History

• Rome


  Founded by 2 brothers, Romulus & Remus who were left in the woods to die. They were raised by a she-wolf. Romulus killed Remus and became the first king of Rome.
• Division of the history of Rome

  1. As a kingdom 753 - 509 BC

  2. As a republic 509 - 27 BC

  3. As an empire 27 BC - AD 476
• Rome as a Kingdom


  Rome was built on the 7 hills near River Tiber in Central Italy by the Latins in 509 BC. It was ruled by a king at first (monarchy), but the last king (the Etruscan king) was overthrown, ending the Kingdom of Rome. It expanded and mixed with neighboring peoples like the Etruscans. Romans leant the ancient Greek civilization from the Etruscans and developed the ancient Roman civilization.
• Rome as a Republic

  The Romans elected representatives to run the government. The Roman Republic was first ruled by 2 consuls (to prevent tyranny when there is only 1 person in charge). Term of office: 1 year. Membership: Patricians, chosen & nominated from the Senate. The Senate was formed by 300 patricians (nobles) & 2 tribunes. They were responsible for legal and foreign affairs. Later on, the plebeians (commoners) fought for participation and succeeded in holding 2 spots in the Senate as representatives of the commoners. They were called the 2 tribunes. Later on, an Assembly made of plebeians was added. They elected the 2 consuls and tribunes. They could participate in legislation and vote on suggested laws by government officials. In such ways, the Roman Republic became a government run by 2 houses under bicameralism.
• Structure of the Roman society

  • Patricians (Nobles)
  • Plebeians (Common people like traders & farmers)
  • Slaves (Captured people from war)
• Julius Caesar


  He was born in a patrician family and became an army general. He then won a civil war against Pompey the Great and was the wealthiest and most powerful dictator of Rome. His initiatives (eg. Distributing land to the poor) had made him popular with the public, and he even promoted from consul to dictator perpetuo (ie. Dictator for a lifetime, granting him emergency war powers). His assassins, the liberators, were uneasy about his assumption of monarchical power and feared he aimed to end the republic. They worried Caesar would establish a hereditary monarchy against the ideals of the Roman Republic. On March 15 (The Ides of March), the liberators, led by the senator Cassius and Brutus (who had been saved by Caesar personally in the civil war), stabbed Caesar 23 times at a Senate meeting. After his death, the liberators were exiled by the plebeians (who thought Caesar was a good leader) and Rome fell into a panic. Brutus suicided.
• What happened after Julius' death?

  The Roman provinces were divided. Octavian ruled Italy & western provinces. Mark Anthony ruled Egypt & eastern provinces. In 31BC, Octavian & Mark fought to lead Rome. In 27BC, Octavian won. Mark committed suicide. He became Augustus (majesty) Caesar, the first king of Rome, marking the start of the Roman Empire.
• Rome as an Empire


  Augustus Caesar ruled Rome for more than 40 years. He made the Empire rich and strong. The 1st and 2nd centuries were the golden age of the Roman Empire. It was known as "Roman Peace" (Pax Romana)
• Development of the fall of the Roman Empire

  Emperor Constantine tried to save the empire by carrying out reforms and moving the capital to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople ("The city of Constantine"). Rome split into two — the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire in AD 395. The Western Roman Empire ended in AD 476, whilst the Eastern Roman Empire ended in AD 1453.
• Causes of the fall of the Roman Empire


  • Internal Corruption
  • Tax
  • Political division
  • Invasions
• Internal Corruption


  As the Empire grew, it became hard for the government to control. Weak and incapable emperors and corrupt officials, whose positions of power were largely purchased or obtained through violence, had little desire to govern, leaving Rome in financial ruin and civil war. Commoners died to starvation and disease. They lost hope in their government.
• Tax


  Corrupt officials levied devastating taxes on the Roman people. Inflation soared and the tax burden became heavy.
• Political division


  Rome was divided into the Western and Eastern empires in the 4th century. The Western Empire struggled to survive as the Eastern Empire was both economically and militarily stronger.
• Invasions


  German tribes kept invading the Western Empire, and taxes were raised once again to finance war. The patricians tried to pay less than the plebeians. Spending on war dried up, weakening economy. The Western Empire ended in AD 476 due to one last German invasion.
• The Eastern Empire eventually ended to the Turks in AD 1476, and Rome officially fell.
• Achievements of Ancient Rome

  • Roman Calendar
  • The Romance Languages
  • The spread of Christianity
  • Structures
  • Architecture
  • Roman numerals
  • Law and Government
• Roman Calendar


  Our modern calendar is based on the Julian Calendar, which was planned by Julius Caesar. July and August were named after Julius and Augustus Caesar respectively.
• The Romance Languages


  Modern languages like French, Spanish, Italian etc. are based on Latin. The English alphabet was also developed from the Roman (Greek) alphabet.
• The spread of Christianity

  Emperor Constantine converted the entire Empire into Christian. He encouraged its growth throughout the whole Roman Empire, covering most parts of Europe. Christianity became a norm religion.
• Structures


  • Roman Roads
  • Amphitheater
  • Roman baths
  • Circuses
  • Aqueducts
  • The Pantheon
• Roman Roads


  For transporting soldiers and supplies to the battlefields. The roads were wide & straight. They weren't easily flooded, as well as long lasting and durable. It had a sloping surface and drainage ditches on the two sides. They used it for trade and for transporting soldiers and supplies all over the empire.
• Architecture


  Greco-Roman/Classical style. Characteristics: High columns, Dome, Pediment, Arches. Examples: Former French Mission Building, Court of Final Appeal.
• Roman numerals


  Examples: Clocks & watches, Page numbers, Volume numbers, Titles of Kings and Popes.
• Law and Government


  The laws of many modern countries are based on Roman laws. The Twelve Tables (450 BC) was the first codification of laws in Rome and were placed in the Roman Forum. The Romans believed that there should be clear laws everyone knew and obeyed to keep order. The nature of Roman laws was just and fair. Modern government systems are based on the structure of the Roman Republic too. For example, the UK Parliament & the US Congress (Upper & Lower House).
• Birth of Jesus Christ

  1 AD
• Fall of Western Roman Empire

  476 AD
• Fall of Eastern Roman Empire

  1453 AD
• Columbus Arrived in America

  1492 AD
• People Learnt to Write
• Feudalism


  • Enabled Kings to rule their Kingdom with the help of the nobles
• Power Structure in Feudal Society

  • (Most Power) Church & King -> Nobles -> Knights -> Peasants (Least Power)
• King


  • Owns all the land in the kingdom
  • Allocates land to nobles (Fief)
  • Govern subject more efficiently
  • Gain loyalty and support
  • Subjects must obey his orders
  • May be executed
• Church


  • Churchmen were reserved in feudal society regardless of their ranks
  • Biggest Landowner
  • Commoners gave tithe (1/10 of crops)
  • People believed the only way to heaven was Church
  • People feared being excommunicated -> Obey Church
  • Only people who could read and write & provider of education
  • Giving advice to nobles and kings
• Church People


  • Pope
  • Cardinals
  • Archbishops
  • Bishops
  • Priests, Nuns & Monks
• Pope


  • Representative of God
  • Bad things would happen if disobeyed
  • Excommunication -> Exclude from religious service -> Doomed to go to Hell
  • Accusing somebody of holding heresy
• Church People (Priests, Nuns & Monks)


  • Religious people who wanted to devote life to God / Younger sons of noble families
  • Can benefit society -> Copying manuscripts
  • Repetitive, religious, and disciplined life
  • Manual labour
  • Church service
  • Reading
  • Praying
• Undesirable Effects of Church
• Manor


  • Owned by a noble, known as Lord -> Lived in manor houses or castles
  • Church -> Centre of the manor -> Centre of people's lives
  • People inside did not have contact with the outside world -> self-sufficient
• Roles of People in a Manor

  • The Lord (Protect, organize, and manage the manor)
  • The Priest (Look after the souls of people & church)
  • The Peasants (Grow crops, raise animals)
• Farming (Three-field system)


  • 1) Wheat (Bread)
  • 2) Barley (Beer)
  • 3) Resting (Weeds)
  • Only 2 fields grew crops, the third field was given a rest to recover nutrients and for grazing
  • Each family was given strips from each field, getting land for wheat, barley, and fallow each year
  • Efficient (Crop rotation allowed nutrients & maintain the soil fertility, Support population, Fair distribution of land)
  • Inefficient (⅓ land wasted each year, Lots of time spent going from one strip to another)