The Roman Empire Textbook Notes

• By 100 B.C., enslaved persons formed perhaps one-third of Rome's population.
• A new social class that emerged, called "urban poor" made up one-fourth of Roman society.
• Two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius attempted to help Rome's poor. They proposed reforms including limiting the size of estates and giving land to the poor.
• Tiberius spoke about the plight of the landless former soldiers.
• Tiberius died in 133 B.C. and Gaius died in 121 B.C.
• Civil war broke out in Rome and military generals started seizing more power for themselves.
• In 60 B.C., Julius Caesar, a military leader, joined forces with Crassus and Pompey. Caesar was elected for consul in 59 B.C. The next ten years, they ruled as a triumvirate.
• A triumvirate is a group of three rulers.
• During 58-50 B.C., Caesar led a successful campaign to conquer all of Gaul.
• In 50 B.C., the senate ordered Caesar to disband his legions due to Pompey's concerns/urgings about Caesar as a leader.
• On January 10, 49 B.C., Caesar took his army across the Rubricon River, and made Pompey flee.
• In 46 B.C., Caesar returned to Rome with popularity and support from the army/masses.
• In 44 B.C., Caesar was named dictator for life.
• On March 15, 44 B.C., Caesar was stabbed to death in the senate chamber.
• In 43 B.C., the Second Triumvirate came into Roman power (lasting for ten years). The Triumvirate consisted of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. They eventually all became rivals.
• Octavian became unchallenged ruler of Rome and eventually gained the title of Augustus or "exalted one".
• Rome was at peak of it's power from beginning of Augustus's rule. For 207 years (between 27 B.C. and 180 A.D.), was a period of peace and prosperity called Pax Romana.
• Augustus- Rome's ablest emperor. He stabilized the frontier, glorified Rome, and created a a system of government that survived for centuries (and set up a civil service). 
• Augustus died in A.D. 14 and the government remained the empire's stability.
• 90% of Romans were engaged in farming- they survived on produce.
• Romans held virtue of gravitas very important. This included values of discipline, strength, and loyalty,
• The Romans made more use of slaves than any previous civilization.
• One-Third of total population=slaves
• Earliest Romans worshipped powerful spirits/divine forces, called lumina, that they thought resided in everything around them. Lares were the guardian spirits of each family.
• Romans were expected to honor their gods in private and public,
• Most Romans were supported with daily rations of grains given by the government.
• By A.D. 250, there were 150 holidays a year- the Colosseum would be full on these days (up to 50,000 people!)
• During time of Pax Romana, practice of new religion slowly emerged- Christianity!