Download Connor Schultz History P. 5 Readers Notebook 11/6/10 Rome

Connor Schultz
History P. 5
Readers Notebook
11/6/10
Rome
Section 1
Italy’s geography is the perfect place for the emergence of a mighty empire. Right in the middle
of the Mediterranean Sea with good soil and a mild climate it was ideal. The people who
founded Rome were part of a people called the Latins. Around 616 BC the Etruscans took Rome
over. The Etruscans had great influence over Rome and were great metalworkers and jewelers.
The Etruscans ruled until Romans overthrew the last king. The Romans put in a Republic as their
type of government. A republic is where elected officials govern the state. In the early days of
Rome Patricians were the few aristocratic families at the top. They elected officials from among
themselves. The Plebeians were the lower class in Rome. When they challenged the patricians
for power they gained the Plebeian Council. They protected the Plebeians. Eventually they
gained the right to veto, or ban, laws that were unjust. Laws were eventually written down in
the Roman Forum, or Central Square, on 12 large bronze tablets. The code became known as
the law of the twelve tables. Working together the Patricians and Plebeians created a practical
and flexible unwritten constitution, or political structure. Eventually the government consisted
of three parts: the Senate, a body of three hundred members, various popular assemblies, and
officials called magistrates, who put laws into practice. When the last king of Rome was thrown
out two officials called consuls took his place. They served for one year and acted as chief
executives and commanders of the army. In a time of crisis a dictator was elected. They had
almost unlimited power but could only server for six months. If you were between the ages of
Connor Schultz
History P. 5
Readers Notebook
11/6/10
17 and 46 you had to serve in the military during times of war. The Punic wars were fought
between Carthage and Rome. They were a series of three wars won eventually by Rome. Rome
also conquered Greece and adopted their gods. They just gave them different names.
Section 2
The first triumvirate, or rule of three men, was made up of Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, and
Licinius Crassus. Crassus was the only one who wasn’t a very successful military person. He was
one of the wealthiest people in Rome though. Crassus eventually died and then Pompey and
Caesar faced off in a civil war. Caesar won and became dictator for life. The second triumvirate
was made up of Octavian, Caesar’s adopted son and heir, Marc Antony, and Lepidus. Lepidus
was pushed aside and following the double suicide of Antony and Cleopatra the following year
Octavian was left alone. The senate gave Octavian the name Augustus. Augustus made Rome a
very beautiful city and over forty years re-built temples and created new ones. Two of the
worst emperors Rome had followed Augustus when Caligula and Nero were rulers. They good
emperors restored order in Rome. The empire grew its largest under Trajan and when Hadrian
took over he built a wall in modern northern Britain. The period from the beginning of
Augustus’s rule to the last of the good emperors is often called the Pax Romana, the Roman
Peace. During the Pax Romana over 50000 miles of roads were built binding the empire
together and providing transportation. The Pax Romana was one of the most important eras in
Rome.
Connor Schultz
History P. 5
Readers Notebook
11/6/10
Section 3
Daily life in Rome was very different for the lower class from the upper class. The upper class
usually had two homes: a city home and a country home or villa. The wealthier people were
mostly the only ones who participated in politics because it did not pay to be a public official.
Though that was a good life, the majority of the almost one million residents of Rome were in
the lower class. They were given food and different forms of entertainment to keep them from
rebelling. Romans enjoyed circuses, where chariot races took place. Family was very important
in Rome. Paterfamilias, or family father, was the oldest living male and had a lot of power over
the family. Education was mostly completed within the household except for very wealthy
families who could hire a tutor. Religion was also a big part of Rome’s daily life. They believed
that gods sent sighs and warnings. They paid augurs, priests, particular respect for reading
these signs. Aqueducts, or manmade channels, were used to bring water to the city. Arches
were used to construct such structures which the Romans are particularly known for. Many
aqueducts can still be found standing today in Europe. The biggest contribution made, though,
were roads. Roads are used every day all over the world. Examples of Roman architecture can
be found all over the modern western world. The language spoken in Rome was Latin. Five
romance languages were derived from Latin. They are Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian,
and Italian. They Romans used a law system called civil law. It was a form of law based on
written code of law. This form of law was adopted throughout Europe after the fall of Rome.
Connor Schultz
History P. 5
Readers Notebook
11/6/10
Section 4
Christianity developed from the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. This new religion was rooted in the
beliefs and customs of Judaism. Judea was conquered by the Romans under Pompey. The Jews were
unwilling to give up their religion so the Romans allowed them to keep it if the paid their tribute and
maintained civic order. Eventually a branch of Judaism, a group called Zealots, rebelled and as a result
many Jews were slaughtered. In a second uprising all Jews were banned from Jerusalem entirely.
Though some Jews revolted, others waited for the coming of the Messiah, a spiritual leader who,
according to prophecy, would restore the ancient kingdom and bring peace to the world. Jesus of
Nazareth was a spiritual leader who emerged teaching about seeking forgiveness for your sins and not
teaching about armed revolt. Nearly all we know about Jesus comes from the Gospels-the first four
books in the New Testament. In time Jesus began to preach. He began to gain followers, or disciples.
Jesus’ popularity grew and grew until it alarmed authorities. He was arrested tried and sentenced to
death. According to the New Testament, after being crucified and buried Jesus rose from the dead and
spent 40 days teaching his disciples before ascending to heaven. He was then called Jesus Christ. After
Jesus’ death 12 disciples, whom Jesus had specially chosen, set out to spread the word of God. These
special people were called Apostles. Paul, one of the Apostles, greatly helped spread Christianity, and
without him it might have just been another branch of Judaism. Eventually Romans started killing
Christians because they thought they were a threat to their society. Those killed were called martyrs, or
people who would die for their faith. Constantine was the first emperor to embrace Christianity. This
helped it spread even further. In the Christian church ceremonies were performed to make people feel
closer to Jesus Christ. One ceremony was the Eucharist, or drinking of wine and eating of bread to
Connor Schultz
History P. 5
Readers Notebook
11/6/10
remember the last supper. The most important official in the church was the Bishop. Bishops emerged
to oversee church affairs in most cities and had authority over all other priests within the city. Peter
emerged as the Apostle who founded the Roman Church and acted as its first Bishop. As a result later
bishops of Rome became known as Popes or Peter’s spiritual heirs.
Section 5
When the last of the good emperors died Rome was left without good leaders. Inflation became
a very big reason of Rome’s collapse. Inflation is when there is a dramatic rise in prices.
Diocletian tried to slow the decline of Rome by putting himself in absolute power above the
rest. He also divided the empire in two with him ruling the east and a co-emperor ruling the
west. Constantine ended a civil war that broke out after Diocletian and his co-emperor decided
to retire. He made two very big decisions while in the throne. He, first of all, supported
Christianity and second of all created a new capital called Constantinople, or the city of
Constantine. He put his city there because the east was richer and had better protection than
the west. After Constantine died invaders from the north became a very large threat to Rome.
One of the biggest threats was posed by Attila and the Huns. He led them to an attack on Gaul.
The Romans sided with the Visigoths and defeated the Huns. Attila then turned on Rome itself
but stopped when Pope Leo I convinced him to leave Italy. Though the Huns did not take Rome
they left the western half in ruins. Odoacer eventually overthrew the last emperor of Rome and
this is considered the end of the Western Roman Empire. Thought the west collapsed the
Connor Schultz
History P. 5
Readers Notebook
11/6/10
eastern part of Rome was not defeated and they would go on to survive for several centuries
longer.