of Rome and increased # in senate to 900 decrasing power *3/15/44 assassination of Julius Ceasar *Agustus Ceasar ruled from 27 B.C.E to his death in 14 C.E His rule and the years after made up the 200 year peoriod of Pax Romana Roman peace *only Problem was the Romans did not have a good system of choosing a new leader

*Government always changed to meet the needs of the people *First it was a republic whre officials were elected *system of checks and balances- no part of government was stronger that the other *laws were made and they helped unite the Romans

*warfare and alliances-army growes stronger and they extend territory *they knew land far away had valuable resourses *They gave conquered people citizenship and made them part of the Empire *this spread the latin language, Roman law and culture . . . it gave the Empire more money

*Empire was first ancient civilizetion to build paved roads. They had 50,000 + miles of paved roads *originally to help movement of troops *Crowned-higher in the middle than the sides to allow water to drain off *Also used for trade dispite land travel being dangerous at all times

*Romans created a system to bring running water to places in the empire * They brought water from the mountains to the cities and towns- allowing for irrigation, drinking, indoor plumbing, and sewars *this carried disease away and acctually allowed Romans to live longer lives

264bce to 241bce Rome is still young. They have all of main land Italy and some of Scicily. Carthage was the greatest Empire in the known world at the time. Carthage was afraid of Italy taking over all of sicily which could lead to them taking over the rest of Carthage. The issue is Scicily. Carthage was a naval power had a huge navy. Rome had no navy. Rome stole a Carthaginiane ship, modeled, and built their own navy after the Carthaginine's. War lasted 23 years. War ends with Carthage asking for peace. Rome takes sicily and a large ammount of money.

From 218bce to 202ce. Carthage wants revenge. Hannibal, the greatest carthaginiane general is ordered to make the largest army in Carthage history. They are going to attack Rome by land from the north. Have foot soldiers calvary (horses), and war elefants! They make it into northern Italy having lost people horses and elephants. Rome citizens stand up and fight. Roman Army gets there and fights as well. Meanwhile Rome sends troops to Carthage. Hanibal hears about this and goes back home only to be killed in one of his first battles back. Winner is rome they get land in spain and more riches or spokes of war (gun's horses, metals, ships things like that)

From 218bce to 146bce. Carthage is no longer a treat to Rome. Roman senate votes to crush them and wipe them off the map. They do so easily. Rome is now supreme power in the Western meditaranian sea.

*Peninsula-- water, fishing, defense, trade * Center of meditarranean sea -- trade, contol/power * Rome -- on the Tiber river/ 7 hills, trade, fresh water, defense *alps to the North -- defense

*well trained and very good weapons and armor *all males required to serve in military -- larger in numbers * Thanks to the military -- roman expansion was possible -- warfare, alliances *Punic Wars -- the start of expansion lead to the spread os the latin language and roman culture and roman laws

*Roads -- over 50,000 miles of paved roads, initially built for movement of troops then also used for trade * aqueducts -- irrigation, drinking water, indoor plumbing, and sewears
*Coliseum and Panthion -- two great examples of architecture and technology *arch -- more efficent way to build certain structures, less material, looks better, to create more space, to represent greatness, triumph, power, and prestige, very stong! can hold a lot of weight!! *Arcade= many/seirries of arches like in the roman aqueducts *key stone= wedge shaped stone- the center of an arch that locks the arch together

*government changed to meet the needs of the people *Roman laws -- united Europe, every roman must follow these laws *Pax Romana -- 200 year period of Roman peace, after death of ceasar *gave citizenship to people that have been conquered to get more money off of taxes