The emperor sat in a special box just

above the stage where he controlled the

entertainment. He declared whether a
gladiator—a professional fighter—would
live or die with a thumbs-up or a thumbs-
down gesture.
What effect do you think this show
of power had on the Roman people?

Watching the Games at the

Colosseum, A.D. 80
Emperor Titus has invited all of Rome
to celebrate the opening of the new
Colosseum with 100 days of festivities and
entertainment. Along with about 50,000
others, you have crowded into the arena to
see the games. As the action gets underway,
the crowd roars with excitement.

What do the games at the

Colosseum suggest about the
world of ancient Rome?

234
 Chapter 9
The Rise of Rome

Chapter 10
Rome’s Decline
Spectators could quickly enter and Legacy
and exit the Colosseum through
80 arched entrances. Beneath the
arena, rope-operated elevators
could bring thousands of animals to
the surface at once.
How would you describe the
architecture of the Colosseum?

The crowd might see tigers attacking

bulls. But most eagerly anticipated
were the games that pitted gladiators
against one another. Before they began
to fight, the gladiators greeted the
emperor: “We who are about to die
salute you.”
What traits do you think were
necessary to be a gladiator?

235
 Chapter

The Rise of Rome

9
Essential Question
How did Rome become a powerful
empire?

N
CONNECT Geography & History
W E

Use the map and the time line to answer the S

following questions.
1. Which two areas of the Roman Empire were farthest
from Rome to the north and to the south?
2. Whom did Rome defeat in the Punic Wars and on what
continent was this enemy located?

ATLANTIC
OCEAN
20oW

753 B.C .
According to legend, 509 B.C .
Rome is founded. Rome becomes
(bronze head of wolf) a republic.
▲

750 B.C .
Greek city-states flourish.
(Greek temple in Sicily)
▲

236
 GEOGRAPHY & HISTORY
The Roman Empire at Its Height A .D. 117
#LICK HERE to see how Rome expanded its 60oN
empire @ ClassZone.com

North
Sea

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d
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Tropic of Cancer
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146 B.C .
Rome defeats Carthage A . D.
117
in the Punic Wars. A . D.
30 Rome reaches its
(Carthaginian war elephant) Jesus is crucified. greatest extent.
▲

321 B.C . 202 B.C . A . D.

100
Maurya empire is Liu Bang reunifies China and Moche culture arises
founded in India. starts the Han Dynasty. in South America.
(clay horse from the Han Dynasty)
▲

237
 Section
1
Key Ideas
BEFORE, YOU LEARNED NOW YOU WILL LEARN
Ancient Greece provided models of city-states, Rome grew from a city into a country and then
democracies, and empires, especially in the into a republic.
example of Athens and the empire of Alexander.

Vocabulary
TERMS & NAMES plebeians (plih•BEE•uhnz) commoners who
Romulus (RAHM•yuh•luhs) legendary hero who were allowed to vote but not to hold government
founded Rome office in ancient Rome
Aeneas (ih•NEE•uhs) hero of the Trojan War Senate powerful body of 300 members that
who settled in Italy after Troy was destroyed advised Roman leaders
Remus (REE•muhs) twin of Romulus consuls officials who led executive branch
republic government in which citizens elect BACKGROUND VOCABULARY
representatives to rule in their name legend popular story from earlier times that
patricians (puh•TRIHSH•uhnz) wealthy cannot be proved
landowners who held high government positions
in ancient Rome REVIEW
peninsula body of land nearly surrounded by
water

Reading Strategy
Re-create the web diagram shown at right. As CATEGORIZE
you read and respond to the KEY QUESTIONS,
look for details about the three categories given Beginnings Geography
for ancient Rome. Record the information you
learn about them in the diagram. Ancient Rome
See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R6.

Early Romans

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Go to Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com

238 • Chapter 9
The Roman
Republic
Connect to What You Know You have probably seen
movies about ancient Rome, with its Colosseum and gladiators.
These films show Rome at its height, but they only tell part of the
story. The founding of the civilization owes much to its geography.

The Beginnings of Rome

KEY QUESTION What is the early history of Rome? ▲ Symbol of Rome
This statue of the god-
The history of ancient Rome begins with the overthrow of foreign dess Roma represents
kings in 509 B.C. But Romans like to date the history of their ancient Rome. Romans
believed that the god-
city to 753 B.C. That is when a legendary hero called Romulus dess protected them and
(RAHM•yuh•luhs) is said to have founded Rome. their city.
A legend is a popular story from earlier times that cannot
be proved. The legend about Rome’s founding begins with Aeneas
(ih•NEE•uhs), a hero of the Trojan War who settled in Italy
after Troy was destroyed. You learned about the Trojan War Palatine Hill Traces
in Chapter 7. of settlements dating
from around 1000 B.C.
have been found on the
Palatine Hill. ▼

239
 GEOGRAPHY

The Founding of Rome The Seven Hills of Rome

legend continues with the twins A .D. 581–907
0 .5 1 mile
Romulus and Remus (REE•muhs), ##LICK
LICK HHERE
ERE to tour the sights
of Rome @ ClassZone.com 0 .5 1 kilometer
the descendants of Aeneas

Se
who founded Rome. They were

rv
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abandoned by their mother but

ill
ll

all
H
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rescued by a wolf. When the twins Pantheon
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in
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grew up, they fought over Rome’s

Vi
location. Romulus killed his brother

Ti
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b
er
Esquiline

ll n
Hi itoli
and traced Rome’s boundaries N

Ri
Hill

ve

p
Ca
Palatine

r
around the Palatine Hill. Hill
W E

After Romulus, a series of Roman Forum Colosseum S

Caelian
Roman kings ruled the city. In the Hill
M Cir
ax cu
600s B.C., however, the Etruscans im s
Aventine us Ap
from northern Italy conquered Hill pia
nW
Rome. In order to regain self-rule, ay

the Romans overthrew the Etruscan

king and formed a republic in 509
B.C. A republic is a government in
CONNECT Geography & History
which citizens elect representatives Human-Environment Interaction What human-
to rule in their name. made structures helped protect Rome from invasion?

SUMMARIZE Describe the early

history of Rome.

Rome’s Geography and Early Life

KEY QUESTION Why was Rome’s location so favorable?
After the overthrow of the Etruscans, Rome grew from a city into a
country and then eventually into an empire. Its good location helped
make this possible.

Hills and River The first settlers of Rome were the Latins. They
came from a region surrounding Rome. They chose the spot for its
mild climate, good farmland, and strategic location.
The Latins and later settlers built Rome on seven steep hills.
During the day, settlers farmed the fertile plain at the base of the
hills. At night, they returned to their hilltop homes, from which they
could defend themselves against attack.
Rome had other advantages. It was located a short distance from
the Mediterranean Sea on ancient trade routes. It also lay next to the
Tiber River. This river was important to Rome’s development because
it provided a source of water for farming and drinking.

240 • Chapter 9
Italian Peninsula Rome’s location on the Italian Peninsula also
played an important role in its development. The peninsula stretches
south from Europe into the Mediterranean Sea.
Italy’s location on the Mediterranean made it relatively easy for
Roman ships to reach the other lands around the sea. This position
helped Rome to eventually conquer and gain new territories. It also
aided in the development of trade routes.
The two main mountain ranges of Italy helped protect Rome. The
Alps border Italy on the north, and the Apennines (AP•uh•N YNZ)
form Italy’s spine, running for more than 800 miles down the
peninsula. Italy also had large plains that were good for farming.

Farm Life Most early Romans worked small plots of land. They
planted grains such as wheat and barley, and they grew beans,
vegetables, and fruit. Later the Romans learned to grow olives and
grapes. They raised pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens, and they used
oxen to pull their plows. In ancient Rome, only wealthy farmers, who
could afford to wait a few years to harvest the first crop, grew grapes.
At first, most Roman farmers lived in simple homes made of mud
or timber. They did not have much furniture. In addition, the farmers
lived in extended families of grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces
and nephews, and cousins.
The qualities of discipline, loyalty, and hard work that these early
farmers developed would help Rome succeed. They were the qualities
that made Roman armies so successful. When soldiers went to
CONNECT to Today
war, they had to obey orders and do their jobs. This attitude
Italian Farm Grapes,
would help Rome conquer all of Italy. like those shown here,
are still a popular crop
SUMMARIZE Describe what made Rome’s location favorable. in Italy. ▼

241
 The Rise of the Republic
KEY QUESTION What were the three branches of the Roman republic?
As Rome developed into a complex civilization, two classes arose.
Inequalities between them would lead to conflict. This conflict,
however, would eventually define Roman citizenship and the rights
of citizens under Roman law. For the next 500 years, the Romans
operated under a political system that serves as a model for many of
today’s democratic nations.

Patricians and Plebeians In Ancient Rome, the upper-class

patricians (puh•TRIHSH•uhnz) were wealthy landowners who held
high government positions. The plebeians (plih•BEE•uhnz) were
commoners who were allowed to vote but not to hold government
office in ancient Rome.
Resentment over the patricians’ power caused tension. Finally,
the patricians passed a written constitution, called the Twelve Tables,
around 450 B.C . The Twelve Tables established basic rights and duties
for Roman citizens.

Republican Government The leaders of the Roman Republic

established a tripartite (try•PAHR•tyt) government. This type of
government has three branches: legislative, judicial, and
Roman Forum Ruins
executive. The legislative branch makes the laws. The judicial
of the Roman Forum, the
branch interprets the laws in court. And the executive branch religious, cultural, and
enforces a country’s laws. political heart of Rome,
still stand today. In the
early days of the republic,
the Senate met in a small
building in the Forum. ▼

242
COMPARING Republican Governments

Rome United States

Executive Two consuls, elected for one A president, elected for four years:
Branch year: led government and heads government and military
commanded army

Legislative Senate of 300 members: advised Senate of 100 members: makes

Branch consuls and set policies laws and advises president
Assemblies: made laws and House of Representatives of 435
selected officials members: makes laws

Judicial Eight judges: oversaw courts and Supreme Court of nine justices:
Branch governed provinces interprets the Constitution and
federal law

Legal Code Twelve Tables: basis of Roman U.S. Constitution: basis of U.S. law,
LAWS
law, which established citizens’ which sets forth both individual
legal, economic, property, and rights and governmental powers
social rights

CRITICAL THINKING
Compare What similarities do you see in the govern-
ments of the Roman Republic and the United States?

The Three Branches The legislative branch of Roman government

included the Senate and the assemblies. The Senate was a powerful
body of 300 members that advised Roman leaders. Most senators were
patricians. The assemblies were mainly made up of plebeians. Their
representatives protected the rights of plebeians.
The judicial branch consisted of eight judges who served for one
year. They oversaw the courts and governed the provinces.
Two consuls led Rome’s executive branch. They commanded the
army and directed the government for one year. Each consul had the
power to veto, or overrule, the other.
In times of crisis, the consuls could choose a dictator—a leader
with absolute power—to rule in their place for a limited time. In
458 B.C ., a man named Cincinnatus (SIHN•suh•NAT•uhs) was made
dictator to defend Rome from attack. According to legend, he defeated
the enemy and returned power to the consuls in a single day.

CATEGORIZE Describe the three branches of the Roman Republic.

The Rise of Rome • 243

 The Republic Expands
KEY QUESTION What were the results of Rome’s expansion?
For hundreds of years after the founding of the republic, Rome
expanded its territories. By the 300s B.C., the Romans dominated
central Italy. Eventually, they conquered the Etruscans to the north
and the Greek city-states to the southeast. By 275 B.C ., all of the
Italian Peninsula was under Roman control.
In general, Rome did not impose harsh rule on conquered peoples.
The republic offered Roman citizenship to most of them and allowed
them to govern themselves. In return, the new citizens had to pay
taxes and provide soldiers for the Roman army.

The Punic Wars Rome needed these soldiers to fight in the Punic
(PYOO•nihk) Wars, which began in 264 B.C . These were a series of
three wars with Carthage, a rich trading city in North Africa. Carthage
was once a colony of Phoenicia, a group of sea-trading city-states on
the Mediterranean. Punic comes from the Greek word Phoenician.
Rome won each of the Punic Wars but almost lost the second.
Hannibal, a general from Carthage, crossed the Alps with a herd
of elephants and nearly captured Rome. The Roman general Scipio
(SIHP•ee•OH) devised a plan to attack Carthage. This plan forced
Hannibal to return to Africa to defend his native city. In 202 B.C., at
Zama near Carthage, the Romans finally defeated Hannibal.

Punic Wars 264–146 B.C.

Controlled by Carthage, 264 B.C. Invasion routes
Hannibal
Controlled by Rome, 264 B.C. Scipio
EUROPE
Added to Rome, 146 B.C.
Carthaginian land added Major battle
S
A LP to Rome, 146 B.C.
ATLANTIC GAUL
Black Sea
OCEAN PY
RE Ad
NE ri
ES at
IBERIAN ITALY ic 40oN
Corsica Se
PENINSULA Rome a N
ic Is.
B aler Cannae
E
Sardinia (216 B.C.)
GREECE W

M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a Sicily S

Carthage

Zama CONNECT Geography & History

S AFRICA (202 B.C.)
UN TA I N Movement Why do you think Hannibal
S MO chose to invade Rome from the north
A TLA 0 200 400 miles

0 200 400 kilometers

instead of staging a head-on attack?
30oN
0o 10oE

244
 In 146 B.C., in the third Punic war, Rome laid seige
to Carthage. Rome finally captured and destroyed the Image not available
city. Carthage was set afire and its 50,000 inhabitants for electronic use.
sold into slavery. The territory of Carthage was made Please refer to the
a Roman province.
image in the textbook.
Rome’s victories in the Punic Wars gave it
dominance over the western Mediterranean. The
Romans then went on to conquer the eastern half.
Eventually Rome’s Mediterranean empire stretched
from Greece in the east to the Iberian Peninsula in
the west.
▲ Laurel Wreath
Effects of Expansion The Roman conquerors brought back Roman generals wore a
great wealth and many slaves. They bought large estates and wreath made of laurel
farmed them with slave labor. But because many small farmers leaves after winning a
major battle. The Romans
couldn’t compete, they lost their farms. adopted this symbol
As a result, unemployment and poverty increased. The gap of victory from ancient
between rich and poor grew wider. This, in turn, produced more Greece. What does
this suggest about
anger and tension between the classes. As you will read in the
the influence of
next section, these factors, among others, contributed to the Greece on Rome?
overthrow of the republic.

ANALYZE EFFECTS Analyze the results of Roman expansion.

ONLINE QUIZ

1 Section Assessment For test practice, go to

Interactive Review
@ ClassZone.com

Terms & Names Key Ideas

1. Explain the importance of 3. What is the legend of Rome’s founding?
Romulus Remus patricians Senate 4. How was Rome’s location good for defense?
Aeneas republic plebeians consuls 5. What lands did Rome conquer?
Use Your Reading Notes
Critical Thinking
2. Categorize Use your web diagram to answer the
6. Draw Conclusions What benefits do you
following question:
think the Romans gained from fair treatment of
Which category of information would you use to conquered peoples?
describe why Rome developed into a powerful
7. CONNECT to Today How do you think the
civilization?
Beginnings Geography
Roman republican government has influenced the
governments of other countries?
Ancient Rome

Early Romans

Illustrate a Legend Draw a picture that illustrates a scene from the founding of Rome.
You might choose to illustrate either the legendary founding or the historical conflict with the
Etruscans.
The Rise of Rome • 245
 Section
2
Key Ideas
BEFORE, YOU LEARNED NOW YOU WILL LEARN
Rome developed from an early monarchy into a Rome evolved from a republic into an empire led
republic that expanded its territories. by Augustus, the first Roman emperor.

Vocabulary
TERMS & NAMES BACKGROUND VOCABULARY
civil war armed conflict between groups in the campaign series of military operations that
same country form part of a war
Julius Caesar Roman general, politician, and marble type of stone that can be highly
dictator polished
Cicero (SIHS•uh•ROH) Roman consul, speaker,
and opponent of Caesar
Augustus (aw•GUHS•tuhs) Julius Caesar’s
great-nephew and adopted son who became first
Roman emperor
civil service group of officials employed by the
government
Pax Romana Latin phrase meaning “Roman
Peace,” referring to the peace and stability of the
Roman Empire Visual Vocabulary
Julius Caesar

Reading Strategy
Re-create the time line shown at right. As you SEQUENCE EVENTS
read and respond to the KEY QUESTIONS, use
the time line to put events in the correct order so
you see how they are related.

See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R5.

100 B.C. A .D. 14

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Go to Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com

246 • Chapter 9
Rome Becomes Starting with
a Story
Imagine that you are in

an Empire the Roman Senate on

March 15, 44 B.C. As
Julius Caesar takes his
seat, armed men sud-
denly surround him!
Connect to What You Know In Section 1, you learned
##LICK
LICK HHERE
ERE
about the changes expansion brought to Roman society. to listen to the story
Expansion would also change the balance of power in Rome’s @ ClassZone.com

republican government. These changes would lead to the

overthrow of the republic.

Conflicts at Home
KEY QUESTION What led to conflict in Rome?
As Rome expanded, many wealthy Romans neglected their civic
duties. They thought only about gaining even more power and
wealth. This increased the distance between rich and poor. As
a result, the threat of uprisings grew as the common people
increasingly resented the power and privileges of the wealthy. CONNECT to Today
Reform Fails Reformers tried to relieve these problems. They Colosseum The
Colosseum is a lasting
wanted to break up the huge estates and give land to the poor. symbol of the power of
But the wealthy landowners in the Senate felt threatened. They the Roman Empire. How
opposed the reforms and had the reformers killed. might the influence
of the Colosseum be
seen today? ▼

247
 Civil War At the same time, generals who had conquered other
lands became ambitious for power at home. They hired poor farmers
to serve under them as soldiers. Increasingly, these soldiers shifted
their loyalty from the republic to their general. The generals’ desire for
power led to conflict.
Eventually, civil war broke out. A civil war is an armed conflict
between groups within the same country. On one side were the
generals who supported the cause of the plebeians. On the other were
generals who were backed by patricians and senators.
A general named Marius fought for the
plebeians, while a general named Sulla fought
for the patricians. The struggle went on
for many years. Finally, in 82 B.C., the
patricians won. Sulla took power and
became a dictator.

ANALYZE CAUSES Describe the

reasons for conflict in Rome.

Julius Caesar
KEY QUESTION What were some
of Caesar’s accomplishments?
After Sulla died, other generals rose
to power. One of them was Julius
Caesar, general, politician, and dictator.
Caesar was born around 100 B.C. into an
old noble family. He was a man of many
talents and great ambition. But to achieve real
power, he knew he had to win on the battlefield.

Military Leader Caesar first saw military ▲ Julius Caesar One of the great figures
action in Asia Minor—part of present-day of history, painted here by Peter Paul Rubens
Turkey—and Spain. But he proved himself (1577–1640), Caesar was a brilliant statesman,
general, orator, and writer.
to be a great general in Gaul, the area now
known as France.
The Gauls were fierce fighters. But in a brilliant military campaign,
Caesar defeated the Gauls and captured the entire region. His
conquests won new lands and great wealth for Rome. The victories
also won fame and fortune for Caesar.
Caesar wrote about his exploits in Gaul in a military memoir
entitled Commentaries on the Gallic War. This work established his
reputation as one of the great writers of Latin prose.

248 • Chapter 9
Dictator for Life In addition to his military skills, Caesar was also
a good politician. He gained a reputation as a reformer who supported
the common people. This, plus his military fame, made him popular
with the plebeians.
But Caesar also had enemies. Many powerful Romans, including
patrician senators, opposed Caesar. One of his opponents was Cicero
(SIHS•uh•ROH), a key Roman consul and perhaps the greatest speaker
in Roman history. Cicero was a strong supporter of the republic. He
distrusted Caesar and the ruler’s great desire for power. (You can learn
more about the relationship between Cicero and Caesar by reading
Cicero’s letter in the Primary Source below.)
When Caesar returned from Gaul, the Senate ordered him to break
up his army. Instead, he led his soldiers into Italy and began fighting
for control of Rome. After several years, Caesar emerged victorious. In
46 B.C., he returned to Rome, where he had the support of the people
and the army. That same year, the Senate appointed him the sole
Roman ruler. In 44 B.C., Caesar was named dictator for life as opposed
to the usual six months.

Background Although Cicero opposed from Cicero’s Selected Works

Caesar, he could still be polite to Rome’s A Letter by Cicero
sole ruler. In 45 B.C., Cicero invited Caesar Translated by Michael Grant
to be a guest in his home. The ruler arrived In other words, we were human
with 2,000 men. Cicero described the beings together. Still, he was
visit in a letter to a friend. not the sort of guest to whom
In this excerpt from you would say “do please come
the letter, you can again on your way back.” Once
sense that Cicero is is enough! We talked no serious
politics, but a good deal about
not comfortable
literary matters. In short, he liked it
with Caesar. and enjoyed himself. . . . There you
have the story of how I entertained
him—or had him billeted [camped]
on me; I found it a bother, as I have
said, but not disagreeable.

DOCUMENT–BASED QUESTION
Why do you think Cicero and Caesar
avoided talking about politics?

249
 Caesar’s Reforms Caesar governed as an absolute
ruler, but he started a number of reforms. He expanded
the Senate by including supporters from Italy and other
regions. He also enforced laws against crime and created
jobs for the poor. Despite these reforms, some Romans
feared that Caesar would make himself king. Not only
would he rule for a lifetime, but his family members
would also rule after him. The Roman’s hatred of kings went
back to the days of Etruscan rule.

Assassination and Legacy Concern over Caesar’s

growing power led to his downfall. The Senate, Rome’s
governing body, resented his power. On March 15,
44 B.C ., some of the senators took action. The Senate
held a meeting on that fateful day. The senators entered
one by one and, finally, Caesar came into the chamber.
He was surrounded and then assassinated by a group of
senators. The leaders of the conspiracy were eventually
▲ Silver Coin This coin
killed or committed suicide.
was issued after Caesar's
Historians still disagree about Caesar’s rule, just as assassination. One side
Romans did at the time. Some say he was a reformer who of the coin (top) shows a
worked to help the common people. Others say he was a profile of one of the assas-
sins. The other side shows a
power-hungry tyrant. In either case, Caesar’s rule and his cap of liberty between two
death would bring an end to the republic. daggers.

SUMMARIZE Discuss Caesar’s accomplishments.

Emperors Rule Rome

KEY QUESTION What happened to Rome after Caesar’s death?
After Caesar’s death, several Roman leaders struggled to gain power.
One of these men was Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted son,
Octavian (ahk•TAY•vee•uhn).
This struggle led to another civil war, which lasted for years.
The war destroyed what was left of the Roman Republic. Eventually,
Octavian defeated his enemies. In 27 B.C., he became the ruler of
Rome. In time, he took the name Augustus (aw•GUHS•tuhs), which
means “exalted one,” or person of great rank and authority.

Augustus Rebuilds Rome Augustus was the first emperor of

Rome, but he didn’t use that title. He preferred to be called “first
citizen.” He restored some aspects of the republican government.
Senators, consuls, and tribunes once again held office. But Augustus
had power over all of them.

250 • Chapter 9
Augustus (63 B.C.–A.D. 14)
As a child, Augustus was weak and sickly. He continued to suffer from
illnesses throughout his life. Yet he lived a long life and became the
powerful ruler of a great empire.
Despite his enormous power, Augustus liked to present himself as
an average citizen with simple tastes. He lived in a small house and
slept in a bedroom no larger than a cell. He wore plain robes woven
by his wife. His favorite foods were those of the common people—
bread, cheese, and olives. Augustus also believed in a strict moral
code. He sent his own child into exile for not living up to this code.
Augustus once said that his highest honor was to be called the
father of his country by the Roman people. But after his death, the
Romans worshiped Augustus as a god.

CRITICAL THINKING
Make Inferences Why might
Augustus have wanted to present
himself as an average citizen?

Augustus governed well. He brought the provinces under control

and strengthened the empire’s defenses. He also began a civil service,
a group of officials employed by the government. The Roman civil
service collected taxes, oversaw the postal system, and managed the
grain supply.
Augustus also rebuilt and beautified Rome. He built grand
temples, theaters, and monuments. He replaced many old brick
buildings with structures made of marble. Under Augustus, Rome
became a magnificent imperial capital.

The Roman Peace The reign of Augustus began a long period of

Romana or
peace and stability in the Roman Empire called the Pax Romana,
“Roman Peace.” The Pax Romana lasted for about 200 years. During
this time, the empire grew to its greatest size, about two million
square miles.
Under Augustus, the Roman army became the greatest fighting
force in the world. Around 300,000 men served in the army. They
guarded the empire’s frontiers. They also built roads, bridges, and
tunnels that helped tie the empire together. In addition, Augustus
created a strong Roman navy that patrolled the Mediterranean Sea.
In this way, Rome was able to make its power and influence felt
throughout the Mediterranean world.

The Rise of Rome • 251

 60°N
Roman Empire, A.D. 200
Trade in the Roman Empire Main trade route
A .D. 200 Slave trade

Goods traded
Grain Textiles
Marble Timber
BRITAIN
Metals Wild animals
Olive oil Wine
ATLANTIC
OCEAN

GAUL PS

AL
Ad
ri

Ca
at
PY ITALY ic S Black Sea

sp
RENEES
ea

ian
Rome
SPAIN

Sea
40°N

Athens Ephesus
Gades Carthage Antioch
SYRIA
Medite
MAURETANIA rranean Sea
NS AFRICA Ctesiphon
TAI Alexandria
O UN
S M
LA
AT N EGYPT

CONNECT Geography & History W E

Region What goods came to Rome from Egypt? 0 250 500 miles
S
0 250 500 kilometers
Tropic of Cancer

0° 20°E 40°E

A Strong Government The Pax Romana continued long after

Augustus died in A .D. 14. Many other emperors ruled after Augustus.
Some were good rulers, while others were not. But the government
begun under Augustus was so effective that the empire continued
to do well. The Romans managed to control an empire that by the
A .D. 100s reached from Spain to Mesopotamia, from North Africa
to Britain. Included in its provinces were people of many languages,
cultures, and customs.

Agriculture Agriculture and trade helped the empire prosper.

Agriculture was the most important economic activity in the empire.
All else depended on it. The majority of people were engaged in
farming. Most Romans survived on the produce from their local area.
Additional food, if needed, was obtained through trade.
Farming remained the basis of the Roman economy, but industry
also grew. The manufacture of pottery, metal goods, and glass
increased. So did the production of wine and olive oil, as well as other
food products.

252 • Chapter 9
 Trade The empire fostered economic growth through the use of
trade routes. Traders sailed across the Mediterranean Sea to Spain,
Africa, and western Asia. They also traveled by land to Gaul and other
parts of Europe. Through trade, Rome acquired valuable goods not
available at home. Traders brought back grain, ivory, silk, spices, gold
and silver, and even wild animals. Much of this trade relied on the
quality of Roman roads. It also relied on the security provided by the
Roman military.

Currency The Roman economy was also united by a common

currency, or money. In Augustus’ time, a silver coin called a denarius
(dih•NAHR•ee•uhs) was used throughout the empire.
A common form of money made trade between
different parts of the empire much easier. Traders
could buy and sell without changing their money into
another currency.
Rome’s expanding economy largely benefited those
who were already wealthy. As a result, the division
between rich and poor became deeper. You will learn
more about this division in Section 3. ▲ Motto SPQR stands for
“the Senate and the people
FIND MAIN IDEAS Describe what happened to Rome after the of Rome.” This was the
death of Julius Caesar. motto of the Roman Empire.

ONLINE QUIZ

2 Section Assessment For test practice, go to

Interactive Review
@ ClassZone.com

Terms & Names Key Ideas

1. Explain the importance of 3. How did expansion threaten the Roman
civil war Cicero civil service Republic?
Julius Caesar Augustus Pax Romana 4. How did Caesar gain power?
5. How did Roman government change under
Use Your Reading Notes
Augustus?
2. Sequence Events Use your completed time line
to answer the following question: Critical Thinking
How long did Julius Caesar serve as dictator 6. Summarize What events and circumstances
for life? brought the Roman Republic to an end?
7. Analyze Causes and Effects What factors
encouraged economic growth during the Pax
100 B.C. A .D. 14
Romana?

Make a Map Make an outline map of the Roman Empire at its height in A.D. 117. Then add
labels to the map for cities, regions, countries, and bodies of water.

The Rise of Rome • 253

 ATLANTIC
OCEAN

Life in a Roman Fort Hadrian’s

Wall

The Romans built permanent forts on the Britain

frontiers of the empire. These forts helped Rome

both defend and expand its empire. Some of the
forts, like the one shown here, were located in
Britain. Officers called centurions commanded
the forts and the ordinary soldiers. Many Roman
citizens joined the army but had to sign on for
25 years of service. Conquered peoples were
also invited to join. They became Roman citizens
when their service ended.
Each fort housed officers and about 500
soldiers. When they weren’t on patrol, the
soldiers spent much of their time in and around
their barracks. Eighty men and one centurion
lived in each barrack.

A Uniform and Equipment A soldier guarding

the fort wore a wool tunic, protective chain mail
or armor, an iron helmet, and leather sandals. He
carried a spear, a sword, and a shield with his unit’s
emblem.

B Centurion’s Rooms A commander had several

rooms to himself. Like all centurions, he wore a
helmet with a crest that helped his soldiers identify
him during a battle.

C Mess Rooms Eight men shared a pair of mess

rooms. This is where they slept, cooked, and ate.

D Free Time The soldiers didn’t have much free

time, but when they did, they sometimes played
games. Board games were popular pastimes.

E Weapons Soldiers defended the fort by throwing

spears or shooting arrows at the enemy. Sometimes
they also used this machine, called a ballista. It
could throw steel-tipped arrows 300 to 400 yards.

254 • Chapter 9
1. TALK ABOUT IT What words
would you use to describe the
life of a Roman soldier?
2. WRITE ABOUT IT Imagine
you are a Roman soldier and
write a diary entry describing a
typical day.

255
 Section
3
Key Ideas
BEFORE, YOU LEARNED NOW YOU WILL LEARN
The Roman Empire created a long-lasting period The daily lives of Romans revolved around family,
of stability and prosperity in the ancient world. religion, and social class, as well as sports and
public entertainment.

Vocabulary
TERMS & NAMES REVIEW
aqueducts (AK•wih•DUHKTS) artificial channels emperor person who rules an empire
that carry water, sometimes over arched bridges empire a group of territories and peoples
Colosseum Roman stadium where Romans brought together under one supreme ruler
watched gladiator fights
gladiators trained Roman warriors
BACKGROUND VOCABULARY
cause motive or reason for acting
private school school that charges students
for admission
shrines places where sacred religious objects
are kept

Visual Vocabulary gladiators

Reading Strategy
Re-create the web diagram shown at right. As SUMMARIZE
you read and respond to the KEY QUESTIONS,
use the diagram to summarize ideas about the Family & Roman
daily life of Romans. Society Beliefs
The Daily Life
1. of Romans 1.
See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R4. 2. 2.

Life in Cities
1.
2.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Go to Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com

256 • Chapter 9
The Daily Life
of Romans
Connect to What You Know Remember that, in the
earliest days of Rome, extended families lived and worked
on small farms. Family members knew what was expected
of them. During the Roman Empire, family roles became ▲ Household Mosaic
even more structured—and so did roles in society. This mosaic was set
in front of a house in
Pompeii, an ancient
Roman city. The words
Family and Society at the bottom of the
mosaic tell visitors to
KEY QUESTION How were the family and society organized? “beware of dog.”
The head of the Roman family was the father. He owned all the
property and had control over other members of the household.
The father’s power was limited, however, by public opinion and
custom. Roman society disapproved of a father punishing his
family without good cause.

Women Women in a Roman family enjoyed some freedoms.

Like women in most parts of the world, Roman women were
expected to run the household and take care of the children. But
they also could inherit property, and they ran the family business Emperor’s Villa
when their husbands were away. Still, Roman women had little While most Romans
power outside the home and could not vote. lived in poor conditions,
the emperors lived in
luxury. A large number
of slaves took care of
this emperor’s villa. ▼

257
 Children Most parents gave
their children some education at
home. Boys from wealthy families
were often sent to private schools,
while daughters stayed at home
and learned household skills. Girls
usually married by age 14, while
boys married later.

Social Classes Over time,

Roman social classes changed. The
old division between patricians and
plebeians evolved into upper and
lower classes. Patricians and some
wealthy plebeians became part of
the upper class. A new middle class
also developed. Prosperous business
leaders and officials belonged to
▲ Upper-Class
this middle class. Farmers formed
Woman The young
one of the lower classes. woman in this wall
Slaves made up the lowest—and largest—class in society. painting wears the clothes
Up to one-third of the population were slaves. Some were and hairstyle of a wealthy
Roman citizen. What
prisoners of war. Others became slaves because their parents other elements in the
were slaves. Slaves were found throughout Roman society. wall painting reveal
Some slaves worked in low-level clerical positions. However, her social class?
slaves also performed all jobs requiring physical labor. They
worked in mines, on large estates, and as servants. Many
suffered cruel treatment. Slave revolts were common, but none
of them succeeded. Thousands of slaves died in these revolts, the most
famous of which was led by Spartacus.

DRAW CONCLUSIONS Describe how the family and society were

organized.

Roman Beliefs
KEY QUESTION What were the religious beliefs of the Romans?
Religious beliefs bound Roman society together. From the earliest
times, the Romans worshiped hundreds of spirits. They believed
that these spirits lived in everything around them, including rivers,
woods, and fields. Roman families also believed that household gods
protected them. They set up shrines in their homes in order to honor
these spirits.

258 • Chapter 9
 Greek and Roman Gods
Religious Influences Description Greek Roman
Later, Roman beliefs were Supreme god Zeus Jupiter
influenced by other cultures. Supreme Hera Juno
The Etruscans and Greeks goddess (wife of Zeus) (wife of Jupiter)
particularly affected Roman God of
Poseidon Neptune
the sea
religion. The Romans adopted
God of music
the Etruscan idea of gods Apollo Apollo
and poetry
in human form. They also
Goddess
adopted Etruscan rituals of love Aphrodite Venus
designed to predict the future. and beauty
The Romans believed these
God of war Ares Mars
rituals could reveal whether
a specific action, such as a ▲ Jupiter This
battle, would have a good result. statue of Jupiter
The Romans borrowed many of their gods from the Greeks. For shows the god riding
an eagle—his sym-
instance, the Roman god Jupiter, father of the gods, had many of the bol—and throwing a
characteristics of the Greek god Zeus. Apollo, the Greek god of music lightning bolt.
and poetry, became a key Roman god of the same name.

Religion and Public Life As in ancient Egypt, religion and

government were linked in Rome. Priests were government officials,
and the emperor was the head of the church. Roman gods were also
symbols of the state. Romans were expected to honor these gods in
public ceremonies. Over time, even the emperor himself became a
god. At first, the Romans only worshiped emperors after death. But
eventually they honored living rulers as gods. Loyalty to the emperor
became the same as loyalty to the gods.

FIND MAIN IDEAS Discuss the religious beliefs of the Romans.

Life in Roman Cities

KEY QUESTION What was life like in Roman cities?
At the height of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome had nearly one
million people. People from all over the empire moved to Rome. This
mix of people produced a lively blend of ideas and customs.

The Crowded City The number of people also created problems.

Rome’s center was crowded, dirty, and noisy. Much of the city’s
population was unemployed and poor. These people lived in rundown
apartment buildings. They had small rooms with no running water or
toilets. Public bathhouses were one means of adapting to a crowded
city. People dropped their trash out the windows, injuring others
walking in the streets below. Fire was also a constant danger.

The Rise of Rome • 259

 CONNECT to Science
Water Management The typical Roman public bath
was built on a foundation of pillars. Roman architects
constructed a furnace that opened into the area beneath
the bath. When slaves burned wood in the furnace, hot air
flowed around the pillars. This hot air heated the rooms and
water above.

CRITICAL THINKING
Draw Conclusions How might public
baths have promoted cleanliness?

Rich and Poor Poor Romans also had little to eat. Typical foods
were bread, olives, and fruit. But the government provided free grain
to keep people happy and avoid public unrest.
By contrast, wealthy Romans enjoyed a life of luxury. They lived
in large, comfortable homes in the countryside. They spent their time
going to the theater and enjoying themselves. They also held fancy
dinner parties. These meals included fine foods like dates, oysters,
and ham. They also included unusual dishes like salted jellyfish, roast
parrot, and boiled flamingo tongue.

Responding to Urban Problems The Romans came up with a

number of practical solutions to some of their urban problems. They
built sewer and plumbing systems to improve sanitation. They also
built aqueducts (AK•wih•DUHK T S), artificial channels that carried
fresh water from springs, streams, and lakes into Roman towns. The
water traveled through a system of channels and pipes. Most of these
were underground but some were supported by high arched bridges.

260 • Chapter 9
 Public baths were another important
part of city life. Most towns and even
most Roman forts had public bathhouses.
Romans of all classes visited the baths to
bathe and socialize. Connect to Science on
HISTORY
the preceding page provides more about
▲ Roman Aqueducts
the architecture and technology of a typical The remains of this
Roman bathhouse. Roman aqueduct still
To distract Romans from the problems of city life, the stand over the Gard
River in France.
government provided entertainment at large public arenas.
One of these was the Circus Maximus (MAK•suh•muhs), a ##LICK
LICK HHERE
ERE
large oval stadium used for chariot races. As you learned on to see how aqueducts
work @ ClassZone.com
pages 234–235, another famous arena was the Colosseum. The
Colosseum was named for a huge statue, or colossus, of a
Roman emperor that once stood beside the arena.
In the arena, Romans could watch gladiators, or trained warriors,
fight to the death. Overhead stretched a cloth awning to protect
the public from the sun. The crowd might see hunters killing unusual
animals. But the most popular contests pitted two gladiators against one
another or a gladiator against a wild animal. The spectacles the Romans
watched combined bravery and violence, honor and cruelty.

MAKE GENERALIZATIONS Describe what life was like in Roman cities.

ONLINE QUIZ

3 Section Assessment For test practice, go to

Interactive Review
@ ClassZone.com

Terms & Names Key Ideas

1. Explain the importance of 3. Who belonged to the main social classes during
aqueducts Colosseum gladiators the time of the Roman Empire?
4. What was the relationship of religion to
Use Your Reading Notes government in ancient Rome?
2. Summarize Use your completed diagram to 5. What was the city of Rome like?
answer the following question:
What architectural innovations improved Roman Critical Thinking
city life? 6. Form and Support Opinions How would
Family & Roman worshiping the emperor while he lived affect
Society Beliefs
The Daily Life the Romans’ view of their ruler?
1. of Romans 1.
2. 2.
7. CONNECT to Today How are ancient
Life in Cities
1.
Rome’s urban problems reflected in urban
2. problems today?

Internet Activity Use the Internet to find out more about how aqueduct bridges worked.
Then draw a diagram that illustrates how these bridges carried water to Roman cities.
INTERNET KEYWORD Roman aqueduct
The Rise of Rome • 261
 Chapter
Rome’s Decline
10 and Legacy

Essential Question
Why did the Roman Empire fall,
and what is its legacy?

CONNECT Geography & History

Use the map and the time line to answer the

following questions.
1. How does the size of the Western Roman Empire ATLANTIC
compare with that of the Eastern Roman Empire? OCEAN
2. The Eastern Roman Empire was also known as the
Byzantine Empire. About how much longer did that
empire last than the Western Roman Empire?

30oW 20oW

161 285
Marcus Aurelius Diocletian 324 476
begins his reign. reorganizes Constantine reunifies Western Roman
(relief of Marcus Aurelius) ▲ the empire. the Roman Empire. Empire falls.

220 325
Han Dynasty King Ezana rules African
collapses in China. kingdom of Aksum.
(pillar from Aksum)
▲

272
 GEOGRAPHY & HISTORY
The Division of the Roman Empire A .D. 395
#LICK HERE to listen to the story of how the Roman
Empire was divided @ ClassZone.com

a
c Se
North Sea B alti

BRITAIN
London
FRANKS
ASIA

Rh
ine
50oN

R i ver
Da
nub River VANDALS
e

GOTHS
GAUL EUROPE
S
ALP

Ad
ria Black Sea
ITALY tic
Corsica Se Constantinople
Rome a (Byzantium)
MACEDONIA
SPAIN
40oN
Sardinia
Córdoba A NAT O L I A
Athens
Sicily
Carthage Antioch
Crete
M e SYRIA
d i t e Cyprus
r r a n e a
n S e a
PALESTINE
N
LIBYA Alexandria Jerusalem
W E 30oN

S AFRICA EGYPT Ni

0 300 600 miles

le

Eastern Roman Empire 0 300 600 kilometers

River

Western Roman Empire

Tropic of Cancer
GOTHS Major Germanic peoples S A H A R A
Red
Sea

10oW 0o 10oE 20oE 30oE 40oE

20oN

527
Justinian comes to power 1054 1453
in the Byzantine Empire. Christian church splits Byzantine Empire
(mosaic of Justinian) into two branches. falls to the Turks.
▲

630 900s 1279

Muhammad unifies the people Mayan civilization Kublai Khan conquers China.
of the Arabian peninsula. declines. (painting of Kublai Khan)
▲

(Mayan pyramid)
▲

273
 Section
1
Key Ideas
BEFORE, YOU LEARNED NOW YOU WILL LEARN
The apostle Paul and other Christian missionaries At first, Rome felt threatened by Christianity and
traveled throughout the Roman Empire, spreading persecuted its followers. In time, however, the
their faith. empire embraced the religion.

Vocabulary
TERMS & NAMES REVIEW
Constantine (KAHN•stuhn•TEEN) Roman Gentiles non-Jewish people
emperor who made Christianity one of the
empire’s legal religions
bishops local church leaders within the Roman
Catholic Church
pope bishop of Rome and the most important
bishop in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church Christian church based
in Rome
creed statement of beliefs
Trinity union of three divine beings—Father,
Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit—in one God
Visual Vocabulary Constantine

Reading Strategy
Re-create the web diagram shown at right. As FIND MAIN IDEAS
you read and respond to the KEY QUESTIONS,
use the diagram to jot down details that support
the idea that Rome’s attitude toward Christianity
changed. Add more ovals as needed. Rome’s Attitude
Toward Christianity
See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R3.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Go to Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com

274 • Chapter 10
Rome and Starting with
a Story
Fire! Rome is burning!

Christianity Some say Emperor

Nero set the fire, and
now he is accusing the
Christians!

##LICK
LICK HHERE
ERE
Connect to What You Know You have already learned to listen to the story
that Roman religious beliefs were influenced by the religions @ ClassZone.com
of earlier cultures. As Christianity spread throughout the
ancient world before A.D. 100, however, Rome tried to control
the new religion.

Rome’s Policy Toward Christianity

KEY QUESTION How did Rome react to Christianity?
In general, Rome tolerated the religious practices of the people
it conquered. For example, it did not require Jews to worship the
emperor and other Roman gods. However, Rome would not let
its subjects’ religions inspire rebellion. For that reason, when a
Jewish revolt began in Jerusalem, the Romans destroyed the Jews’
temple in A .D. 70.

A Christian Threat The Christians’ refusal to worship Roman HISTORY

gods was seen as a form of rebellion. In addition, the appeal of St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s in Rome is
Christianity to slaves and women caused alarm. Finally, talk
one of the world’s holi-
about a leader who would establish a new kingdom seemed to est Christian sites. ▼
imply an end to the Roman Empire. As more Gentiles, or non-
Jewish people, joined the Christian movement by converting to ##LICK
LICK HHERE
ERE
to visit Italy’s historic
Christianity, the Romans felt threatened. and holy sites
@ ClassZone.com

275
 The Roman Persecutions Roman
fears about Christianity soon led to
active hostility. Some Roman rulers
blamed Christians for political and
economic troubles. For instance,
Emperor Nero accused the Christians
of setting a fire that leveled much of
Rome in A.D. 64. During the second
century, persecution of the Christians
intensified. Many were imprisoned or
killed because of their religion. Yet more
people converted to Christianity.
Other Christians and even some
non-Christians regarded the persecuted
as martyrs. Martyrs are people who are
willing to sacrifice their lives for the
sake of a belief or cause. During the
Roman persecutions, Christian martyrs
were often buried in underground
cemeteries called catacombs. Christians
gathered in the catacombs to celebrate ▲ Catacomb This
the martyrs’ funerals as well as other rituals and ceremonies. picture of a catacomb
in Rome shows burial
A World Religion Despite the persecution of its followers, niches and a painting
Christianity became a powerful force. By the late 200s, of Jesus. Why do you
think the Christians
millions of Christians lived in the Roman Empire and beyond. decorated the
Christianity was popular for several reasons: catacomb with a
• The religion embraced all people: men and women, painting of Jesus?
enslaved persons, the poor, and nobles.
• It gave hope to the powerless.
• The spirituality of the faith appealed to those who
were disgusted by the luxurious lifestyle of wealthy
Romans.
• Christianity offered a personal relationship with a
loving God.
• Christianity’s teachings promised eternal life after death.
As the religion grew, Christian communities offered support to
their members. Christians established hospitals, schools, and other
social services. As a result, their faith attracted even more followers. In
time, their numbers would include one very powerful believer.

SUMMARIZE Discuss how Rome reacted to Christianity.

276 • Chapter 10
 The Conversion of Constantine
KEY QUESTION Why did Constantine convert to Christianity?
In 306, Constantine (KAHN•stuhn•TEEN) became the emperor of
Rome. At first, Constantine allowed the persecution of Christians. In
312, however, he changed his policy toward Christianity when he was
battling three rivals for the leadership of Rome.

The Cross as Sign In the midst of the fighting, Constantine

prayed for help. Later he reported seeing a Christian cross in the sky
along with these words: “In this sign you will conquer.” He ordered
his soldiers to put the symbol of the cross on their shields and battle
flags. Constantine and his troops won the battle. The victorious
emperor credited his success to the Christian God.

The Legalization of Christianity Constantine immediately

ended the persecution of Christians. Then, in a decree known as
the Edict of Milan, he made Christianity one of the empire’s legal
religions. Constantine also built churches, used Christian symbols
on coins, and made Sunday a holy day of rest and worship. But
Rome’s first Christian emperor delayed his own formal conversion to
Christianity until the end of his life.

Spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire A .D. 600

Christian areas, 325

North
Additional Christian areas, 600
Sea
Boundary of Roman Empire, 395

N BRITAIN R
hin
e R
.

50°N W E
Dan
ube R.
S
EUROPE
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Black Sea
IT
AL
Y Constantinople
SPAIN Rome
40°N
GREECE ARMENIA
ASIA
0 250 500 miles
Med Antioch
Tigr

0 250 500 kilometers iterr SYRIA

anean Eu
is

Sea ph
rat
R.

e s R.
20°W 10°W 0°
Jerusalem
Alexandria
30°N
CONNECT Geography & History EGYPT
AFRICA
Nil

Location Around what body of water

Re
e

30°E
R.

dS

did Christianity spread? 10°E 20°E 40°E 50°E

ea

277
 Constantine (C. 280–337)
Constantine was a fierce and successful warrior.
He was also a serious student of his new
religion, Christianity. He wrote a special prayer
for his troops, and he even traveled with a
movable chapel in a tent. Constantine decreed
the building of many Christian churches in the
Roman Empire.
Constantine established Constantinople
(now Istanbul, Turkey) as a new capital. It was
a center of Christianity for the next thousand
years. He was buried in Constantinople’s
Church of the Apostles in 337. Memorials to
the 12 apostles surrounded Constantine’s
tomb. Constantine, the first Christian emperor,
considered himself to be Jesus’ 13th apostle.

CRITICAL THINKING
Draw Conclusions Why do you
think Constantine considered
himself to be Jesus’ 13th apostle?

Christianity Changes Rome In 380, Emperor Theodosius

made Christianity the official religion of Rome. Eleven years later,
Theodosius closed all non-Christian temples. “All the peoples we
rule,” he said, “shall practice that religion that Peter the Apostle
transmitted to the Romans.”

ANALYZE CAUSES Explain what led to Constantine’s conversion.

Beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church

KEY QUESTION What were some of the beliefs of the early church?
Christianity in Roman cities took on a common structure. Priests and
deacons obeyed bishops, or local church leaders. According to Roman
Catholic tradition, Rome’s first bishop was the apostle Peter. Much
later, the bishop of Rome would become the most important bishop,
or pope. This marked the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church, a
Christian church based in Rome. Catholic means “universal.”

278 • Chapter 10
 Some early Christian writers, called church fathers,
developed a creed, or statement of beliefs. This creed
featured a belief in the Trinity, or union of three divine
beings—Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit—in one
God. Augustine, a church father from North Africa,
taught that humans needed the grace of God to be
saved. He further taught that people could not receive
God’s grace unless they belonged to the church.
The church also developed religious rites based on
events in the life of Jesus. Baptism, a rite of purification by
water, signaled Jesus’ entry into Christianity. The rite came to
symbolize the admission of all believers into the religion.
To live the ideal Christian life and to celebrate these ▲ Dove The Holy Spirit
sacraments together, Christian men and women formed is often symbolized by a
communities called monasteries. Over time, men entered the dove, like the one in this
stained glass window
higher orders of the church, becoming bishops, priests, and
from St. Peter’s Basilica.
deacons. Christianity changed from a small sect into a powerful,
wealthy religion.
As Christianity grew, however, the Roman Empire began
to weaken. In Section 2, you will learn the causes and results of the
empire’s decline.

EVALUATE Identify some of the beliefs of the early Christian church.

ONLINE QUIZ

1 Section Assessment For test practice, go to

Interactive Review
@ ClassZone.com

Terms & Names Key Ideas

1. Explain the importance of 3. How did the Romans view Christianity at first?
Constantine pope creed 4. What effect did the Edict of Milan have?
bishops Roman Catholic Church Trinity 5. What three beings are said to make up the
Trinity?
Use Your Reading Notes
2. Find Main Ideas Use your completed diagram Critical Thinking
to answer the following question: 6. Analyze Causes and Effects What effect
What decision made by Theodosius had a big did Emperor Constantine have on the spread of
impact on Roman religion? Christianity?
7. Make Inferences Why do you think the bishop
of Rome became the most important of all the
Rome’s Attitude
Toward Christianity bishops?

Make a Time Line Chart the important events in the early history of the church on a time
line. Be sure to include the sources for your dates.

Rome’s Decline and Legacy • 279

 Section
2
Key Ideas
BEFORE, YOU LEARNED NOW YOU WILL LEARN
The Christian movement in Rome gained in While Christianity grew, the Roman Empire
strength until it became one of the empire’s weakened and divided into an eastern and a
official religions. western empire.

Vocabulary
TERMS & NAMES BACKGROUND VOCABULARY
mercenary (MUR•suh•NEHR•ee) soldier for hire nomadic term describing people who make a
Diocletian (DY•uh•KLEE•shuhn) Roman living by herding animals and moving from place
emperor who restored order to the empire and to place as the seasons change
divided it into eastern and western parts
barbarian according to the ancient Romans,
someone who was primitive and uncivilized
plunder to loot, or to take things by force
Clovis (KLOH•vihs) founder of a Frankish
kingdom in the former Roman province of Gaul

Visual Vocabulary statue of Diocletian

Reading Strategy
Re-create the time line shown at right. As you SEQUENCE EVENTS
read and respond to the KEY QUESTIONS, use
the time line to list events that brought about the
decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R5. 350 476

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Go to Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com

280 • Chapter 10
Decline and Fall
of the Empire
Connect to What You Know Consider what
problems any large empire might face, from economic
difficulties to invasion by outsiders. In this section, you
▲ Germanic Invaders
will learn that the Roman Empire developed problems Rome could not stop the
for which there seemed to be no obvious solutions. waves of invaders from
the outlying Germanic
tribes. This sculpture
Weakness in the Empire belonged to a Germanic
group called the
KEY QUESTION What problems weakened Rome? Lombards.

Late in the A .D. 100s, the empire still seemed as strong as ever
to most people. Yet a series of internal problems had begun that
would threaten Rome’s existence.

Economic Problems Some of Rome’s problems were brought

about by a weakened economy. During the A .D. 100s, the empire
stopped expanding. The end of new conquests meant an end
to new sources of wealth. As a result, the government raised
taxes, creating hardships for citizens. A decline in agriculture
also weakened the empire. Constant warfare and overuse had Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall in Britain
destroyed farmland. In addition, technology had not improved
marked the northern
because farmers had relied on slaves rather than new tools to do border of the Roman
the work. The resulting food shortages caused unrest. Empire. What do you
think was the pur-
pose of the wall? ▼

281
 Military Problems Meanwhile, Rome’s once powerful military
began showing signs of trouble. The empire was constantly at war
with nomadic peoples in the north and northeast, as well as with the
people who lived along its eastern borders. Rome needed larger armies
to respond to so many threats, so it hired foreign mercenaries. A
mercenary (MUR•suh•NEHR•ee) is a soldier for hire. Mercenaries often
had no loyalty to the empire. Over time, Roman soldiers in general
became less disciplined and loyal. They pledged their allegiance not to
Rome but to individual military leaders.

Political and Social Problems The sheer size of the Roman

Empire made it hard to govern. Government officials had trouble
getting news about affairs in distant regions of the empire. This made
it more difficult to know where problems were developing. Also, many
government officials were corrupt, seeking only to enrich themselves.
These political problems destroyed people’s sense of citizenship. Many
Romans no longer felt a sense of duty to the empire.
Other aspects of Roman society also suffered. The cost of
education increased, so poor Romans found it harder to become
educated. People grew less informed about civic matters. Chinese soldier ▼
Image not available
SUMMARIZE Discuss the problems that weakened Rome.
for electronic use.
Please refer to the
image in the textbook.
COMPARING The Decline of Empires

Causes for Roman Empire Han Empire

Failure 27 B.C .–A .D. 476 202 B.C .–A .D. 220
Political A series of inexperienced and A series of inexperienced
often corrupt emperors emperors
Division of the empire No division of the empire
Ongoing conflict with Ongoing conflict with nomads
Germanic tribes
Economic Crushing tax burden Crushing tax burden

Gap between the rich Gap between the rich

and the poor and the poor

Image not available Social Decline of patriotism and loyalty Peasant revolts

for electronic use. Food shortages Floods that caused starvation

and displacement of people
Please refer to the
image in the textbook.
CRITICAL THINKING
Roman soldier Draw Conclusions What conclusions can you
▲

draw about what led to the decline of both empires?

282
Rome Divides into
East and West
KEY QUESTION Why did Rome
split into two empires?
A rapidly changing series of
emperors also weakened the
government. During the 49 years
from 235 to 284, Rome had 37
emperors. Of these, 34 died in
civil wars or by assassination. With
emperors changing so often, the
Roman people had little sense of
orderly rule.

Splitting the Empire In

284, the emperor Diocletian
(DY•uh•KLEE•shuhn) took power.
He restored order to the empire
by ruling with an iron fist and
CONNECT to Today
tolerating little opposition. Diocletian changed the way the
▲ Istanbul Today
army operated by permanently placing troops at the empire’s
Constantinople is called
borders. He also introduced economic reforms. For example, Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is
to help feed the poor, he kept prices low on bread. visible in the foreground of
In addition, Diocletian realized that he could not effectively this aerial view of the city.
govern the huge empire. In 285, he divided the empire into east
and west parts, taking the eastern portion for himself. He chose
this area for its greater wealth and trade and its magnificent cities.
Diocletian appointed Maximilian to rule the Western Empire. The two
men ruled for 20 years.

A New Capital In 306, a civil war broke out over control of the
empire. Four military commanders fought for control of the two
halves. One of these commanders was Constantine. He gained control
during the civil war and became emperor.
In Section 1, you learned that Constantine made it lawful to be a
Christian. Constantine’s second significant action came in 330 when
he moved the empire’s capital from Rome to the ancient Greek city
of Byzantium (bih•ZAN•shee•uhm). Constantine renamed the city
Constantinople. At a crossroads between east and west, the city was
well placed for defense and trade. The new capital signaled a shift in
power from the western part of the empire to the east.

FIND MAIN IDEAS Explain why Rome split into two empires.

Rome’s Decline and Legacy • 283

 GEOGRAPHY
Invasions into the Roman Empire A .D. 350–500
##LICK
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invade the Roman Empire @ ClassZone.com
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0° 10°E 20°E

The Western Empire Falls

KEY QUESTION What brought about the fall of the Western Empire?
In addition to internal difficulties, the Romans faced another major
problem. Foreign groups were swarming all around Rome’s borders.
Soon they would invade, and the empire’s slow decline would turn
into a rapid downfall.

Invasion and Conquest A number of Germanic peoples and

other groups lived beyond Rome’s borders. Romans looked down
on these groups but also feared them. To the Romans, the Germanic
peoples were barbarians. For the ancient Romans, the term barbarian
meant someone who was primitive and uncivilized. The Romans
applied the term to anyone living outside the empire.
During the late 300s, these Germanic groups began pushing into
Roman lands. Their reasons for invading varied. Some came looking
for better land or a way to join in Rome’s wealth. Many others were
fleeing a fierce group of invaders from Asia known as the Huns.

284 • Chapter 10
 Rome’s Fall In 410, Germanic peoples attacked and
plundered the city of Rome. Plunder means to loot, or
to take things by force. It was the first time since the
Gauls seized Rome in 390 B.C. that nomadic invaders had
entered Rome. Eventually, the Huns would also invade
the empire. In 476, the Germanic tribes conquered Rome.
This date marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

The Aftermath of Rome’s Fall In the years that

followed, the final holdouts of Roman power in the
west fell. In 486, Clovis (KLOH•vihs), the leader of a
▲ Germanic Skull
Germanic group known as the Franks, conquered the This skull still has its hair.
remaining Roman land in the province of Gaul (present-day The knot in the hair was
France and Switzerland) and founded a Frankish kingdom. a characteristic style of
Germanic people.
After Rome’s fall, life in Western Europe changed in many ways.
Roads and other public structures fell into disrepair, and trade and
commerce declined. Germanic kingdoms claimed former Roman lands,
and the Roman Catholic Church became a unifying and powerful force.
Though the western part of the empire had crumbled, the eastern
part survived. As you will read in the next section, this civilization
became known as the Byzantine Empire.

ANALYZE CAUSES Tell what brought about the fall of the Western
Empire.

ONLINE QUIZ

2 Section Assessment For test practice, go to

Interactive Review
@ ClassZone.com

Terms & Names Key Ideas

1. Explain the importance of 3. What internal problems were faced by the
mercenary barbarian Clovis Roman Empire?
Diocletian plunder 4. How did Diocletian try to solve the empire’s
problems?
Use Your Reading Notes
5. Why is 476 considered an important date in
2. Sequence Events Use your completed time line Roman history?
to answer the following question:
What was the most significant event of the Critical Thinking
empire’s downfall? 6. Evaluate How did moving the capital from Rome
to Constantinople in the east weaken the western
part of the empire?
7. Make Inferences Why didn’t the Romans make
350 476 the Germanic peoples their allies?

Write Newspaper Headlines Write a series of headlines that describe the fall of Rome. Base
each headline on a major event in this section. Arrange the headlines in chronological order on a
poster. When possible, provide a date for each event.
Rome’s Decline and Legacy • 285