Download Chap 5 - Ancient Rome

Chapter 5
Ancient Rome and the Rise
of Christianity
509 B.C. – 476 B.C.
Chapter 5, Section 1
The Roman World Takes Shape
Geography of Ancient Rome
Geography of Ancient Rome
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Rome began as a small city-state on the Italian
Peninsula
The Italian Peninsula (the boot) juts into the
Mediterranean Sea
Rome is located about half way up the western
coast of this peninsula
This location helped Rome to expand throughout
the Med and eventually create its empire
Geography of Ancient Rome
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The Roman Peninsula is not broken into small
valleys like Greece
This made it easier to unify the people and
create an empire
The Apennine Mountains run north and south
and are not as rugged as the mountains of
Greece
The peninsula also contains a broad fertile plain
to the north that can support a larger population
Early People Settle Italy
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Around 800 B.C. the Latins migrated into Italy
and settled along the Tiber River in small
villages
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These villages eventually became Rome
The Latins competed on the peninsula with
the Greeks to the south and the Etruscans to
the north
About 750 B.C. the Etruscans controlled the
Latins
Influence of the Etruscans
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Under Etruscan rule, the Romans learned
how to:
To build roads
 Construct buildings
 Build city walls
 Adapt the Greek alphabet
 Make metal weapons
 Use military tactics
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Romans Establish a Republic
Around 509 B.C. the Romans rose up and
drove out the Etruscans
 In attempts to govern, the people of Rome
set up a republic called res republica 
which means “that which belongs to the
people”
 The first republic was ruled by the wealthy
landowners...the patricians
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Roman Republic
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First ruled by the Patricians who made up
the senate (300 members)
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Senate made laws, approved appointments,
controlled foreign affairs
The Senate elected two consuls
Supervise the business of government and
command armies
 Checked by the government (checks and
balances)
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 Limited
term, answer to the Senate
Plebeians Fight for their Rights
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The common people of Rome, the plebeians,
looked to remove the aristocracy and gain
more say in the government
Over time the plebeians gained power in the
government:
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Elected tribunes to protect their interests
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Tribunes could veto (turn down)
Required the Twelve Tables
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Codified law
Roman Influence
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The Roman Republic developed various
political elements that greatly influenced
later government systems:
Veto
 Senate
 Checks and Balances
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Rome Conquers Italian Peninsula
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Through a series of wars, the Romans gained
control of the Italian Peninsula
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Pushed back the Gauls
Defeated the Etruscans
Captured Greek colonies
Success was due to:
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Powerful armies...soldiers were citizens and took
pride in gaining and protecting their land
Troops could be moved easily
Treated conquered people well and gained allegiance
(gave some citizenship)
Roman Society
Family was the basic unit and very
important to the Romans
 Males - head of the household, had
absolute power, and demanded total
respect and authority
 Women...larger role than in Greek society
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Most worked at home raising the family
 Others took an active role in business
 Some female patricians had political influence
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Roman Society
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Education...both boys and girls learned to
read and write
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Many of the wealthy hired Greek tutors
Religion...early Rome was polytheistic
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Worshipped many of the same gods the
Greeks did
 Gave
them different names...Zeus became Jupiter,
Poseidon became Neptune, Hera became Juno
Chapter 5, Section 2
From Republic to Empire
Rome Grows Through Conquest
After gaining control of the Italian
peninsula, the Romans began to conquer
and expand around the Med.
 This expansion put eventual strains on the
republic, and internal conflicts led to the
republic’s decline
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Punic Wars
Carthage...city state in northern Africa that
controlled a vast empire throughout Africa
and the western Mediterranean
 Rome fought a series of wars against
Carthage
 These wars are known as the Punic Wars
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1st Punic War...Rome gains Sicily, Corsica,
Sardinia
 Hannibal
seeks revenge
Punic Wars
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2nd Punic War...Hannibal marches his army
through the Alps
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Conquers much of the Peninsula but not Rome
Roman army attacks Carthage and Hannibal returns
home to defend
Carthage surrendered all land except those in Africa
3rd Punic War...Rome destroys Carthage itself
and kills survivors or takes them into slavery
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Cato (senator)...ends every speech with “Carthage
must be destroyed.”
Continued Expansion
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Rome continued to fight for world domination
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After defeating Carthage, they went after the
lands that were formerly Alexander’s empire
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Policy of imperialism
Gained Macedonia, Greece, Asia Minor and Egypt.
All of these became Roman provinces
Led Rome to call the Mediterranean “our sea”
Why was Rome so Successful?
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The Roman army was incredibly powerful
for many reasons
Roman pride
 Very disciplined (no retreat)
 Well fed and rested
 Adopted elements of war and looked to
change them for the better
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 Javelins
from the Gauls
 Tactics from the Etruscans
 Armor from the Greeks
Greco-Roman Culture
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The Romans admired Greek
advancements and Hellenistic Culture
Shipped Greek treasures, books, statues, and
vases to Rome
 Enslaved educated Greeks to serve as tutors,
actors, writers, and scientists
 Imitated Greek culture extensively
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This cultural diffusion produced what we
refer to as Greco-Roman Culture
The Impact at Home
As Rome expanded and conquered more
areas, the flow of wealth and riches into
Rome increased.
 This led to a new class of wealthy who
bought huge estates called latifundia
 An increased number of slaves worked on
the latifundia and lessened the role of the
small farmer
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The Impact at Home
The increased production by the slaves on
the latifundia lowered the price of grain
 Many farmers acquired large debts and
were forced to sell their land
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They moved to the city to join other
unemployed
Large mobs formed and rioting broke out
Attempts at Reform
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Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
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Two patrician brothers who attempted reform
 Looked
for government support to help the poor
The Senate saw them as a threat to power
and killed them along with their followers
during street violence
 The great political process of the Roman
Republic was dying
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Civil Wars
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Uncertainty and protest led to a civil war in
Rome
The senate fought political leaders
 Slaves and the poor revolted and led riots
 Military generals led their armies against each
other in a struggle for power
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Sulla ...military leader who temporarily
restored power and control to the Senate
The Rise of Caesar
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During this period of warring generals,
Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus dominated
Roman politics and formed the first
Triumvirate
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Caesar left Rome to conquer Gaul and gained
much popularity
Pompey feared his popularity and
convinced the Senate to order him back to
Rome
Julius Caesar the Dictator
Caesar defies the order to return and
instead leads his troops to seize Rome
 Caesar crushes Pompey and continues
around the eastern Mediterranean
 Forces the Senate to name him dictator
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Keeps some political features of the Republic
but ultimately has all the control
Caesar Makes Reforms
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Caesar pushed many reforms
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Public works to employ the jobless
Gave public land to the poor
Reorganized provinces and granted more citizenship
Opponents of Caesar feared that he was gaining
too much power and would dissolve all features
of the republic
Upon arrival to the Senate, he was assassinated
After Caesar
With the death of Caesar, civil wars began
again
 Caesar named his nephew Octavian as
heir to the throne
 Mark Antony was Caesar’s chief general
 The two joined forces to hunt down the
conspirators
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Brutus and Cassius
Octavian vs. Antony
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After the defeat of Brutus and Cassius, Octavian
and Antony would struggle for power
Octavian eventually defeats Antony and ends
another period of civil war
Octavian is willing to restore the republic but the
senate asks him to stay as their ruler
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He is given the name Augustus and becomes the first
Roman Emperor
This marks the beginning of the Roman Empire
Pax Romana Brings Prosperity
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200 year period that began with Augustus and
ended with Marcus Aurelius is called “Pax
Romana” (Roman Peace)
During this time Roman rule brought peace,
order, unity, prosperity from the Euphrates River
to Great Britain
Trade flowed freely during this time (spices,
cotton, ivory, gold, grain, etc.)
Very peaceful and prosperous time period
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Review
1) Which of the following contributed to the decline of
the Roman republic?
a) widespread unemployment
b) food shortages
c) conquest of Italian peninsula
d) Pax Romana
2) Who was given the title of Augustus?
a) Julius Caesar
b) Mark Antony
c) Octavian
d) Pompey
Chapter 5, Section 3
The Roman Achievement
Literature
Wrote history...the rise and fall of Rome
 Poetry was used to try and create a past
as storied as Greece
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Roman poet Virgil wrote much like Homer
 Wrote famous poem Aeneid, shortly after
Augustus came to power
 Other poets used satire in their works
(making fun)
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Philosophy
Roman philosophy was much like that of
Greece
 Stoicism was a popular theme
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Impressed emperor Marcus Aurelius
 Stressed the importance of duty and
acceptance to one’s faith
 Tried to show concern for the well – being of
all people
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Art
Adapted Greek style of Art
 Decorated homes with Mosaics  picture
made from colored stone or glass
 Sculptors stressed realism
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Would make sculptures with every detail of a
person (scars, veins, etc.)
 Some would change the way people looked
(Ex: Augustus was made to look powerful)
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Architecture
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Romans emphasized grandeur while the
Greeks emphasized simple structures
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Utilized concrete in their buildings
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Immense palaces, temples and stadiums
Eventually led to the first dome being built
(Pantheon is the most famous dome)
Built aqueducts – bridge like stone
structure
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Carried water from streams to city of Rome
Laws
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Principles of Roman Laws would later
become the basis for many legal systems
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United States included
Civil Law  applied to all Roman Citizens
 Law of Nations  emerged as Rome
conquered several places
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Eventually applied to all citizens and non –
citizens of Rome
New Laws Protect Empire
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Other Principles that were used later:
1. An accused person was presumed to be
innocent until proven guilty
2. The accused was permitted to face the
accuser and offer a defense
3. Guilt had to be established through evidence
4. Judges were expected to interpret the laws
and make fair decisions
Review
1) What structures carried water from streams to the city of
Rome?
a) Domes
b) Aqueducts
c) Palaces
d) Temples
2) Roman principles of law
a) led to civil war within the empire.
b) were primitive and harsh.
c) were based on the idea that the accused was presumed
guilty.
d) would later become the basis for legal systems
in Europe and the Americas.
Chapter 5, Section 4
The Rise of Christianity
Roman Religions
In the Roman Empire, there were many
religious beliefs: Judaism, Polytheism, etc.
 Generally, Rome tolerated many religions
as long as they honored Roman gods and
acknowledged the divine spirit of the
emperor
 When Rome conquered Judea, they
allowed the Jews to continue their practice
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Jesus Proclaims His Teachings
Some Jews were not happy with Roman
rule and believed that they would be sent
a leader from god
 A boy was born in Bethlehem and his
mother was told by an angel that he would
be great...he was the son of God
 Jesus grew up in the Jewish faith and
began to preach when he was 30 yrs old
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Followers
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Large crowds would gather to hear Jesus
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He recruited 12 apostles to help spread his word
His teachings were rooted deeply in Jewish
belief
However, he preached some new teachings as
well
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He taught that he was the Son of God
He would bring eternal life to those who followed him
Appeal of Christianity
People were dissatisfied with their
polytheistic faiths
 Attracted by the idea of one god, eternal
salvation, and equality
 Easy to spread the word throughout Rome
 Equality for all...poor, women, rich etc...
 People were impressed by devotion
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Martyrs...died for their beliefs
Opposition and Persecution
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For 300 years, Roman leaders opposed and
persecuted Christians
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Leaders feared Jesus may lead Jews in rebellion
Accused of treason
They would not worship the Roman Emperor or gods
 Would not serve in the armies
 Opposed such events as gladiator fights
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Many Jews also opposed Jesus...regarding him
as a troublemaker
He was arrested by the Romans and crucified
Message of Christianity Spreads
Christianity spread throughout the empire
by the work of Jesus' disciples
 Christian documents were written in Greek
and Latin so they could be read by many
 Eventually, Roman Emperors converted to
Christianity
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Constantine issued the Edict of Milan 
 Granted religious freedom to all Romans
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Paul Spreads Christianity
Paul was a missionary who is noted for
spreading much of Christianity beyond the
Jewish community
 Traveled throughout the empire and set up
churches
 Promised that those who believed in Jesus
would receive eternal salvation
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Spread of Christianity
Early Christian Church Develops
Each Christian had to be baptized  it
was believed that from baptism sins were
forgiven
 Clergy  group of people who conduct
Christian services (Ex: Sunday Mass)
 Christians were grouped as a diocese
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Each diocese had a priest
 Bishop presided over the priest
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Review
1) Roman leaders mistrusted Christians because Christians
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c)
d)
refused to pay taxes.
refused to worship Roman gods.
supported the Jews.
rebelled against the emperor.
2) Who first spread Christianity beyond the Jewish community?
a) Peter
b) The Romans
c) Jesus
d) Paul
Chapter 5, Section 5
The Long Decline
The Roman Empire Divides
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Political Violence
Several emperors were assassinated
 In one 50 year period  26 emperors reigned
and were killed
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Social and Economic Problems
High Taxes placed burdens on business
people and small farmers
 Many small farmers gave up their land and
worked for wealthy land owners
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Diocletian and Constantine
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Diocletian...emperor who looked to restore
Rome’s greatness
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Divided the empire in two in hopes it would be easier
to govern
The west declined while the east flourished
Constantine...emperor who moved the capitol
of the empire to Byzantium...Constantinople
Granted toleration of Christians
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Converted to Christianity himself
Invaders Threaten Roman Empire
Rome became too large to control
 The eastward movement of the Huns
pushed many nomadic groups into the
Roman Empire
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These groups defeated many outlying areas
of the empire
 There
were not enough people to defend all parts
of the Roman Empire
Causes of the Fall of Rome
Military...hiring of mercenaries weakened
the army
 Political...many corrupt leaders and the
division of the empire
 Economic...high taxes and slave labor
 Social...Romans became materialistic and
complacent
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Did Rome Fall?
Although we refer to the “fall of Rome,” it
was only the western half that fell.
 The eastern half thrived for another 1000
years and became to be known as the
Byzantine Empire
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