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[[World History Lecture One|1]]-[[World History Lecture Two|2]]-[[World History Lecture Three|3]]-[[World History Lecture Four|4]]-[[World History Lecture Five|5]]-[[World History Lecture Six|6]]-[[World History Lecture Seven|7]]-[[World History Lecture Eight|8]]-[[World History Lecture Nine|9]]-[[World History Lecture Ten|10]]-[[World History Lecture Eleven|11]]-[[World History Lecture Twelve|12]]-[[World History Lecture Thirteen|13]]-[[World History Lecture Fourteen|14]]

[[World History Lecture One|1]]-[[World History Lecture Two|2]]-[[World History Lecture Three|3]]-[[World History Lecture Four|4]]-[[World History Lecture Five|5]]-[[World History Lecture Six|6]]-[[World History Lecture Seven|7]]-[[World History Lecture Eight|8]]-[[World History Lecture Nine|9]]-[[World History Lecture Ten|10]]-[[World History Lecture Eleven|11]]-[[World History Lecture Twelve|12]]-[[World History Lecture Thirteen|13]]-[[World History Lecture Fourteen|14]]

The Roman Empire was the last great ancient civilization.  Many consider to be the greatest civilization of all.  It brought the world Latin, good roads, Pontius Pilate, the brutal persecution of early Christians and, ultimately, the acceptance and expansion of Christianity.  One could spend an entire course on the Roman empire, and we will devote our entire lecture to the history of this remarkable civilization.

The Roman empire was the last great ancient civilization.  Many consider to be the greatest civilization of all.  It brought the world Latin, good roads, Pontius Pilate, the brutal persecution of early Christians and, ultimately, the acceptance and expansion of Christianity.  One could spend an entire course on the Roman empire, and we will devote our entire lecture to the history of this remarkable civilization.

==The Roman Empire==

==The Roman Empire==

===Leading up to an Empire===

===Leading up to an Empire===

In the eastern Mediterranean, Rome fought wars in Anatolia (present-day Turkey) and Macedonia between 215 and 148 B.C. to gain control over those territories.  By 148 B.C., Rome controlled everything around the Medditerranean from Spain to Anatolia.

In the eastern Mediterranean, Rome fought wars in Anatolia (present-day Turkey) and Macedonia between 215 and 148 B.C. to gain control over those territories.  By 148 B.C., Rome controlled everything around the Mediterranean from Spain to Anatolia.

Afterwards a period of struggle ensued between the Roman military, fresh from its conquests, and the Senate that ruled to adopt a republican form of government.  Some corruption followed, and historians blame wealthy senators for blocking some economic proposals.   

Afterwards a period of struggle ensued between the Roman military, fresh from its conquests, and the Senate that ruled to adopt a republican form of government.  Some corruption followed, and historians blame wealthy senators for blocking some economic proposals.   

The Roman Senate was less than pleased with how Julius Caesar acted like a dictator.  In a conspiracy famously recounted in Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” Cassius and Brutus and up to 60 others agreed to stab and kill Julius Caesar when he entered the Senate on the “Ides of March” (March 15, 44 B.C.).  After he died, Rome fell into chaos for 13 years as rivals strove for power.  Julius Caesar wanted his 18-year-old grandnephew, Gaius Octavius, to be his heir and become emperor.  Others wanted Mark Antony.  Cassius and Brutus also had armies of their own.  First a triumvirate of Octavian, Antony and Lepidus defeated the armies of Cassius and Brutus, and that ended the republican rule by the Senate.   

The Roman Senate was less than pleased with how Julius Caesar acted like a dictator.  In a conspiracy famously recounted in Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” Cassius and Brutus and up to 60 others agreed to stab and kill Julius Caesar when he entered the Senate on the “Ides of March” (March 15, 44 B.C.).  After he died, Rome fell into chaos for 13 years as rivals strove for power.  Julius Caesar wanted his 18-year-old grandnephew, Gaius Octavius, to be his heir and become emperor.  Others wanted Mark Antony.  Cassius and Brutus also had armies of their own.  First a triumvirate of Octavian, Antony and Lepidus defeated the armies of Cassius and Brutus, and that ended the republican rule by the Senate.   

Then the triumvirate fought with each other.  First, Lepidus retired.  Then Antony fell in love with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt and went to be with her there, ruling the eastern part of the empire.  To turn public opinion against the popular Antony, Octavian read aloud a paper to the Senate that was supposedly Antony’s will.  In it, Antony expressed his intent for Cleopatra and her children to rule the eastern part of the Empire after his death.  At the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C., Antony and Octavian clashed and Octavian won.  Antony and Cleopatra fled back to Egypt, but Octavian’s army hunted them down.  Rather than be captured or killed, they took their own lives.  Their affair was chronicled over a thousand years later by Shakespeare in his tragedy, "Antony and Cleopatra".  After their deaths, Octavian was the sole ruler.

Then the triumvirate fought with each other.  First, Lepidus retired.  Then Antony fell in love with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt and went to be with her there, ruling the eastern part of the empire.  To turn public opinion against the popular Antony, Octavian read aloud a paper to the Senate that was supposedly Antony’s will.  In it, Antony expressed his intent for Cleopatra and her children to rule the eastern part of the Empire after his death.  At the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C., Antony and Octavian clashed and Octavian won.  Antony and Cleopatra fled back to Egypt, but Octavian’s army hunted them down.  Rather than be captured or killed, they took their own lives.  Their affair was chronicled over a thousand years later by Shakespeare in his tragedy, ''Antony and Cleopatra''.  After their deaths, Octavian was the sole ruler.

Roman culture flourished under Julius Caesar and the struggle afterward.  Most notably, Marcus Cicero (106-43 B.C.) became the leading writer, orator and statesman.  His works are read to this day in Latin courses, as he established a high standard for Latin prose.  The language enabled powerful concepts to be expressed succinctly, and often Latin phrases are used today in the legal system, science, and elsewhere.  But there was no freedom of speech in ancient Rome, and when Cicero’s work called "The Philippics" criticized Mark Antony in 43 B.C., Antony responded by putting Cicero to death.

Roman culture flourished under Julius Caesar and the struggle afterward.  Most notably, Marcus Cicero (106-43 B.C.) became the leading writer, orator and statesman.  His works are read to this day in Latin courses, as he established a high standard for Latin prose.  The language enabled powerful concepts to be expressed succinctly, and often Latin phrases are used today in the legal system, science, and elsewhere.  But there was no freedom of speech in ancient Rome, and when Cicero’s work named ''The Philippics'' criticized Mark Antony in 43 B.C., Antony responded by putting Cicero to death.

===Birth of the Roman Empire===

===Birth of the Roman Empire===

Augustus essentially established a constitutional monarchy rather than a true republic, as the Senate’s role was only advisory.  Yet under this system of government the Roman empire thrived for 200 years, with the population of Rome growing to more than one million persons by about A.D. 100, a huge number for the ancient world.  The Roman empire included far more than 100 cities, which had their own local governments, and which engaged in trade with each other.  Eventually, plague and economic disaster began to cause decreases in the populations of cities by about A.D. 200, and barbarian invasions caused more to flee to the countryside.  By the 6th century A.D. the population of Rome was probably less than 50,000 people.  The broadest dates assigned to the Roman empire are from 509 B.C. to A.D. 476, when the last emperor was deposed (removed from power).  The greatest time period for the Roman empire was from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180 (known as “Pax Romana,” as described later).

Augustus essentially established a constitutional monarchy rather than a true republic, as the Senate’s role was only advisory.  Yet under this system of government the Roman empire thrived for 200 years, with the population of Rome growing to more than one million persons by about A.D. 100, a huge number for the ancient world.  The Roman empire included far more than 100 cities, which had their own local governments, and which engaged in trade with each other.  Eventually, plague and economic disaster began to cause decreases in the populations of cities by about A.D. 200, and barbarian invasions caused more to flee to the countryside.  By the 6th century A.D. the population of Rome was probably less than 50,000 people.  The broadest dates assigned to the Roman empire are from 509 B.C. to A.D. 476, when the last emperor was deposed (removed from power).  The greatest time period for the Roman empire was from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180 (known as “Pax Romana,” as described later).

The Roman empire is known for its organization and practical benefits for its citizens:  great roads, drinking water, currency, laws, powerful military, useful sewers and the orderly administration of justice.  Massive in geography, the Empire extended all along the Mediterranean Sea and brought civilization to vast tracts of land and many peoples.  The “Silk Road” connected the Roman empire to Parthia (Persia or modern Iran), China and India, thereby facilitating trade.  The Roman empire also established a language and alphabet that is the basis for the modern languages and writing of Western Europe and the United States.  After initially persecuting Christians, the Roman empire enabled Christianity to expand and flourish.  Summed up in one word, the Roman empire was “organized”.

The Roman empire is known for its organization and practical benefits for its citizens:  great roads, drinking water, currency, laws, powerful military, useful sewers and the orderly administration of justice.  Massive in geography, the Empire extended all along the Mediterranean Sea and brought civilization to vast tracts of land and many peoples.  The “Silk Road” connected the Roman empire to Parthia (Persia or modern Iran), China and India, thereby facilitating trade.  The Roman empire also established a language and alphabet that is the basis for the modern languages and the writings of Western Europe and the United States.  After initially persecuting Christians, the Roman empire enabled Christianity to expand and flourish.  Summed up in one word, the Roman empire was “organized”.

The Roman empire flourished during “Pax Romana,” which is Latin for “the Roman peace.”  This is the period from 27 B.C. (when Augustus Caesar declared an end to the civil war) to A.D. 180 (when the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius died).  During this period the Roman empire generally enjoyed peace, leadership by the “Five Good Emperors,” and substantial prosperity.  Several of the emperors during this period were chosen for their talent rather than their family connections, such Nerva, who was elected by the Roman Senate.  Nerva was then followed by four other talented emperors:  Trajan (who ruled over more land than anyone), Hadrian (who built defensive walls), Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius.  The last of the Good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius, was a philosopher who wrote a book about spirituality called “Meditations”, which emphasized one’s personal duty.  But he should have given more thought to his successor, because his death in A.D. 180 marked the end of Pax Romana.  Chaos followed and the military then fought over who would be the next emperor.

The Roman empire flourished during “Pax Romana,” which is Latin for “the Roman peace.”  This is the period from 27 B.C. (when Augustus Caesar declared an end to the civil war) to A.D. 180 (when the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius died).  During this period the Roman empire generally enjoyed peace, leadership by the “Five Good Emperors,” and substantial prosperity.  Several of the emperors during this period were chosen for their talent rather than their family connections, such Nerva, who was elected by the Roman Senate.  Nerva was then followed by four other talented emperors:  Trajan (who ruled over more land than anyone), Hadrian (who built defensive walls), Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius.  The last of the Good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius, was a philosopher who wrote a book about spirituality called “Meditations”, which emphasized one’s personal duty.  But he should have given more thought to his successor, because his death in A.D. 180 marked the end of Pax Romana.  Chaos followed and the military then fought over who would be the next emperor.