Download 5. Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity

509 BC-476 CE
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Describe the physical and cultural settings in
which Roman civilization arose
Outline how the Roman republic was
structured and governed
Understand the rights and religious practices
that characterized Roman society
Explain how the Roman republic grew and
maintained its conquest
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Etruscans
Republic
Patrician
Consul
Dictator
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Plebeian
Tribune
Veto
legion
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Rome began as a
small city in Italy an
became a ruler of the
Mediterranean and
beyond.
The story of the
Romans and how they
built a world empire
begins with the land
which they live
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Unlike Greece Italy
was not divided
geographically
Apennine Mountains
less rugged
Fertile farms lands
better support
population
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Latin's settled along
the Tiber River
Villages located on
seven small hills
Eventually grew
together to form
Rome
Legend of Romulus
and Remus
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Etruscans: Greek
colonist whose citystated dominated the
northern region
Ruled much of Italy
including Rome
Romans learned
construction and
engineering from
Etruscans
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How did geography
influence the origins
and expansion of the
empire
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Italy is centrally
located in the
Mediterranean
Has broad plans
suitable for farming
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Drove out Etruscans in 509 BC
Established a state form of government called
res publica
Republic: government that belongs to the
people
Thought that no one person could be too
powerful
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Republic was governed by a Senate that made
the laws and controlled the government
300 members were all patricians who were
upper class, land owners
Senators would nominate two consuls that
supervise the business of the senate
In times of war or crisis would elect a dictator
who had complete control of the government
Ruled for six months then had to step down
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Plebeians were the lower class
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farmers,
merchants,
artisans
Made up most of the population
Wanted citizenship
Elected official called tribunes to protect their
interest
Tribunes had a veto in the senate
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Plebeians protested that
they could not follow
the law if the did not
know it
Senate set up a stone
tablets in the market
with the laws inscribed
Law of Twelve Tables
made it possible to for
Plebeians to dispute
judgment
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Senate still dominated but the people gained
access to power and won safeguards to their
rights
2000 years later the roman government would
be the influence for the Constitution of the
United States of America
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How did the
membership of the
senate change over
time?
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Initially senate
membership was only
open to patricians
Eventfully plebeians
gained access to the
senate
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Played a larger role in
society than Greeks
 Ran businesses
 Were very public
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Family unit was the
base of Society
Under law Male was the
head of the household
Role of Women
changed over time
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Romans Education
Both Girls and Boys
from upper class
learned to read and
write
 Hired Greek tutors
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Polytheistic society
A lot of their religion
was adapted from
Greek Mythology
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Zeus – Jupiter
Hera – Juno
Poseidon – Neptune
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Built temples to gods
Would celebrate feast
to their gods
Displayed statues of
the gods in the
temples
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What social rights did
Roman woman have?
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Allowed to go in
public, run businesses
Had some political
influence
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Very skillful in
diplomacy
Well trained army
Roman Legion: basic
military unit
comprised of 5000
men
Commanders would
use reward and
punishment to
motivate
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Citizen soldiers
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Very loyal
Fought with out pay
Supplied own
weapons
Professional soldiers
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Paid
Supplied with
weapons
Career minded
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Treated defeated
enemies with justice
Let them keep
customs, religion, and
money
Extended some
citizenship
Allowed to marry
Romans
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Posted soldiers
Created roads
Eventually through
trade Roman culture
diffused throughout
Conquered lands
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How did the romans
treat people the
conquered?
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Treated defeated
enemies with justice
Let them keep
customs, religion, and
money
Extended some
citizenship
Allowed to marry
Romans
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Understand how the Roman republic grew
through a series of conquests
Identify the events leading to the decline of the
Roman Republic
Describe the nature of the new age that
dawned with the Roman Empire
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Imperialism
Latifundia
Tiberius Gracchus
Gaius Gracchus
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Julius Caesar
Augustus
Census
Hadrian
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Conquest of Italian
peninsula brought
Rome in contact with
many cultures
Carthaginians
On the coast of Africa
Empire stretched to
Spain
Settled by Phoenicians
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264 and 146 BC Rome
fought three wars
against Carthage
Punic wars from
Punicus Latin for
Phoenician
First war Rome won
Sicily, Corsica and
Sardinia
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Carthage fought for
revenge on Rome
Hannibal crossed the
alps with elephants
Surprised Rome
Hannibal move across
Rome for 15 years
winning victories
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Hannibal failed to
conquer Rome
Romans out flanked
the Carthaginians
Hannibal forced to
return home
Romans finally
defeated the
Carthaginians selling
them into slavery and
salting their land
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The Carthaginians
fought for their own
survival the Romans
for supremacy and
world domination
Rome was committed
to a policy of
Imperialism
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Imperialism:
establishing control
over foreign lands
and people
Rome fought for
many reasons
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Plunder
Expand Empire
“Mare Nostrum” Our
Sea
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Conquest and control
of trade routes
brought riches
Built lavish mansions
filled with luxury
Latifundia: large
framing estates
About 1/3 of the
people Living in
Rome were slave
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Two young Plebeians
Tiberius and Gaius
Gracchus attempted
to reform the senate
Called to re distribute
land to farmers
Called for the
government to pay for
grain for the poor
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Along with thousands
of their followers the
brothers were killed
in the streets by hired
thugs
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What challenges did
Rome face building
the Republic?
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War, gaps between
rich and poor,
increased corruption
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Unable to solve
problems of
corruption Rome
plunged into a series
of Civil Wars
Many slave uprisings
Citizen soldiers
became professional
soldiers loyal to their
commanders not
Rome
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Ambitious military
leader
Used his army to
conquer Gaul
Marched his army
across the Rubicon on
Rome and declared
himself supreme ruler
of Rome
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Pushed for a number
of Reforms in Rome
Launched a public
works program
Also re organized the
government and
granted Roman
citizenship
Introduced the Julian
Calendar
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Caesars enemies
worried he was to
powerful
Arriving at the Senate
he was attacked and
stabbed to death
His death plunged
Rome into a civil war
Marc Anthony and
Octavian joined to hunt
down Caesars
Murderer's
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What central issue
sparked the warfare
that eventually led to
the decline of Rome?
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Who should hold the
power the Senate or
the popular political
leaders
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Octavian triumphs
over Marc Antony
and declares himself
Emperor of Rome
Takes the title of
Augustus or Exalted
One
Ruled from 31 B.C. to
14 A.D.
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Undertook economics reforms to make sure the
tax system was fair
Ordered a census of Rome to account for all the
people in the Empire
Set up a postal service
Put jobless to work buildering roads and
temples
ROMAN REPUBLIC
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Two Councils
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Annually elected
Held equal power
Dictator
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Elected in times of crisis
Held office for 6 months
ROMAN EMPIRE
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Emperor
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Inherited power
Served for life
Was worshiped as a god
ROMAN REPUBLIC
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Senate
ROMAN EMPIRE
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Issued advisory decrees to
magistrates and people
 Held enormous power
 Had about 300 members
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Popular assemblies
Two assemblies: centuriate
(military) and
tribal(nonmilitary)
 Elected magistrates, held
legislative power made key
discisions
Senate
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Issued binding decrees
Acted as a high court
Elected magistrates
Held little power as a
body
Had about 600 members
No Popular Assembly
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Not all successors were great rulers
Caligula and Nero were considered insane
Caligula appointed his favorite horse to the
council
Nero burnt the city of Rome just so he could re
build it
Hadrian codified the Roman Law for all
provinces
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200 year span from Augustus to Marcus
Aurelius was the Pax Romana or Roman Peace
Roman Legions maintained and protected the
Empire
Trade flourished
Traded with Africa, Middle East and China
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Summarize the works of Roman literary
figures, historians and achievers
Describe the Art and Architecture of Rome
Understand how Romans applied science and
mathematics
Explain how Roman legal codes protected the
empire
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Virgil
Satirize
Mosaic
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Engineering
Aqueduct
Ptolemy
Rome absorbed many
ideas from the Greeks
 Many Romans spoke
Greek
 Used Greek style in
literature and poetry
Virgil a roman poet wrote
an epic poem Aeneid to
raise the level of
nationalism after Augustus
Basic Plot: A hero escapes
Troy to found Rome
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Livy—told tails of
Horatius and
Cincinnatus—dictator
who gave back Rome
after 16 days
Tacitus wrote about
Augustus destroying
liberty
Philosophy—adopted
from Greeks. Very
STOIC, Emphasized
Fate
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How did Roman
writers promote
patriotism?
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Epic Poems that
portrayed Rome's link
to the past .
Using poetry to recall
Roman heroes
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Focused on revealing
character of person.
Often displayed in
frescoes and mosaics:
pattern of tiles
Elegant architecture
Used columns and
arches—Greek
Pantheon domed
structure that honors
many gods.
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How did Roman
Architecture differ
from the Greeks?
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Greek was simple
elegance Roman was
grandeur
Rome adapted the use
of Concrete
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Engineering-application
of science and math to
building
Built roads, bridges etc.
Built aqueducts—
carried water from hills
into city.
Used Concrete to create
larger buildings
Design Emphasized
Grandeur
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Rome generally left Science to the Greeks
Ptolemy gave theory that the Earth was at the
center of the universe.
Galen—composed medical encyclopedia.
Pliny composed an encyclopedia of basically
everything.
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Who in the Roman Empire engaged in
scientific research?
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Greeks
Who put Science to practical use?
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Romans by compiling Encyclopedias of knowledge
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Focused on the rule of law
and Justice
US follows many Roman
laws
Civil law Developed under
the Republic, applied to
citizens only—later law of
nations emerged—applied to
all people.
Innocent until proven guilty
Decisions had to be fair.
Penalties according to social
classes—different from US in
theory alike in actuality.
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What were the basic
Principles of Roman
Law?
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Innocent until proven
guilty
Allowed to face your
accuser and offer a
defense
Guilt had to proven
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Understand the diverse religions included in
the early Empire
Summarize the teachings of Jesus and how the
spread
Outline the development of the Early Christian
Church
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Cult of Isis from Egypt
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Offered women equal status with men
Cult of Mithrae
Good over evil and life after death
 Favored by Roman Soldiers
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Rome tolerated many religions
Most Romans were Polytheistic
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63 B.C. Conquered Judea where many Jews
lived.
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Jews excused from worshiping Roman Gods
Most Jews willing to live under Roman rule
Zealots rebelled.
Jews waited for the Messiah—the anointed one-- to
lead them to freedom
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Rome's policy towards most religions in the
empire?
Tolerant as long as they showed loyalty to
Rome
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Jewish prophecy told
of an anointed one
that would come and
deliver the Jews from
the Romans
It was thought the
messiah was to be a
great military leader
Instead the messiah
was a carpenter from
Galilee and a teacher
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Born 4 B.C.—
descendent of King
David—son of Mary
Grew up in Nazareth
At the age of 30 began
teaching, healing,
performing miracles
Gathered his 12
Apostles: Greek for
“Person sent forth”
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Teachings firmly
rooted in Jewish
tradition
Obedience to the laws
of Moses
“Love God with all
your heart”
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Traveled to Jerusalem
for Passover
Was thought to be a
threat to Rome
Arrested by the Romans
then turned over to
Jewish authorities
Crucified, Died and was
buried, on the third day
rose from the dead
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What aspects of Jesus
message were unique?
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Son of God
Preached Love
Spiritual Salvation
Importance of
forgiveness
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Named Saul, A Jew from Tarsus initially
persecuted the Christians (tax collector)
After receiving a revelation on the road to
Damascus he becomes a Christian
Between 45 and 58 C.E. spend his life
spreading Christianity using his roman
citizenship to travel among Syria-Palestine,
Greece and Anatolia
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Became increasing frustrated with the Jews refusal
to accept Jesus
Jew were appalled the deciples for failing to
maintain traditional Jewish practices
Discovering a spiritual hunger among many
Gentiles, Paul re directs his efforts setting up
Christian communities in the eastern portion of the
Empire
A Jewish uprising led to a reconquering of Judea
by the Romans and this led to the destruction of
many Judeo-Christian communities in Judea
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Rome's tolerant views
on religion not
extended to the
Christians
Early Christians meet in
secret
Persecuted early
Christians
Romans used Christians
as a scape goats
Martyrs: died for their
Christian beliefs
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Christian Missionaries
used Greek ideas to
spread their message
Unity of Rome eased
the travel of early
missionaries
Taught in Greek and
Roman so all could
learn
Persecution brought
new converts
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Blood of the Martyrs was the seeds of
Christianity
313 AD Emperor Constantine issues the Edict
on Milan granting freedom for Christians to
worship
Theodosius adopted Christianity as the official
religion of the Empire
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What factors enabled
Christianity to
spread?
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Unity of the empire
St. Paul's citizenship
Greek and Roman
Language
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Joining the Church
To become a Christian you had to be baptized
Members consider themselves equal call each
other “Brother” or “Sister”
Celebrate the Eucharist (trans substantiation)
Women served as teacher in the early church,
but were latter barred
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Only men were eligible to be members of the
Clergy
Clergy: person who conducts services
Pope or Patriarch is at the top
Then Bishops run areas called Diocese
Diocese are made up of parish’s or church's run
by a pastor or priest
Pope/ Patriarch
Catholic Church
I
Bishop
Diocese
Bishop
Diocese
Bishop
Diocese
I
I
I
Priest Priest Priest
Parish Parish Parish
Priest Priest Priest
Parish Parish Parish
Priest Priest Preist
Parish Parish Parish
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Rivalry among Patriarch developed
Ritual and structure became more defined
The west Latin speaking Bishop of Rome
became the Pope and had authority over all
Bishops
Greek speaking East had four Patriarchs
Emergence of Heresies or beliefs contrary to
what the church teaches caused divison
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Early Christian produced an abundance of
literature called Theology
Theology: “talk or discourse about God”
Early scholar Augustine combines Christian
doctrine with Greco-Roman Philosophy and
the teaching of Plato
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How was the early
church organized?
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Clergy: person who
conducts services
Pope or Patriarch is at
the top
Then Bishops run
areas called Diocese
Diocese are made up
of parish’s or church's
run by a pastor or
priest
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The Empire Divided
Political Violence increases
Emperors are routinely overthrown
General use their armies to gain power
Would rule a short time then become
overthrown
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High taxes are levied to support the
government
Farmland has been over cultivated
Farmers left their land to live under Land
Lords on large estates
Many farmers are now indentured servants
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284 Diocletian divided
the empire into two
parts
Diocletian kept control
of the Wealthy West
 Appointed Maximian to
control the East
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Also created a price
freeze to stop inflation
Forced farmers to
remain on their land
Sons were required to
stay in the family
business
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Constantine continued
Diocletian's reforms
Granted Christian
tolerance
Renamed Byzantium
Constantinople and
created a new capital in
the east
Reforms helped the
economy and held
together the empire for
another 100 years
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How do you think
Rome’s unstable
government affected
the economy?
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Made trade
dangerous
Caused disruption in
government
Created Inflation
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The Huns began to
advance on Rome
Followed by the
Visigoths, Ostrogoth's
and Germanic peoples
As the Huns advanced
into Germany large
numbers of people fled
to Rome
Rome first surrenders
Britain followed by
France and Spain
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Fast moving cavalry
skilled with bow and
arrow
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378 Roman Armies
could not turn back
the Visigoths
410 the Visigoths
overran Italy and
plundered Rome
Germanic people
called Vandals spread
throughout Gaul
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How did the Hun
Invasion weaken the
Empire?
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Ravaged large areas
leaving it exposed to
attack
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Invasions
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Rome employed
Mercenaries to help
fight invaders
Hired Soldiers did
not have the same
passion as Roman
citizens to fight
Political turmoil
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Corrupt politicians
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Weak Economy
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High taxes
Inflation
Declining farmlands
Social Decay
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People were to
involved in “social
activities” to worry
about the good of the
Empire
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Rome did not
disappear from the
map
Moved east and
became the Byzantine
Empire
Much of Roman
Civilization survived
Many still spoke Latin
and followed Roman
Law
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What social problems
contributed to the
decline of the Empire?
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Patriotism
Sense of duty
Devotion to the
empire
mercenaries