- Early civilizations arose along river valleys in Mesopotamia and Egypt as early as 3000 BC, developing writing, laws, money, and complex social hierarchies. Many collapsed around 1200 BC. - Subsequent civilizations included the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, and various Egyptian dynasties. The Phoenicians developed the first alphabet. - Greek civilization flourished beginning in the 8th century BC. Athens and Sparta rose as powerful city-states, engaging in wars with Persia. Athenian culture and philosophy flourished with figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. - The Romans adopted many aspects of Greek culture while

1. Early Western Civilization
History for Zoey and Kaya
Created by GrandBob
Muse
Grandma

2. Western Civilization
Before 1453

3. This is an excerpt from World History Lessons for Zoey and Kaya
Clickable links begin on next slide.

4. Bronze Age and
Classical Civilizations

5. Earliest Mideast Civilizations
(3000 BC - 600 BC)
with a major collapse in 1200 BC
The invention of agriculture allowed the human population to increase and
form more complex societies. Two initial growth areas were along river
valleys in Egypt (Nile) and Mesopotamia (Tigris, Euphrates). Civilizations
arose that invented new concepts such as laws, money, standards, writing
commerce, and strong hierarchies. The domestication of horses and the
invention of bronze enabled warfare between kingdoms. Around 1200, all of
the Bronze Age kingdoms mysteriously collapsed.

6. Sumerians and Akkadian 3000 BC - 2000 BC
King Gilgamesh of Sumer Humbaba
The Sumerians were the first civilization in Mesopotamia. They developed
the uniform written language and standard measurements for time. Their
most famous epic was the story of Gilgamesh. was the first legendary
superhero. He fought the monster, Humbaba. The Sumerians became part of the
Akkadian Empire around 2300 BC. Sargon was the mightiest Kling of Akkad.
Ziggeraut in Ur
Sargon of Akkad
Goddess Ishtar/Inanna/Easter

7. Babylonia (1895 BC - 539 BC)
Babylonia was the leading empire in the Middle East for many years. King Hammurabi (1800
BC) was famous for creating a set of laws (Hammurabi’s Code) including “an eye for an eye”.
Babylonia adopted and spread 60 minute = 1 hour, 60 seconds = 1 minutes, and 360 degrees
around the circle. The Hanging Gardens and Ziggurat were famous Babylonian buildings
Hammurabi
Code in Cuneiform
Hanging Gardens
Ziggurat (Babel)
The Jews in exile in Babylonia 550 BC
Reggae lament about being in exile.

8. Egyptian Civilization (3050 - 30 BC)
The Egyptians have left more ruins behind than any ancient civilization.
Some are over 5 thousand years old.
Pyramids were tombs of pharaohs Sphinx is a mythical creature
Abu Simbel is a famous temple
Mummy
Pharaoh
Obelisk
Aida - Egyptian Triumphal March Ancient Egyptian MusicKing Tut’s Tomb

9. Egyptian Civilization (3050 - 30 BC)
Egyptian history is usually divided into three main periods: Old Kingdom (2649 - 2150 BC, Middle
Kingdom (2030 -1640 BC), and New Kingdom (1550 -1070 BC). There were several earlier dynasties
between 3050 and 2649 BC. In total, there were 30 dynasties. The gaps are intermediate periods.
From 712 BC to 80 BC , Egypt was ruled by several foreign countries including Persia and
Macedonia.
Menes
The first Pharaoh, Menes, united Upper and Lower Egypt. The Nile River provided the basis for
Egyptian agriculture and civilization. Memphis (near modern CaIro) and Thebes ( near modern
Luxor) were the principal cities along the Nile. Alexander the Great founded Alexandria on the
Mediterranean coast
Egypt
Nile River
Pharaohs Thebes Memphis

10. Bronze Age Mideastern Empires 3000 - 1200 BC
These empires traded with each other and fought many wars. They were based on bronze. (Bronze
Age) They all suffered decline or collapse in 1200 BC for unknown reasons but then most revived
several hundred years later with iron tools and weapons ( Iron Age)
Making Bronze Bronze Age CollapseBronze Alloy

11. Cretan (Minoan) Civilization (2700 - 1100 BC)
The first European civilization was on the island of Crete. They traded with many countries from their capital at
Knossos. Their most famous king was Minos. One of the most famous Greek myths is about the Minotaur
(a monster with a ma’s body and a bull’s head) who lurked in a labyrinth in Knossos and killed young sacrifices.
He was slain by the Athenian hero, Theseus, who used a ball of string to escape the labyrinth.
Minotaur in Labyrinth
Theseus slaying the Minotaur
Palace at Knossos
Cretan Trade Routes
Minos

12. Trojan War (1200 BC)
Menelaus Helen of Troy
Agamemnon
Paris
Achilles Hector
Odysseus Trojan Horse
Greek Cities and Troy
The most famous European epic is the story of the Trojan War as told by the poet in the ILLIAD. It is based on a 10 year long
war between many Greek cities and Troy in Asia. There is probably some truth behind the legends which describe interventions by
Greek gods. Paris of Troy stole Helen the wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Agamemnon of Mycenae called on all Greek cities to return
Helen. After a long siege, Troy’s hero Hector was killed by the Greek hero Achilles. Achilles was killed by Paris who was later killed in
battle. Odysseus of Ithaca devised a trick strategy based on a large horse filled with Greek soldiers that the Trojans brought into their
city. At night, the soldiers came out and opened the city gates and Troy was destroyed. Odysseus wandered for 10 more years
before returning home. This was described in Homer’s ODYSSEY epic.
Odyssey
Homer

13. Wars of the Bronze Age and Collapse of Civilization
Chariots
Bronze Swords
Bronze Age Collapse
Bronze Age Warfare
Bronze Age Battles
Ben Hur
After the Bronze Age Collapse

14. Famous Archaeologists Studying the Bronze Age
Heinrich Schliemann Arthur Evans
Mycenae
Knossos
Troy
Up until the 1800’s, may people thought the Trojan War was not really based on historical facts. In 1873, the German
archaeologist, Herman Schliemann discovered the site of Troy. In 1876, he discovered the site of Mycenae (home of
Agamemnon). This city became the powerful in Greece after Crete was ravaged by earthquakes in 1450 BC. In 1903,
Arthur Evans excavated Knossos in Crete. The Rosetta Stone contains the same decree in Egyptian Hieroglyphics
and Ancient Greek.It was discovered in Egypt in 1799 and enabled the deciphering of hieroglyphics.
Rosetta StoneMask of King
Agamemnon

15. Assyrian Empire (911 - 609 BC)
Neo-Assyrian Empire Lamassu
After the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations, Assyria became the leading power in the Middle East
for 300 years. Assyrians were very warlike. They had a God called Lamassu with the head of a man and
the body of a winged bull. They conquered the 10 tribes of Israel and scattered them. No one knows the
fate of the 10 Lost Tribes.
Assyria conquered Israel

16. Phoenicians (1200 - 800 BC)
Map of Phoenicia
Phoenicia Trade Routes
Baal Phoenician Alphabet
The Phoenicians lived in Lebanon, north of Israel. Their God Baal was a rival of the Jewish God Jehovah. They were the best sailors
of the ancient world. They sailed the entire Mediterranean founding many colonies such as Carthage. They also reached England and
possibly sailed around Africa. Their most lasting contribution was the first alphabet. They were conquered by the Assyrians.

17. Summary of Middle East Civilizations
• Humans migrated out of East Africa around 70,000 years ago and settled the world
• For most of the this time, they were hunters and gatherers of food
• The invention of agriculture allowed for more complex societies
• In the Middle East, these grew up around river valleys around 3000 BC
• The leading examples were Egypt (Nile) and Mesopotamia (Tigris,Euphrates)
• The increased population led to the rise of early civilizations e.g. Sumer
• These civilizations invented writing, money, bronze tools, calendars, laws
• They also produced powerful rulers, complex religions, and large-scale warfare
• Later civilizations arose in Greece and Troy based on trade routes.
• Around 1200 BC, all of the Mideast Bronze-Age civilizations mysteriously collapsed
• New civilizations revived slowly based on iron tools

18. Classical Western Civilizations
(500 BC - 500 AD)
The Greeks provided most of the cultural and scientific foundations. The
Romans were excellent engineers. They built aqueducts, roads, and domed
temples. Roman students would go to Greece for advanced learning. This is
similar to how American students went to Europe before World War 2.

19. Persian Empire (539 BC - 330 BC)
The Persians conquered Babylonia and Egypt. Their famous kings were Cyrus the Great,
Darius I and Xerxes I (defeated by Greeks) and Darius III (defeated by Alexander the Great
Persian Empire
Persepolis Capital
Cyrus the Great

20. Persian vs Greeks
Persia tried several times unsuccessfully to conquer Greece. They were defeated in the
Battle of Marathon and the Battle of Salamis.
Battle of Marathon 490 BC Battle of Salamis 480 BC
Another famous battle was at Thermopylae (480 BC) where 300 Spartans held up a Persian Army
of 150,000 before being killed
Thermopylae Another Thermopylae MovieThermopylae Movie Battle of Plataea

21. Early Greek Philosophers
Thales (600 BC) was the first Greek scientist and philosopher Parmenides (500 BC) believed that nothing really
changes. Heraclitus (500 BC) believed that nothing is stable. Is a flowing river today the same river tomorrow?
Epicurus (300 BC) said the purpose of life was pleasure in moderation (Epicurism). Diogenes (350) was a Cynicist..
Zeno of Citium (300 BC) said that pain was inevitable and must be endured calmly (Stoicism). Zeno of Elea (450 BC) is
famous for his paradoxes that were precursors to calculus
Zeno of Elea
Zeno paradox 1. At any moment in time the arrow is standing still.
How does it hit the target? Is motion an illusion like in movies?
Zeno paradox 2
When Achilles reaches tortoise’s
previous position the tortoise has
moved to a new position. How
does Achilles catch the tortoise?
Equivalent to what is value of x?
if x = 1/2 +1/4 + 1/8 +1/16 …
2x = 2/2 +2/4 +2/8 + 2/16 …
= 1 +1/2 + 1/4 +1/8 …
= 1 + x
Therefore x=1
Parmenides Heraclitus Epicurus Zeno of CitiumDiogenesThales

22. Most Annoying Philosophers
Greek Sophists
Chinese Sophist
Protagoras
Gongsun Long
If A is B does that mean B is A?
John is Mary’s husband and Mary’s husband is John
White is a color but a color is not necessarily white
Greek Sophists and Chinese Logicians were fond of arguments based on
semantics and rhetoric. They were the original lawyers. Their philosophies
died out in both China and Greece.
American Sophist
“It depends on what the
meaning of the word ‘is’ is. If ‘is’
means is and never has been,
that is one thing. If it means
there is none, that was a
completely true statement.
German Sophist
President Cinton
“A white horse is
not a horse”
“Man is the measure
of all things”
Wittgenstein
“The world is my world: this is
manifest in the fact that the limits
of language (of that language
which alone I understand) mean
the limits of my world”

23. Athens
The Greek victory produced the greatest explosion of culture in history including architects, playwrights,
philosophers, and sculptors. See the School of Athens painting by the Italian artist, Raphael.
Parthenon
Aeschylus Sophocles
Socrates Plato Aristotle
Euripedes Aristophanes Venus de Milo
The individuals in Raphael’s painting cover the spectrum of Greek culture
Playwrights
Philosophers
More Greek TheaterGreek Theater

24. Sparta
• Sparta was the first democracy in recorded history, predating Athenian democracy by at least 50 and possibly 100 years.
Furthermore, Sparta was the only Greek city-state to introduce land reform aimed at equalizing wealth among its citizens.
• The Spartan public educational system, the agoge, trained the mind as well as the body, and Spartans were not only literate, but
admired for their intellectual culture and verbal skills.
• Sparta was the capital city of the large, prosperous, and economically powerful city-state of Lacedaemon. The economy of
Lacedaemon was diverse, based on a wealth of natural resources and abundant fertile land.
• Sparta was the only Greek city-state in which women enjoyed elementary rights such as the right to education, inheritance, and
property. Furthermore, Spartan women prided themselves on their intellectual accomplishments, possessed economic power, and
were not afraid to express their opinions – leading other Greeks to condemn them as undisciplined, dangerous, and immoral.
• Sparta was the first Greek city-state to develop a complex system of mutual defense treaties, and it repeatedly intervened to defend
democracy against tyranny. Spartan diplomacy was arguably even more effective than Spartan arms in maintaining Sparta's status
for centuries.
• Nor was Sparta itself a collection of rural villages, as Athenian detractors depicted it, but rather a prosperous capital city with broad,
tree-lined avenues, temples, monuments, public buildings, and royal palaces.
• Spartan music and dance were famous throughout the ancient world, and the oldest recorded heterosexual love poem was the work
of a Spartan poet praising Spartan maidens.
From https://www.spartareconsidered.com/overview.html
Lycurgus Lysander
Created Spartan
Constitution
Defeated
Athens
Leonidas
Leader against
Persians at
Thermopylae

25. Famous Works by Athens Philosophers
Plato’s Republic
Plato was a student of Socrates. He wrote many works in the form of
dialogues featuring Socrates. His most famous work is “The Republic” which
says that we are like people in a cave seeing only the shadow of reality. In
essence, the changing world of the senses (Heraclitus) is only a reflection of
the eternal realities (Parmenides). This viewpoint was popular among early
Christians and many mathematicians. ( 2 + 2 = 4 in every universe)
Aristotle was a student of Plato. He wrote about many aspects of the real
world as opposed to Plato’s ideal world. He made significant contributions to
"logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics,
agriculture, medicine, dance and theatre.” His work was mostly lost to
Europeans after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It was rediscovered
around 1200 when Arabic and Greek books were translated into European
languages. For the next 300 years, Aristotle was considered the ultimate
expert. However many of his ideas were based on observations and logic,
rather than experimentation which is the basis of the scientific method
Aristotle’s Works
Death of Socrates
Socrates never wrote any books. His ideas are known from the works of
others notably Plato. They are presented in the form of dialogues where
Socrates questions people about their beliefs and finds contradictions.
This “Socratic Method” is still used today in education. This contrary
approach was not popular with some powerful Athenians. He was made to
die by drinking poisonous hemlock. Today Socrates is considered the
founder of Western philosophy.
Socrates Movie

26. -
Homer (800 BC) is the most famous Greek poet. Hesiod (700 BC) wrote the poem Theogony about
the Greek Gods. Anaximander (580 BC) was a philosopher/scientist student of Thales. Democritus
(480 BC) wrote that matter was made up of atoms. Sappho (600 BC) was a famous poet.
Herodotus (450 BC) was the first historian. Pericles (450 BC) ruled Athens during the golden age.
Pindar (430 BC) was a famous poet. Aesop wrote a book of fables.Eratosthenes (200 BC) was a
scientist and mathematician who calculated the circumference of the earth. Hero (50 AD) built the
first steam powered mechanism. Ptolemy (130 AD) was a Greek scientist and geographer who
described the motion of the planets. Hypatia (400 AD) was a Greek astronomer and
philosopher.Anacreon was a poet and song writer
Democritus
Ptolemy HypatiaHero
HerodotusHomer
Pericles
Sappho
Eratosthenes
Hesiod Anaximander
Aesop Anacreon
Pindar

27. Peloponnesian War
After the defeat of the Persians, the two leading Greek Powers were the democracy. Athens and the warrior-state Sparta.
These two cities went to war from 431- 405 BC. Athens was a naval power while Spartan was land oriented rom its location in
Peloponnesia. Athens lost the war by trying to conquer Sicily. Sparta was also weakened and eventually Greece was
conquered by Macedonia. Alcibiades was a major Athenian military leader known for his good looks who defected to Sparta.
Pericles was the initial leader of Athen until he died in a plague. Thucydides wrote the history of the Peloponnesian War/
Alcibiades
Pericles
Thucydides

28. Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was the King of Macedonia, north of Greece. His father conquered
Greece. Alexander invaded and conquered the Persian Empire.
Alexander the Great Alexander’s Empire
Macedonian PhalanxAlexander’s Battles

29. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Giza Pyramid
Hanging Gardens
Colossus Pharos Lighthouse
Temple of Zeus
Mausoleum
Temple of Diana
The seven wonders of the ancient world are pictured below. The Giza pyramid is still standing in
Egypt. All of the others are gone or in ruins. The Hanging Garden was in Babylonia. The Colossus
stood in the harbor of the island of Rhodes. The Pharos Lighthouse was in Alexandria, Egypt. The
Temple of Zeus was in Olympia, Greece. The Mausoleum was the tomb of King Mausolus of
Halicarnassus (now in Turkey). The Temple of Diana is a ruin in Ephesus (now in Turkey)
Seven Wonders
of Modern World

30. Early Roman History
Pyrrhus
Tarquin Etruscan
Celtic (Gauls) Invasions
Founding of Rome Etruscans
Italy 500 BC
Aeneas was a Trojan prince who supposedly escaped and settled in Italy. According to legend, Rome was founded by
two brothers (descendants of Aeneas) who were abandoned by their mother and suckled by a she-wolf. Romulus
killed his brother Remus. Early Rome was dominated by a northern people called Etruscans (possibly refugees from
Troy). Tarquin was an Etruscan king who was expelled by the Romans when they founded the Republic. Celtics from
north of the Alps sacked Rome in 390 BC. Rome grew stronger conquered the Etruscans, pushed back the Celts, and
successfully fought Pyrrhus to dominate southern Italy. Pyrrhus defeated Rome in battle but with tremendous losses.
Aeneas

31. Rome vs. Carthage (Punic Wars 264 - 146 BC)
Rome lost many battles including 50,000 men at Cannae but eventually destroyed Carthage
Hannibal
Carthage
general
Battle of Cannae
Hannibal crossing
the Alps

32. Military Tactics: How to Win Battles
Attack the Enemy Line Directly
Outflank or Surround Enemy
Counterattack the Enemy
Create a Strong Defensive Position
Cannae: Romans attack. Hannibal counterattacksGaugamela: Alexander wins by attacking
Thermopylae: Persians outflank Spartans
Here are some ways to win battles with examples from classical history.
Guerilla Ambushes
Salamis: Athenians defeat a larger Persian fleet
Teutoburg Forest:
Germans ambush
Romans in 9 AD
Value of War?
Sun Tzu Art of War
How to Lose Battles
Death Tolls in Wars

33. Rome Civil War and Political Conflicts 130 BC- 45 BC
Sulla 78 BC
Gracchi Brothers
Marius 86 BC
T Gracchus 133 BC G Gracchus 121 BCRome’s Civil Wars
Pompey 48 BC Crassus 53 BCCaesar 45 BC
After the victory over Carthage, the Roman Republic experienced a series of political upheavals and civil wars. The
Gracchi were supported by the poor people of Rome but were eliminated by the aristocrats. Marius was a great military
leader who was sympathetic to the poorer citizens. He and his son lost power to Sulla who formed a military dictatorship.
After Sulla died, Rome was ruled by a triumvirate of Pompey (general and Sulla follower), Julius Caesar (general and
nephew of Marius), and Crassus (wealthy). After Crassus was killed in Asia, a civil war broke out between Pompey and
Caesar. Eventually Caesar won (Pompey was killed) and h became the undisputed leader of Rome.
Crassus Rap

34. Assassination of Julius Caesar (41 BC)
Julius Caesar was a Roman General who conquered Vercingetorix and Gaul (France). He led his Army into Italy and
became the leader of Rome after winning the battle of Pharsalus against Pompey. The Roman Republic was run by
aristocratic Senators. Several Senators led by Marcus Brutus and Cassius were afraid that Caesar wanted to become
king and plotted to assassinate him When Caesar came to the Senate, they gathered around him and stabbed him to
death. However Caesar was popular with the people of Rome. They rallied around Mark Anthony and chased the
assassins out of Rome. At the battle at Phillippi in Macedonia Brutus and Cassius were killed by Mark Anthony and
Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian. Mark Anthony (with Cleopatra of Egypt) fought a civil war with Octavian. Octavian won
in 31 BC at the naval battle of Actium with Anthony and Cleopatra committing suicide. Octavian became the first
Roman Emperor and was renamed Augustus Caesar. July and August are named after Julius and Augustus Caesar.
Julius Caesar
Augustus Caesar
OctavianMark Anthony
Cassius
Marcus Brutus
CleopatraJulius Caesar Assassination
Battle of ActiumBattle of PhilippiBattle of Pharsalus
Vercingetorix

35. Roman Empire (31 BC - 1453 AD)
The Roman Empire was the most influential for European history. The Western
Empire lasted until 476 AD while the Eastern Empire lasted until 1453 AD)
First Emperor Augustus Caesar
Interesting facts about life in the Roman Empire
Roman Forum
Livia, Wife
of Augustus
Marcus Agrippa
Augustus Deputy
List of all Roman Emperors

36. Interesting Parts of the Roman Empire
Petra, Jordan Palmyra, Syria Trier, Germany
Split, Croatia Bath, England Alexandria, Egypt
Petra is a Nabatean city carved into a red rock canyon conquered by the Romans. Palmyra is
an ancient city in Syria ruled by Queen Zenobia that was conquered by the Romans. It was
partially destroyed in 2015 by Islamic State militants in Trier was a large city in Germany built
by the Romans. The large Diocletian’Palace was built by the Emperor for his retirement. Bath
was one of the large Roman settlements in England due to the hot springs. Alexandria in Egypt
founded by Alexander became one of the large population centers in the roman Empire
Zenobia

37. Other Interesting Roman Places
Pont du Gard Aqueduct
Roman Arenas
Hadrian’s Wall
Baalbek, Lebanon
Pompeii
Baths of Caracalla
Baalbek International Festival
Pompeii was a Roman city that was buried and preserved in a Mt Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. Rome built many
arena across its empire. The Pont du Gard Aqueduct in Ftrance was built in 50 AD. Hadrian’s Wall was
constructed in 218 AD to protect Roman England from barbaric Scotland. The Pantheon is the best preserved
Roman building in Rome. The Baths of Caracalla in Rome is a gigantic complex built in 214 AD and still used
for concerts. Baalbek in Lebanon was a large Roman city built on top of a Phoenician city.
Performance at Baths
Pantheon
Vesuvius

38. Some Interesting Roman Events
Teutoburg Forest 9 AD
Boudicca 60 AD
Battle of Carrhae 53 BC
Zama 202 BC
Mithridates 64 BC
Cynoscephalae 197 BC
Battle of Adrianople 378 AD
Mithridates was the king of Pontus. He fought several wars with Rome before being defeated by Pompey.
Some of Rome’s greatest defeats weree at Carrhae (Parthians), Teutoberg Forest (Germans), and
Adrianople (Goths). Three of Rome’s biggest victories were at Zama (Carthage), Alesia(Gauls ), and
Cynoscephalae (Macedonians), Boudicca was a Celtic queen in England who led a major revolt against
Rome before being defeated.
Alesia 51 BC
Statue London
Watling Street Battle

39. `
The Western Roman Empire lasted from 41 BC until 476 AD. During that time there good emperors, bad
emperors, and crazy emperors. Some ruled for many years. Others were killed after a shorter time. Tiberias was
the second emperor who spent his time partying on the island of Capri. Caligula was the third emperor and was
crazy. He killed many people, married his sister, and made his horse a Senator. Nero was nasty. He killed his wife
and mother and played the lute while Rome was burning. Domitian was an authoritarian who ruled with a strong
hand. Commodus was an egomaniac. He wanted to change the name of Rome and the months after himself. He
fought as a gladiator. Caracalla was responsible for several massacre. Caligula, Nero, Commodus, Domitian,
Caracalla, and Elagabalus were all assassinated after several years. Elagabalus was a teen-ager who tried to
convert Rome to worship the Syrian Sun God. The Pretorian Guard guarded and sometimes chose the emperors.
Nero 68 AD Commodus 192 ADTiberius 37 AD
Elagabalus 222 AD
The Pretorian Guard
Caracalla 217 AD
Domitian 96 AD
Skip the repetitive first
minute or two in the Bad
Emperor Videos
Caligula 41 AD
Some Interesting Bad Roman Emperors
Roman Emperors Portraits

40. Constantine 337 AD
Some Interesting “Good” Roman Emperors
Claudius 54 AD Trajan 117 AD
Diocletian 305 AD
Hadrian 138 ADVespasian 79 AD
Roman Legion
Claudius restored good governance to Rome after Caligula. Vespasian was a general who ended a chaotic year with
multiple emperors after the assassination of Nero. Trajan expanded the Roman Empire to its large extent. His son,
Hadrian, built a famous wall between Roman England and tribal Scotland. Antoninus Pius adopted his successor
Marcus Aurelius. Marcus made the mistake of making his incompetent son Commodus emperor. Aurelian revived the
strength of the empire after years of chaos and built a large wall around Rome. Diocletian devised a system for sharing
power among multiple leaders. He is the only emperor to retire successfully. Constantine led the conversion of the
Roman Empire to Christianity. He established the city of Constantinople that became the capital of the Eastern Roman
Empire for over a thousand years. The Emperor was often a successful leader of Roman Legions who seized power.
Aurelius 180 AD
Pius 161 AD
Aurelian 275 AD
Nerva 98 AD
Aurelius Quotes
Julian 352 AD

41. Famous Roman Authors, Poets, and Historians
Virgil 19 AD Seneca 65 AD Petronius 66 AD Plutarch 119 ADPliny 79 AD
Cicero 43 BCLucretius 55 BC
Ovid 18 ADLivy 17 ADCatullus 54 BC Horace 8 BC
Lucretius was a poet who wrote an epic “On the Nature of Things”. Catullus wrote love poems. Cicero
was a famous orator. Horace was a leading poet on the themes of love, friendship, and philosophy. Livy
was the most famous Roman historian. Ovid was a poet who wrote about Metamorphoses in Greek and
Roman mythology. Virgil wrote the most famous Roman epic called the Aeneid about Aeneas, Prince of
Troy, who voyaged to Italy after the Trojan War.. Suetonius wrote biographies of the first 12 emperors.
Tacitus was another famous Roman historian. Petronius wrote a satire of Roman society called the
Satyricon. Pliny the Elder was a well-known scientist author who was killed in the eruption of Mt Vesuvius.
Plutarch wrote parallel biographies of famous Greeks and Romans (e.g. Alexander and Julius Caesar)
Tacitus 120 AD Suetonius122 AD

42. Fall of the Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire suffered a series of invasions by peoples from the East including the Goths
(Germans), Vandals, and the Huns. Alaric, leader of the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410 AD. The Vandals sacked
Rome in 455 AD.The last Roman emperor was exiled in 476 AD. The Huns were fierce warriors who pushed the
Goths into the Roman empire. They invaded Italy in 450 AD but eventually were weakened and defeated.
Attila the Hun
Goths
Vandals
Alaric
Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire
Invasions of the Roman Empire

43. Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Constantinople
Justinian and Theodora
Byzantine Empire
Roman Empire Splits
In 285 AD, Diocletian split the Roman Empire into two parts, Western and Eastern. In 330 AD, Constantine made
Constantinople, the capital city of the East. When the Western empire fell in 476, the Eastern empire survived. In 527
AD, Justinian and his wife Theodora attempted to restore a larger empire but was eventually unsuccessful. Much of
the Byzantine empire was overrun by the the Arabs around 650 AD. However Constantinople remained free until 1453.
Parade of all Roman EmperorsByzantine Golden Age List of the Byzantine Emperors
Nika Riots
Byzantine
Prospering

44. Greek-Roman Buildings in US
Lincoln Memorial
Supreme Court
Jefferson Memorial
Legion of Honor
Opera House
Palace of Fine Arts
There are many building in the United States that are modeled on Greek and Roman architecture

45. Summary of Classical Western Civilizations
• The Persian Empire was the most powerful Middle Eastern Empire
• Their emperors tried to conquer Greece but were decisively defeated
• The Greeks especially Athens were inspired by their victory
• They generated the most explosive creative outburst in history
• This included philosophers, playwrights, historians etc. that are still read today
• The Greek city states wrecked themselves by constant warfare
• They were conquered by the neighboring country of Macedonia
• Alexander, King of Macedonia, invaded and conquered the Persian Empire
• His conquests spread Greek (Hellenistic) culture across the Middle East
• Later, power centers moved to the Western Mediterranean (Rome and Carthage)
• Rome defeated and destroyed Carthage in the Punic Wars
• Rome then conquered the Eastern Mediterranean and adopted Greek culture
• The Roman Republic was wracked by a series of civil wars
• Julius Caesar conquered Gaul (France) and became the leading power in Rome
• He was assassinated by a group of conspirators who were later killed
• After a final civil war, Augustus Caesar emerged as the first Roman Emperor
• He was followed by 4 centuries of Emperors, some good and some very bad
• Emperor Constantine converted the Empire to Christianity
• Eventually the Empire split into two parts, Western and Eastern (Byzantine)
• The Western Empire fell victim to German invaders and was dissolved
• The Romans were fantastic engineers whose roads, buildings, and aqueducts survived
• The Eastern Empire (capital Constantinople) lasted for another 1000 years.
• Muslim invaders weakened and eventually conquered the Eastern Empire