• Ancient Rome Study Guide

“Et Tu, Brute?” Did Julius Caesar actually utter those words immortalized by Shakespeare as he was being stabbed to death? That is just one example of what you may need to study as you prepare for the AP World History Exam. It can be a daunting task, and choosing what areas to study is going to be a challenge.

That is why we have created this AP US History Crash Course Review on the Roman Empire. You can use it as a go-to resource as you study for the exam. The Roman Empire has given us larger-than-life figures like Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Cleopatra. The Romans also gave us standards of justice that became the basis for Western legal tradition, as well as many technological innovations that were groundbreaking during their time. The influence of the Roman culture had such a profound effect on the world that it remains relevant in many parts of today’s culture.

Name _____ Date _____ World History. Unit 4 - Ancient Rome. Due on test day! Know your terms! Be able to label the Ancient Roman Empire on a map; study the map. World Religions; Study Skills and. You can create printable tests and worksheets from these Grade 6 World History questions. In Rome, a persons.

So you know that you are going to want to keep this AP World History review handy while you are getting ready for the exam. We are going to cover not just the important dates, people and places from the Roman era, but which concepts may be on the exam itself. The Roman Republic (509 – 27 B.C.E.) The birth of the Roman Republic meant the end of the Roman Monarchy. The Romans rebelled and overthrew the monarchy in 509 B.C.E. To give you an idea of its size, the Republic was situated in modern-day Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia and spanned more than one million square miles. Julius Caesar Julius Caesar was a noted Roman politician and famous general who lived from 100 – 44 B.C.E. He played a crucial role in the events that led to the end of the Roman Republic and the emergence of the Roman Empire.

In 49 B.C.E., during the first civil war, Julius Caesar seized Rome and claimed the title “dictator for life”. In the political realm, he favored liberal policies and social reform and became even more popular by conquering Gaul, creating jobs, increasing pay, and expanding the size of the Senate from 300 to 900 members. Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of conspiring Roman senators led by Cassius and Brutus. They stabbed him to death near the Theater of Pompey on 15 March, or the Ides of March, 44 B.C.E. Caesar’s declaration of himself as “dictator for life” made many senators fear that he wanted to dissolve the senate in favor of tyranny. The Roman Republic was doomed, and the assassination led to civil war and ultimately to the birth of the Roman Empire. The End of the Roman Republic The Roman Republic ended in 30 B.C.E.

With a bang, with a battle involving two of the most recognized figures in world history, Cleopatra and Marc Antony. At that time Octavian (adopted son of Julius Caesar and heir to the throne) held almost absolute power and would let no one stand in his way.

Before the battle that would bring down the Republic, Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus formed an allegiance right after Caesar’s assassination. Civil wars broke out in 33 B.C.E. After the two got into a disagreement. Mark Antony betrayed the Romans when Octavian declared war on Antony’s lover and ally Cleopatra in 31 B.C.E.

After the resounding Roman victory, Antony committed suicide, believing Cleopatra had done the same. He was carried to her in Egypt and died in her arms.

Cleopatra ended her life after she was captured. Octavian became Rome’s first emperor in 27 B.C.E. And thus began the longest period of peace and prosperity that Europe ever saw. The Roman senate bestowed Octavian the name Augustus in 27 B.C.E., to honor his victory. The Birth of the Roman Empire (27 B.C.E.

– 476 C.E.) The Roman Empire began in 27 B.C.E. When Octavia Augustus (27 B.C.E.

– 14 C.E.) became emperor. Many say that he was the most capable emperor of Rome.

He stabilized the frontier, built spectacular public buildings, and created an enduring government. During his rule, the Roman Empire continued to expand. He created a new standing army under his control and kept them all along the empire’s borders to keep peace in the Roman world. Even though the empire acted as a republic by preserving preserved the traditional republican form of government, it was, in essence, a monarchy once more. Augustus wielded all the power.

Roman System of Law Roman standards of justice become the basis for Western legal tradition. At the core were equal treatment under the law, presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and punishment for your actions, not your thoughts. In fact, the famous Justinian Code was a uniform system of laws based on Roman ones.

Ancient Rome Study Guide

They were developed under during the rule of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman Empire) Emperor Justinian who ruled from 529 to 565 C.E. Pater Familias (Father of the Family) Pater Familias was the term used to describe the head of a Roman family. He had to be a Roman citizen and was the oldest living male in a household.

Since the Roman family all lived together in the same house, the pater familias had total control of all family members according to Roman law and tradition. He held sway over the family property and had varying levels of authority over his immediate family, including his wife and children. He had lesser control over other blood relatives and slaves. This did not mean that woman in the Roman Empire were without power. Kia sorento 2018 owners manual.

Roman women maintained influence within their families and many supervised family business and estates. Slavery For the Roman Empire, the institution of slavery was essential, and about one-third of all Romans were slaves. This created unrest because wage-earning citizens could not compete with free labor performed by slaves. As a result, farmers and the urban masses lived hand-to-mouth, and the poor classes became a serious problem in Rome and other cities. Entertainment was given to pacify them.

One traditional form involved the gladiator. These slaves were trained to fight to the death in front of a cheering arena of spectators.

Another place slaves were commonly employed was on latifundia. Latifundia were large agricultural estates on privately owned land that exported grain, olive oil, or wine. Conditions on latifundium were appalling; slaves were chained together in teams.

Mistreatment was rife. Inevitably, the mistreatment of slaves in gladiatorial games and on latifundia lead to unrest. One of the most epic slavery uprisings took place in 73 B.C.E. Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator, led a revolt and escaped with 70 fellow gladiators. At the height of the rebellion, Spartacus had about 120,000 followers. It took a massive effort on the part of the Roman senate to quell the uprising, and it is believed that Spartacus died in a major battle in southern Italy in 71 B.C.E. However, working conditions for city slaves were better than those on latifundia.

In fact, Epictetus, an Anatolian slave, became a prominent Stoic philosopher. Urban slaves could even hope for manumission (the act of a slave owner freeing their slave). Map of the Roman Empire at its Greatest Extent. Roman Culture Roman culture was heavily influenced by the Greeks, but they put their own unique spin on their form.

The Roman Empire was vast, and their reach was far and wide; their culture still influences much of the modern world. For example, we still have the theater arts, aqueducts to bring us water, and sewers to drain it. Bridges built by the Romans still exists, and cities are still found on the remains of Roman roads. The Romans even still are remembered when we scan the night sky looking at constellations and planets named after their gods and other mythological figures. The Roman Empire also brought us many technological and architectural advances that are still relevant today.

At the heart of Roman culture was the city of Rome itself and its famed seven hills. The majority of the people lived in the city center, crowded into apartment blocks. The sheer wealth of the city fueled its urban development.

During the rule of Augustus, the Roman empire continued to expand. Architects and engineers built many new public buildings during this period.

Some of the materials were surprisingly familiar. The Romans were the first to use concrete as construction material, and it was the main reason many structures were so strong and durable. They constructed arches, temples, and stadiums. The arch was an incredible innovation and is still one of the strongest structures known to date.

Roman engineers were also outstanding road builders. Roads and an efficient postal system linked all parts of the empire to the rest of the world. Because of the great road network, many immigrants flocked to Rome to enjoy the many attractions like public baths and spas. Maybe one of their greatest achievement was the concept of the aqueducts. They were the first to build this system of running water, indoor plumbing, and sewer management. Aqueducts carried away disease from the towns and cities. The Fall of the Roman Empire Many internal and external factors caused the decline and eventual fall of the Roman Empire.

The fact that the empire grew so large so fast was key to its decline. Overexpansion and the sheer size of the territories it held made the empire very costly to maintain and govern effectively. The army was growing corrupt and weakened, increasing the difficulty of effective governance.

Dishonest generals abounded. The army was also using non-Roman soldiers to keep control of its lands, which led to unpredictable results. The value of the Roman currency came into question, which resulted in significant and rapid price increases.

Trade deficits become severe, and the Romans started spending more on foreign goods than they made from foreign trade. Weak leadership was another cause of the fall. By the third century C.E., the lack of laws of succession led to a period where 26 emperors ruled over 49 years, with just one dying of natural causes.

Emperors were not always strong leaders, often selected by violence or simply by birth. Army generals looked to fill that leadership void by fighting for supremacy. At the beginning of the 4th century C.E., civil wars broke out between different political groups.

Among the elite, the rich became lazy and showed little interest in trying to solve Rome’s problems. The poor were unhappy because they were overtaxed and overworked and the population was shrinking due to starvation and disease. That made it difficult to manage farms and government effectively. The increased use of slaves put many Romans out of work.

In 306 C.E., Emperor Constantine fought his way to the throne. Unlike past emperors, he favored Christianity, and in 313 C.E., he issued the Edict of Milan, which ended Christian persecution and supported religious freedom.

In 391 C.E., Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople. Because of reduced income and external pressure, the Roman Empire split into two in 395 C.E., creating eastern and western provinces. Invading tribes from Germanic areas brought down the Western Roman Empire.

The Romans recruited Visigoths to protect Rome, but in the end, the invaders were too strong to resist. Attila’s Huns, as well as the Franks, Vandals, and Saxons, gained power on the Roman borders and in 476 C.E., Rome was invaded, and that was the end of the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper for the next century and became the Byzantine Empire. The Roman Empire and the AP World History Exam We know that this AP World History Crash Course Review on the Roman Empire could not cover all aspects of such an important topic. But it is clear that the subject must be on your must-know AP World History topics.

The Roman Empire would be a great subject to use as a AP World History DBQ, so make sure that you use a well-rounded approach to preparing for the exam. Use this review, your textbook and to boost your test-taking confidence for this exam. You may still ask yourself, “What do I need to focus on for the exam?” That is a fair question. Always keep in mind that the Roman Empire was dedicated to building. This review has discussed many of the innovations that were a result of Roman engineering like roads, great buildings, the arch, and aqueducts. Roman politics and culture are also important areas of focus. Many areas of modern culture, like the western legal system, were based on ideas contained in Roman law.

Remember the Roman Empire (27 B.C.E. – 476 C.E.) was born because of the fall of the Roman Republic (509 – 27 B.C.E.).

Julius Caesar was a historical figure in the Roman Republic, whereas Augustus and Constantine ruled during the Roman Empire. Finally, it would be helpful to understand the factors that lead to the fall of the Roman Empire. The main ones were over-expansion of the empire, weak leadership, and disagreement between the ruling classes.

These were the main causes of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. If you want to “strive for that five” on the AP World History exam, take what you’ve learned from this AP World History review of the Roman Empire. Good luck on your upcoming AP World History Exam!.AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.

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