Download Rome .

A creation of a Mediterranean Empire
753 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.
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2.1 The development and Codification of
religious and cultural traditions
2.2 The development of States and Empires
2.3 The emergence of trans regional networks
of communication and exchange
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1000 BCE First Settlement
507 BCE Establishment of the Republic
290 BCE defeat of tribes of Samnium giving Romans control of Italy
264 – 202 BCE Wars against Carthage obtaining control of the western
portion of the Med.
200-146 BCE Wars against Hellenistic kingdoms obtaining control of the
eastern portion of the Med.
88-31 BCE Civil Wars and failure of the Republic
31 – 14 CE Paul spreads Christianity in the eastern Med.
235 – 284 CE Third Century Crisis
312 – Constantine ends persecution of the Christians with Edict of Milan
324 – Constantine moves the capital to Constantinople
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Legend has it Romulus founded Rome 753 BCE
Palatine Hill occupied as early as 1000 BCE
600 BCE merging of several hilltop communities 2.2
Agriculture essential power measured by land owned
Larger land owners/ wealthy families made up the Senate 2.2
Several kings between 753 and 507 BCE First being Romulus last
tyrannical Tarquinius Superbus 2.2
Liberated in 507 BCE and installed the Res Publica 2.2
Public Possession
 or Republic
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The power of Rome was in it Senate
First an advisory council
Increased its role in public policy and
government
Members brought land ownership, wealth and
military experience together
Self perpetuating committee members served
for life
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Conflict would arise between the Patricians or
elite and the plebeians or majority
Plebeians would refuse to work or fight
Led to the creation of Tribunes, drawn from the
lower class and could veto rulings from the
Patricians
Elite found ways to circumvent the tribunes by
bringing them into the elite class
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Basic unit of Roman society was the family
Family unit made of several generations
Oldest living male or paterfamilias had absolute
authority
Important male members of society possessed
auctoritas a quality that elicited obedience from
lower members of society
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Played no public role
Information pertains mainly to upper class
Woman was thought to be like a child
Was under the control of her paterfamilia until
marriage when she would then be under
control of her husbands paterfamilia
Unable to own property or represent herself in
legal proceedings
Were less constrained than the Greeks
Were able to gain greater economic freedom
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Believed in invisible forces called numina that
were pulsing energy that protected everything
Made small offerings to these spirits to remain
in good standing
Some thought to have larger spheres
depending on who they guarded
Upon coming into contact with the Greeks
fused the Greek culture with the Roman
Culture: Zeus – Jupiter.
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500 BCE Rome is an insignificant city sate in
Italy 300 years later it had conquered the
western world
Chief instrument was the army male citizens
owning land were subject to service
Roman army was more flexible than Greek,
noted for their discipline and training
When Rome conquered they would extend the
privileges of Citizenship to their new subjects
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Between 264 and 202 BCE fought two bloody wars
ageist the Carthaginians for control of the
Mediterranean
Between 200 and 146 BCE Rome fought against the
Hellenistic kingdoms
Reluctant to leave troops in conquer lands Rome
had trouble governing newly acquired territories
59-51 BCE Julius Caesar led Rome on a conquest of
the Gaul in Europe
Due to lack of Cooperation in foreign provinces
Rome installed their own government.
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Expansion produced wealth that enriched the
upper class
While away at war small land owners took
over the lands and investments creating
latifundia or broad estates
The decline of the small farm meant the
shortage of men who own property which
means…
Less men obligated to military service
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Julius Caesar
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believed in a united Roman world
battled the Gaul 58 to 52 BCE
his victory gained him huge political prestige
New found fame also gained him political enemies and
the Senate ordered him to abandon his army
Choose to march his army on Rome and attack his
former ally Gnaeus Pompeius who had a superior
army and the Senate
Pompeius fled Rome taking his army and the Senate
Caesar pursues Pompeius across the Adriatic and
destroys the opposing army
Caesar is now the master of Rome
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Caesar transforms the Empire into a great common
wealth
Is betrayed by the Senate “Et Tu Brute” Marcus
Brutus and Cassius Longius
After prolonged civil war Augustus becomes ruler
of Rome
Roman Ruler called them selves Principate or First
citizen to try to show they were first among equals
Really just a dictator
During Augustus time he wiped away the
memories of the Republic
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Judea comes under Roman rule 6 C.E.
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
His teachings attracted the attention of Jewish
authorities and he was put to death
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Named Saul, A Jew from Tarsus initially
persecuted the Christians (tax collector)
After receiving a revelation on the rod 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 decuples 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 prospers for about 200 years
During its “Third Century” it begins to
diminish
Frequent change in rulers contributed greatly
to the crisis
Rulers were either overthrown or killed
Germanic tribesmen took advantage of the civil
war to drive deep into roman territory
Some cities built walls, some broke away
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Taxes were raised to keep the army for
protection
Inflation
Empire reverted to a barter economy
Many moved from the cities to the country
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Commoner who came to power rising through
the ranks of the military
Ruled 20 years and died in his bed
Halted inflation by freezing prices
Froze people into jobs requiring them to train
their sons to take over
Regulated the government spending
Imposed death penalty to those who violated
the economic rules
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In Hellenistic communities Christians were
greatly persecuted
Won a battle key to his taking of Rome claimed
he had a vision from the Christian God.
Later Issued the Edict of Milan ending the
religious persecution of the Christians
Supported Christianity this was a huge event
toward the legitimizing of Christianity
Large numbers began to convert
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The eastern portion of the empire had better
with stood the Third Century Crisis than the
west
324 Constantine transferred the capital of Rome
to Byzantium renaming it Constantinople
More Christians were in the East as well as
more educated people
Closer to the more threatened area of the
eastern empire