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The Roman Empire
“I came. I saw. I conquered.”
Veni, vidi, vici
---Julius Caesar
At its height, the Roman Empire covered
over two million square miles stretching
from the Rhine River to Egypt and from
Britain to Asia Minor. (roughly the size of
the U.S.)
 The population of the Empire was at least
70 million and may have been in excess of
100 million. The city of Rome itself was
home to more than 1 million inhabitants.
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Ancient Romans spoke Latin, which in
turn, has influenced many of today's
languages that include French, Spanish,
Italian, and Portuguese.
 According to legend, Rome was founded
by Remus and Romulus, two brothers
suckled by a she-wolf. Romulus killed
Remus and named the city after himself.
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The Roman Republic was governed by
Elected Consuls, the Senate, and the
Plebian Council, which was a popular
assembly. The Senate consisted of the
wealthier Romans, while the Plebian
Council represented the working classes.
 Rome contained a senate of three
hundred senators, who served for life.
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The spread of Christianity was greatly
helped by the infrastructure of Roman
roads and the use of a universal
language—Latin, of course.
The Roman Republic and
Empire
chapter 6-2
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As Rome enlarged its territory, its republican
form of government grew increasingly unstable.
Rome later formed a dictator-ruled empire
There was a growing discontent among the
lower classes of society.
Gap between rich and poor grew.
Rome’s rich landowner’s lived on huge estates.
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Slaves work these estates (By 100 B.C. enslaved
made up around one-fourth of Roman society).
Two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, tried
to help Rome’s poor. They proposed reforms
like limiting the size of estates and giving land to
the poor. Both met violent deaths.
 A period of civil war followed their deaths.
 Generals began seizing greater power for
themselves. Soldiers recruited from the landless
poor by promising them land.
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In 60 B.C., Julius Caesar joined forces with Crassus
(wealthy Roman) and Pompey (popular general married
to Caesar’s daughter) and takes control. For ten years
they dominated Rome as a triumvirate, a group of three
rulers. Crassus dies 53 B.C.
During 58-50 B.C. Caesar led his legions in a campaign
to conquer Gaul (modern day France). His successes
made him very popular with the people of Rome.
Caesar defeated Pompey’s troops in Greece, Asia, Spain
and Egypt. In 46 B.C. he returned to Rome.
Pompey dies in Egypt. Power struggle in Egypt, Caesar
sides with Cleopatra. They begin a relationship she
bears him a son, Caesarion. She comes back to Rome.
In 44 B.C. Caesar was named dictator for life.
 He granted citizenship to many people in the
provinces. He helped the poor by creating jobs
through the construction of new public buildings.
 He increased pay for soldiers and started
colonies where people without land could own
property.
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Worried about his growing power, and hoping to restore
the constitutional government of the Republic, on March
15, 44 B.C., he was stabbed to death in the senate
chamber.
Civil War broke out after Caesar’s death.
 Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, joined with
Mark Antony and an powerful politician named
Lepidus. In 43 B.C. they took control of Rome
and ruled for ten years.
 While leading troops against Rome’s enemies in
Anatolia, Mark Antony met Queen Cleopatra of
Egypt and fell in love with her and followed her
to Egypt.
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Octavian defeated the combined forces of
Antony and Cleopatra at the naval battle
of Actium in 31 B.C. and Antony and
Cleopatra committed suicide.
CLEOPATRA
Octavian accepted the title of Augustus or
“exalted one.” Rome was now an empire ruled
by one man.
 Rome’s power was at its peak from 27 B.C. to
A.D. 180. For 207 years peace reigned
throughout the empire. This period of peace
was known as Pax Romana.—Roman Peace
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Augustus was Rome’s ablest emperor.
 He stabilized the frontier, glorified Rome with
splendid public buildings, set up a civil service
(paid workers to manage the affairs of
government).
 The Romans managed an empire that by the
second century A.D. reached from Spain to
Mesopotamia, from North Africa to Britain.
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Agriculture was the most important
industry in the empire.
 90 percent of the people were engaged in
farming.
 A silver coin called a denarius was used
throughout the empire making trade
easier among different parts of the
empire.
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The Roman World
 Rome
emphasized the values of discipline,
strength and loyalty. A person with these
qualities was said to have gravitas. They
honored strength more than beauty, power
more than grace and usefulness more than
elegance.
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Slavery and captivity
 Slavery
was widespread and important to the
economy. Numbers of slaves many have
reached as high as one-third of the total
population.
 Most slaves were conquered peoples brought
back by victorious Roman armies. Children
born to slaves also became slaves.
Slaves could be bought and sold,
punished, set free or put to death as their
masters saw fit.
 Some healthy male slaves were forced to
become gladiators or professional fighters.
 Some slaves rebelled—more than a million
slaves lost their lives attempting to gain
their freedom.
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Society and Culture
 Classes
had very little in common
 The rich live extravagantly while the people in
Rome barely had the necessities of life.
 Much of the city’s population was
unemployed and government supported these
people with daily rations of grain.
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To distract and control the masses of
Romans, the government provided free
games, races, mock battles, and gladiator
contests. By A.D. 250, there were 150
holidays a year.
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these celebrations, the Coliseum could
hold 50,000. Wild creatures brought from
other lands (tigers, lion, bears) would fight to
the death.
The Rise of Christianity
Summarize the life of Jesus
Born sometime around 6 to 4 B.C. in the
town of Bethlehem.
 Raised in Nazareth
 Baptized by the prophet known as John
the Baptist.
 At the age of 30 starts public ministry.
 Taught, preached and performed miracles
for three years.
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Emphasized God’s personal relationship to
each human being
 Stressed the importance of peoples love
for God, neighbors, their enemies, and
even themselves.
 Said that God would establish an eternal
kingdom for people who sincerely
repented their sins.
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Attracted large crowds
 Had a special appeal to the poor because
he ignored wealth and status. (Blessed are
the meek…)
 Growing popularity concerned Roman and
Jewish leaders
 AD 29, Jesus visited Jerusalem and was
greeted as a Messiah or king.
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Chief Priest of the Jews denied that Jesus was
the Messiah
 Pontius Pilate, Roman governor, accused Jesus
of defying Roman authority.
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Pilate arrested Jesus and sentenced him to be
crucified.
After Jesus’ death, his body was placed in a tomb.
According to the Gospels, three days later his body
was gone and a living Jesus began appearing to his
followers.
According to the Gospels, Jesus ascended into
heaven.
Trace the Spread of Christianity in
the Roman Empire
Jesus’ teachings did not contradict Jewish
law and his first followers were Jews.
 Believing that Jesus triumphed over death,
his followers continued to spread his
ideas.
 Paul, a Jew, had a vision of Jesus (he had
never met him). Spent the rest of his life
spreading and interpreting Jesus’
teachings.
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The Pax Romana made travel and exchange of
ideas fairly safe provided the ideal conditions for
Christianity to spread.
 Common languages—Latin and Greek—allowed
the message to be easily understood.
 Paul wrote letters, called Epistles
 Paul stressed that Christianity should welcome
all converts, Jew or non-Jew.
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Analyze Christianity’s appeal
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Christianity embraced all people—men and
women, enslaved persons, the poor, and nobles
Gave hope to the powerless
Appealed to those who were repelled by the
extravagances of imperial Rome;
Offered a personal relationship with a loving
God;
Promised eternal life after death
The Gospels
The only real sources about the life and
teachings of Jesus are the Gospels of the
New Testament.
 Mark (written A.D. 60-80) is the earliest.
 Matthew, Luke and John (written A.D.7590) are later
 Evidence also found in the letters of Paul
(written A.D. 50)
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