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Early Rome
•Neolithic cultures formed as early as 5000 B.C.E.
•Indo-European groups migrated into the area between
2000 B.C.E. – 1000 B.C.E.
•The Greeks first came into contact with Italian peoples
around 900 B.C.E.
•The Etruscans ruled a kingdom in northern Italy from
900 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E
• Other Italian peoples included the Latins (ancestors of
the Romans), Oscans, and Umbrians.
•Two main social classes developed (plebeians and
patricians).
• Eventually, the Latins took control from the Etruscans,
and Rome became a republic in 509 B.C.
Etruscan Art from a
Burial Tomb
Rome (continued…)
•Beginning with the Republic and ending with the fall of
the Western Roman Empire, Roman civilization lasted
about 1000 years.
– The first 500 years – the Republic
– The second 500 years – the Empire
•The first part of the Republic was characterized by a
struggle of plebeians against Patricians. The plebeians
wanted a voice in government.
•In 450 B.C.E. the plebeians gained some rights when
the Twelve Tables, a written law code, was created.
http://www.historyteacher.net/GlobalHistory1/Readings/RomanLaw&TwelveTables.htm
http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html
“The Making of an Empire”
National Geographic article on the Roman Empire.
Focus on the following when taking notes to prepare for the
article quiz:
•How did the Roman empire develop, and what characterized
the Roman government, economy, and society?
•In what ways did Roman civilization influence the
development of western civilization?
•The article makes comparisons between the Roman Empire
and the modern day United States. Make a list of these
similarities.
The Roman Republic
509 B.C.E. – 27 B.C.E.
• The Senate was the main governing body of Rome – 300
members; patricians (aristocracy) who served for life.
• The Senate elected two consuls who served one term.
• A dictator could be appointed for a 6 month term in times of
war or trouble.
• The main conflict/issue during the Republic was the struggle
between classes – basically, the plebeians wanted more
political representation.
• Eventually the plebeians, who were the majority of the
population, won the right to become senators, consuls, etc.
Problems during the Republic
1. Expansion of borders created great wealth, but the
gap between rich and poor widened.
2. The number of slaves grew due to conquests.
There were frequent slave revolts, and harsh laws
to subdue slaves.
3. Large farming estates (latifundia) forced small
farmers out of business which increased
unemployment in the cities.
4. Attempts to reform created a backlash from the
wealthy class and the senate (example - the
assassination of the Gracchus brothers.)
5. These conflicts led to civil wars, and eventually
Julius Caesar’s rise to power.
There were three
Punic Wars during
the Roman
Republic. Rome
won all three.
The second is the
most famous, due
to the attack of
the Carthaginian
general Hannibal.
Carthaginian coin
with Hannibal’s
profile.
Julius Caesar took the
title of dictator during the
civil wars that ended the
Roman Republic. He was
assassinated by a group
of senators in 44 B.C.E.
Caesar’s reforms:
1. created public service jobs
2. gave public land to the poor
3. granted citizenship to more people
4. created stronger provincial governments
5. created the Julian calendar
A famous painting
depicting the death of
Julius Caesar
Assassination of Caesar
by Georges Roche-Grosse
(1852-1938)
Cleopatra allied with Marc
Antony against Octavian,
and was defeated. Octavian
became Augustus, first
emperor of Rome.
Julius
Caesar
Marc
Antony
Cleopatra VII
The Circus Maximus Established as a simple dirt
racetrack in the sixth century B.C., the Circus
Maximus eventually grew into a huge arena for
hosting events, most notably chariot races.
At its peak, the circus could hold up to 250,000
Romans, who could watch as charioteers raced down
the track's 1,650-foot (503-meter) straightaways.
Parts of the Circus Maximus' structure still
border the grass-covered tracks, but the
modern park now hosts more musical
stars than famed charioteers. During
concerts, thousands of fans gather at the
circus to watch performances.
The Forum Romanum was a marketplace and
city center filled with temples and military
monuments. tp://vimeo.com/32038695
Tour Rome in 320 CE! Click Here!
The Roman Empire
27 B.C.E. – 476 C.E.
•After Caesar’s death, there was a struggle for power, which was
won by Caesar’s adopted nephew Octavian.
•The Roman Empire began with the reign of Octavian (Augustus.)
•The Pax Romana also began with the reign of Augustus, and lasted
for about 200 years.
•One of the biggest political problems during the empire was the
succession of power.
•Strong emperors (other than Augustus) during the Pax Romana
included:
*Hadrian – codified laws; defined the border
in England with “Hadrian’s Wall.”
*Trajan – conquests during his reign brought
the empire to its largest size.
*Marcus – Stoic emperor who
Aurelius
brought the empire to its height of
economic prosperity.
•Trade during the Pax Romana flourished – government organization
and the presence of the army kept roads and seas safe for trade.
•During the empire,
Greco-Roman culture
spread throughout
Europe, the Middle East,
and North Africa. Roman
ideas spread in the areas
of:
*law
*language
*customs
*roads
*architecture
*Christianity
(during the later
part of the
empire)
Roman Aqueducts can be
found throughout Europe
Watch this episode of Crash Course, and answer the following
questions in your notebooks:
1. Describe the political system and structure of the Roman
Republic.
2. How did Caesar rise to power, and how did he change Rome?
3. Based on the evidence, do you think Caesar destroyed the
Roman Republic? Explain your opinion and use specific
evidence (examples) to support your opinion and illustrate
your points.
Ruins of the
Ancient Roman
Forum
Tour Rome in 320
CE! Click Here!
Model of the ancient Forum
Tour Rome in 320 CE! Click Here!
Trajan’s
Column
The Colosseum Today
Tour Rome in 320 CE! Click Here!
Pictures from
Pompeii
The Rise and Spread of Christianity
•By 63 B.C.E. Rome controlled the kingdom of Judea.
•In 66 C.E., Jewish zealots rebelled against the empire. The
rebellion was crushed, and many Jews were killed or enslaved.
•During this turmoil in Palestine, Christianity began.
•Jesus’ teachings quickly spread with the help of his apostles.
•People began to believe Jesus was the messiah, or messenger
sent from God to save the Jews.
•Central to Jesus’ teachings were the ideas of mercy, kindness,
forgiveness, and charity.
•Roman authorities viewed Jesus as a dangerous rebel, and he
was sentenced to crucifixion.
•His followers believed he rose from the dead and ascended to
heaven.
•Because Christians refused to honor Roman gods, they were
persecuted by Roman authorities. Plus, they became scapegoats
for the increasing problems in the empire.
•
Many Christians chose to die for their beliefs, and
became martyrs.
•
Christianity continued to spread for the following
reasons:
*message of equality in the eyes of God and in the
afterlife appealed to the poor and oppressed
*work of missionaries such as St. Paul
*people observed the dedication of martyrs
*people needed something to believe in during a
time of social decay and declining morals
•
In 313 C.E., persecution ended with the Edict of Milan.
•
Less than a century later, Christianity became the
official religion of Rome.
•
As the Christian church developed, a hierarchy formed.
This ancient graffiti, from the Palatine
Hill, Rome, first half of 3rd century
C.E. is depicting the crucifixion. The
crude graffito shows a crucifix with a
donkey's head, seen from behind and
dressed in a short tunic. To the left
stands a man with the same clothes
and his arm raised. Between the two
figures is Greek “graffito” which says
"Alexamenos sebete theon"
(Alexamenos worships his god).
Apparently, the author of the drawing
is making fun of a Christian,
Alexamenos, who is praying to a god
with a donkey's head. The Y visible on
the plaster, to the right, at the top,
has been interpreted as a symbol of a
gallows, or a transcription of a scream
of pain. This is one of the oldest
representations of the crucifixion of
Christ. It now is in the Palatine
Antiquarium Museum in Rome.
Eucharistic fish and bread
A Christian mosaic from the
Catacomb of St.Callixtus, Rome.
Christian Roman epitaph of
Atimetus from the catacombs of
St. Sebastian on the Via Appia,
Rome. Inscription flanked by
Christian symbols, an anchor
and a fish.
Reasons for the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
•Political violence and instability
•Political Corruption
•High taxes to support the military and bureaucracy burdened the middle
class
•Decrease in loyalty among citizens, politicians, and especially soldiers
•Over-cultivation of farmland
•Increased use of slave labor
•Lavish spending of the upper class
•“bread and circuses”
•The beginnings of serfdom – which became a major institution during
the medieval period
•Germanic invasions (Huns, Visigoths, Vandals, etc.)
-these invasions first caused the shrinking of the empire’s
borders; England, Gaul, and Spain were surrendered to
Germanic groups
-Eventually invading tribes would even enter the city of Rome
Two Reformers slowed the decline:
1. Diocletian – divided the empire into two administrative
units in A.D. 284 (an eastern half and western half); also
tried to slow inflation by fixing prices for goods.
2. Constantine – issued the Edict of Milan; moved the
capital from Rome to Byzantium, and renamed it
Constantinople.
**The eastern half of the empire became stronger and
wealthier than the western half. After the fall of
Rome, the eastern half survived for another 1000
years as the Byzantine Empire.
Constantine