Decline and Fall of Roman Empire

Page 149

These will be the sources you will use as evidence.

Document A: Map

Document B: Coins

Context: The denarius was a silver coin used in the Roman Empire. On the front side of the coin is the head of Octavian and the inscribed word “CAESAR.” On the back is a Crocodile inscribed with “AEGVPTO CAPTA” which means “Egypt Captured.” This coin was used in celebration of Augustus’s victory in Egypt, specifically the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C.E.

Answer on page 149

• What words come to mind to describe Augustus based on the fact that he

  • Expanded the territory of the Roman Empire

  • Achieved an important military victory in Egypt

• Write a sentence on page 149 that describes Augustus based on these sources

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

• List the evidence you would use to support this

  • map or coin

Document C: Augustus

When Emperor Augustus felt ill and thought his life was coming to an end, he began writing down his accomplishments. This is a first-person account of his life and accomplishments. Initially, it was carved into bronze and put in Augustus’ mausoleum. Later copies were distributed throughout the empire. Here is an excerpt from the account.

2. I drove the men who slaughtered my father into exile, punishing their crime. Afterwards, when they waged war, I conquered them in two battles.
3. I often waged war, on the earth and sea, in the whole wide world, and as the victor I spared all the citizens who sought pardon. As for the foreign nations I conquered, I preferred to preserve them than to destroy the nations.

Document C: Augustus

5. When the dictatorship was offered to me, I did not accept it.
16. I paid the towns for the fields, which I had assigned to soldiers. I was first and alone who did this among all who founded colonies.
18. When the taxes fell short, I gave out contributions of grain and money from my own supply, sometimes to 100,000 men, sometimes to many more.
25. I restored peace to the sea from pirates.
26. I extended the borders of all the provinces of the Roman people. I restored peace to the provinces of Gaul and Spain and Germany. I brought peace to the Alps.
27. I added Egypt to the rule of the Roman people.
31. Emissaries from the Indian kings were often sent to me, which had not been seen before that time by any Roman leader.

Answer on page 149

• Based on this document, what kind of leader was Augustus?

  • What words come to mind to describe Augustus based on the list of accomplishments?

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

• Evidence from the document to support these reasons

  • Write at least one phrase from the document that supports your claim.

• Is this document reliable? Why or why not?

  • The document is reliable because ....

  • The document is not reliable because ...

Document D: Soldier

The passage below was written by Velleius, who served as a soldier while Augustus was emperor.

There is nothing a man can desire from the gods, nothing that the gods can grant to a man, which Augustus did not bestow upon the Republic, the Roman people, and the world. The civil wars were ended after twenty years, foreign wars were suppressed, peace restored; validity was restored to the laws, authority to the courts, and dignity to the Senate. The old traditional form of Republic was restored. Agriculture was returned to the fields, respect to religion, to mankind freedom from anxiety, and to each citizen his property rights were now assured; old laws were usefully amended, and new laws passed for the general good.

Document D: Soldier

Augustus was forced to hold the office of consul eleven times in a row, despite his frequent efforts to refuse. But he stubbornly refused the dictatorship, which the people persistently offered him. To tell of the wars waged under his command, of the peace of the world by his victories, of his many works at home and outside of Italy would weary a writer who had his whole life to devote to the task.

Answer on page 149

• Based on this document, what kind of leader was Augustus?

  • What words come to mind to describe Augustus based on this description?

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

• Evidence from the document to support these reasons

  • Write at least one phrase from the document that supports your claim.

• Is this document reliable? Why or why not?

  • The document is reliable because ....

  • The document is not reliable because ...

Write a Claim

• Look back at Documents A - D. How could you summarize Augustus as a leader?

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

You cannot use GOOD or BAD

Page 150

Document E: Cassius Dio

This excerpt was written by the historian Cassius Dio, who was born 150 years

after Octavian died.

Octavian wanted to be thought of as democratic. He gave the Senate control of the weaker provinces, on the ground that they were peaceful and free from war, while he retained control of the more powerful provinces (like Egypt), claiming that they were insecure and might begin a serious revolt. He said that he wanted the Senate to enjoy the finest portion of the empire, while he himself had the hardships and the dangers; but his real purpose was that by this arrangement the senators would be unarmed and unprepared for battle, while he alone had arms and maintained soldiers.

Document E: Cassius Dio

Octavian was destined to have absolute control of all matters for all time. When his ten-year period came to an end, he was voted for another five years, then five more, after that ten, and again another ten, and then ten for the fifth time, so that by a series of ten- year periods he continued to be sole ruler for life.

The name Augustus was given to him by the senate and by the people. They wished to call him by some distinctive title, and men were proposing one title and another. Octavian took the title of "Augustus," signifying that he was more than human; for all the most precious and sacred objects are termed “augusta.”

Document E: Cassius Dio

In this way the power of both people and senate passed entirely into the hands of Octavian, and he became, strictly speaking, a monarch; for monarchy would be the truest name for it. Romans, to be sure, so hated the idea of monarchy that they called their emperors neither dictators nor kings nor anything of the sort.

Answer on page 150

• Based on this document, what kind of leader was Augustus?

  • What words come to mind to describe Augustus based on this description?

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

• Evidence from the document to support these reasons

  • Write at least one phrase from the document that supports your claim.

• Is this document reliable? Why or why not?

  • The document is reliable because ....

  • The document is not reliable because ...

Page 143

Multiple Choice

What significant event marks the end of the Pax Romana?

• The rise of short-lived emperors

• The end of the Roman Empire

• The beginning of the Dark Ages

• The establishment of democracy

Multiple Choice

Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western areas because

• the Empire was too large for a central government to rule.

• the rulers could not agree upon a set of laws.

• the East and West couldn't get along.

• He wanted to get rid of high taxes.

Multiple Select

What are the two main divisions of the Roman Empire as shown in the map?

• Western Roman Empire

• Eastern Roman Empire

• Byzantium

• Rome

Multiple Choice

The Edict of Milan proclaimed

• official tolerance of Christianity

• a reduction of taxes for the first time in a hundred years.

• Christianity as a crime punishable by death.

• an immediate end to all religious activity

Multiple Select

the Edict of Milan (check all that apply)

• established tolerance for Christianity

• outlawed Christianity

• Made it safer for Christians to worship publically

• meant an end to Christian martyrs in the Colosseum

• made the Schism official

Multiple Choice

Why was the size of the Roman Empire a problem that contributed to the empire's fall?

• The size of the empire made it hard to defend.
• Many emperors were needed to rule the empire.
• Much of the empire was empty land with no population.
• Most of the empire was dry land that could not support farming.

Drag and Drop

During the period known as ​

Placeholder

, Rome flourished because it was a time of peace and prosperity.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Pax Romana

Julius Caesar

Republic

Golden Age

Roman Empire

Rise of Augustus

Labelling

Identify the Western and Eastern Roman Empires.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Western Roman Empire

Eastern Roman Empire

Rome

Constantinople

Multiple Choice

Why did Diocletian decide to divide the Roman Empire?

• He wanted to make friends with other nations

• The empire was too large for one person to manage

• The army was too small

• He wanted to create a new empire

Page 144

Directions

1. Read the information on each slide.

2. Answer the question at the top of the slide in your notebook, using the information on the slide.

How did the Romans use concrete to provide for the needs of its citizens?

Roman structures were durable due to their innovative use of concrete. They made concrete by combining lime and volcanic ash to create a liquid which formed a stronger material when set. The secret to their self-repairing concrete recipe was only recently discovered. Many of the Roman structures that are still standing today were built using this concrete.

How did the Romans use the arch to provide for the needs of its citizens?

With the usage of this material, Romans were able to create new architectural designs such as the arch. The arch was a curved structure that Romans used to build. It could support massive weight because it was built with concrete and a keystone. The keystone was the final stone that would lock the other blocks in the arch into place.

How did the Romans use aqueducts to provide for the needs of its citizens?

One of the most significant developments within the Roman Empire was the establishment of aqueducts. Aqueducts were channels that brought clean water from springs and rivers to Roman towns and cities.

The aqueducts were built throughout the empire and totaled over 258 miles in length. Aqueducts ran both above and below ground and were even built on top of bridges.

They were also used to irrigate farms and carry away wastewater. This invention’s impact can still be seen today as contemporary plumbing and sanitation systems are derived from a rediscovery of the Roman aqueducts.

How did the Romans use roads to provide for the needs of its citizens?

Since the Roman Empire covered such vast expanses, they had to come up with an efficient way to travel and move their products, so they constructed roads. The roads were solid and built to withstand even the harshest environments and flooding. They crossed throughout the empire, leading to the popular phrase “all roads lead to Rome." They allowed legions and merchants to move quickly. Many of these roads are still used today.

How did the Romans use the Julian calendar to provide for the needs of its citizens?

During this period, Julius Caesar created the Julian Calendar. The calendar was created in 46 BCE to keep in line with the seasons. The new Julian Calendar made the year exactly 365 days long with a leap year every four years as compared to the old 355-day calendar. This calendar was widely in use until 1582 CE and is the precursor to the calendar that we use today.