RBSE Class 11 History Notes Chapter 3 An Empire Across Three Continents

These comprehensive RBSE Class 11 History Notes Chapter 3 An Empire Across Three Continents will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 11 History Chapter 3 Notes An Empire Across Three Continents

→ During the ancient period, the Roman Empire was divided into three continents—Europe, West Asia and North Africa.

→ Many languages were spoken by the people, but officially Latin and Greek languages were patronised.

→ The Romans and the Iranians were constantly at wars against each other.

→ Northern Frontiers of Roman Empire was marked by two rivers—Danube and Rhine.

→ Sahara Desert in the south, river Euphrates in the east demarcated its (Roman Empire) boundaries respectively.

→ The Roman Empire was dominated by Mediterrnean sea and the region around it.

→ Mediterranean sea was also known as the heart of Roman civilisation.

→ The Italian people were the descendants of different migrated people from North Africa, Spain, France etc.

→ Capital city of the Rome is Italy and was founded in 1000 BCE.

→ Roman Empire became a Republic in 509 BCE. 

 

→ It remained Republic upto 27 BCE.

→ In 27 BCE Julius Ceasar’s adopted son Octavian famous as Augustus founded Principate empire and ruled till 14 CE.

→ Augustus was succeeded by Tiberius who ruled from 14 CE to 37 CE.

→ Nero ruled over Roman Empire from 54-68 CE.

→ Trajan ruled from 98 to 117 CE. He was the first Roman emperor who did not belong to the Royal family.

→ Roman Emperor Marcus Amelius known in the history for his nobleness and philosophical thoughts. He expressed his views in his meditations.

→ During third century CE the Roman Empire faced worst ever crisis.

→ Roman period in the historv fi um 4th-7th century is known as the period of late antiquity.

→ During this period (G-7th century) rulers like Diocletian, Constantine, Theodosian II and Justinan made their untirins efforts to stem the tide of decay.

→ Vastness of the empire, no law for succession, imperialism policy of the Roman emperors, etc., were the main causes responsible for the downfall of Roman Empire.

→ Roman society was divided into two groups : Patricians and Plebians.

→ The rich Roman society had many ways for their amusements.

→ Gladiational contest (A fight between a human being and an animal) was the popular means of amusement among the rich Roman society.

→ Colosseum was the largest Roman Amphitheatre. It was built between 63 to 80 CE.

→ Roman laws and principles of govenance are Rome’s greatest    Colossal statue of Emperor contribution to the world.    Constantine

→ Roman laws were known as Justinian Code.

→ ‘Latin’ language developed in Rome and become the basis of several languages like Spanish, Italian and French.

→ Romans believed in many gods and goddesses like Mars, Neptune, Jupiter etc.

→ Political system of Roman Empire was consist of consuls and the senate.

→ Agriculture was the main occupation but other occupations were also practised.

→ Slave system had became an integral part of their society.

→ Normal citizen had 7-8 slaves in his services.

→ Slaves were mostly war prisoners. Their position was very miserable and were force to live a worse life than animals.

→ Slave females and males were sold and purchased in Rome. They were also hired to carry out different works.

→ Roman civilization
The centre of the Roman civilization was Italy, the peninsula that projects into the Mediterranean sea in the west of Greece. The river Tiber on which the city of Rome is located runs through the central part of the peninsula. 

→ The city of Rome was founded about 1000 BC by Romulus, in the district of Latium. The language of the ancient Romans, Lation, gets its name from Latium.

→ The early Romans had a king, an assembly and a senate.

→ Towards the end of the 6th century BC the king was overthrown and a republic was established. Under the Republic the Romans conquered other parts of the peninsula, and by 265 BC controlled all of Italy. The political system of the Roman republic consisted of two consuls, the senate and the assembly.

→ By the beginning of the 1st century BC the Roman had conquered Greece and Asia Minor and established a protectorate over Egypt.

→ Rivalry for power grow between two generals, Pompey and Julius Caesar. War between tem followed and Pompey was murdered by his enemies in Egypt.

→ After the assassination of Caesar, power passed into the hands of Mark Antony and Lapidus, Caesar’s friends and Octavian, Caesar’s ground-nephew. The leaders of the conspiracy, Brutus and Cassius, fled and organised a large army, but they were captured and slain.

→ In 37 BC, Octavian become the most powerful man in the Roman empire. He ruled for 44 years under the titles of Augustus Imperator, meaning ‘holy victorious-general.’ He also called himself Princeps, ‘first citizen of the state’.

→ The period of Roman history beginning with his rule up to 284 AD is called ‘the Principate’. His rule and the period following it were peaceful and are known in history as Pax Romana, which means ‘Roman Peace’.

→ In 284 AD, Diocletian become ruler. From this time on, Roman civilization declined more rapidly. One of Dioclection’s successor, Constantine, built a new capital called Constantinopole, on the site of ancient Byzantium, in 330 AD.

→ The final blow to the Roman empire at the hands of northern invaders they were German tribes. By 476 AD, the once powerful Roman empire was no more.

→ The Roman worshipped as many gods and goddesses as the Greeks. Jupiter sent rain for the corps; Mars helped them in war; Mercury carried their messages; Neptune, the god of sea; Vesta guarded the home; Juno protected their women.

→ Romanlaw and principles of governance are Rome’s greatest contribution to the world.

→ The Roman developed their own alphabet and the Latin language became the language of all educted people in western Europe.

→ Italy was the centre of the civilisation. The city of Rome was founded by Romulus in 1000 BC on the bank of river Tiber.

→ The war between Carthage and Rome is known as Punic War (264 BC to 146 BC).

→ Julius Caesar one of the generals murdered, Pompey, another general and occupied the throne. He was attached to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Caesar was succeeded by Octavian and Diocletion.

→ Romans worshipped the planets. They developed the Latin language.

→ Lucretius, Seneca, Cicero and Marus were the famous Roman philosophers and Horace and Virgil were the poets. Tacitus and Pliny were the historian.

→ Timeline

27 BCE-14 CE Augustus, first	27 BCE	‘Principate’ founded by Octavian; now calls himself Augustus.
Roman emperor 14-37 Tiberius 98-117	c. 24-79	Life of the Elder Pliny; dies in the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius, which also buries the Roman town of Pompeii
Trajan 117-38	66-70	The great Jewish revolt and capture of Jerusalem by Roman forces.
Hadrian 193-211	c. 115	Greatest extent of the Roman Empire, following Trajan’s conquests in the East
Septimius Severus	212	All free inhabitants of the empire transformed into Roman citizens
211-72 reign of Shapur I in Iran 253-68	224	New dynasty founded in Iran, called ‘Sasanians’ after ancestor Sasan.
	250s	Persians invade Roman territories west of the Euphrates.
Gallienus	258	Cyprian bishop of Carthage executed.
284-305	260s	Gallienus reorganises the army.
the ‘Tetrarchy’;	273	Caravan city of Palmyrad destroyed by Romans.
Diocletian main ruler	297	Diocletian reorganises empire into c. 100 provinces.
312-37	c. 310	Constantine issues new gold coinage (the ‘solidus’)
Constantine	312	Constantine converts to Christianity.
309-79 reign of Shapur II in Iran	324	Constantine now sole ruler of empire; founds city of Constantinople.

→ Timeline:

408-50	354-430	Life of Augustine bishop of Hippo.
Theodosius II compiler of the famous	378	Goths inflict crushing defeat on Roman armies at Adrianople
‘Theodosian Code’	391	Destruction of the Serapeum temple of Serapis at Alexandria.
490 - 518	410	Sack of Rome by the Visigoths
Anastasius	428	Vandols capture Africa
	434-53	Empire of Attila the Hun
527 - 65	493	Ostrogoths establish kingdom in Italy
Justinian	533 - 50	Recovery of Africa and Italy by Justinian
531 - 79 reign of	541 - 70	Outbreaks of bubonic plague
Khusro I in Iran	568	Lombards invade Italy
610 - 41	c. 570	Birth of Muhammad
Heraclius	614 - 19	Persian ruler Khusro II invades and occupies eastern Roman territories.
	614 - 19	Muhammad and companions leave Mecca for Medina
	622	First and crucial phase of the Arab conquests; Muslim armies take Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq and parts of Iran.
	661-750	Umayyad dynasty in Syria
	698	Arabs capture Carthage
	711	Arab invasion of Spain