Download Civilization moves to the West

Civilization moves to the West...
The Roman Empire and the Rise of
Christianity
Ancient Trade Routes between
Europe and Asia: 1st Century CE
Timeline
• 8th century - 4th century BCE (700s-300s):
Hellenic Era of Greek Civilization (rise of
the Greek city states, e.g., Athens, Sparta)
• 4th Century - 30 BCE: Hellenistic Era of
Greek Civilization: Alexander’s reign
• 6th Century BCE - 31BCE: Era of the
Roman Republic
Ancient
Greece
Ancient Rome, 218 BCE
Expansion of Rome
Timeline, cont.
• 31 BCE to about 476 CE: Era of the Roman
Empire: Octavian became Augustus Caesar and
initiated the Pax Romana
• Palestine or Ancient Israel had lost its political
independence around 586 BCE. Palestine and the
Jews came under control of the Romans at the
time of the birth of Christ (CE 4).
• http://www.centuryone.com/rmnwrd.html and
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firste
uro/roman.html for maps.
Jewish Diaspora
Timeline, cont
• The Christian religion spread within the
Roman Empire, faced persecution from
time to time.
• Managing the Empire was administratively
difficult: Diocletian split the empire in the
late 3rd century to try to develop efficiency.
The Spread of Christianity
Roman Empire, 2d Century, CE
Timeline, cont.
• Emperor Constantine recognized
Christianity (313 AD), and the Christian
church modeled itself on the organizational
structure of the empire.
• Fifth Century (400s): Empire was attacked
by barbarians and Rome collapsed in 476.
Rome Divided
Germanic Invasions
Significance for our purposes...
• The ‘center’ of civilization shifted to Rome and
the Mediterranean and social practices, economic
activity, knowledge were drawn into Rome and
‘radiated’ from Rome to provinces and frontiers.
• Roman world before Constantine was pagan, i.e.,
polytheistic, and embodied a variety of religions
among the many peoples it ruled.
Significance….
• Society continued to be organized into
nobility (in Rome: patricians), freemen of
lesser wealth (plebeians), and slaves
(captured in warfare).
Types of Households in Rome
• Population of Roman Empire at peak:
– Total: 70-100 million people
– City of Rome: 500-700,000
– Provinces: 75% of Total
• Latifundia: large scale plantations farmed
by gang slave labor
• Freehold farms: farmed by retired
legionnaires, or freemen.
Types of Households...
• Rome settled colonies at its frontiers, and
thus incorporated “foreigners” into the state.
• The “paterfamilias” “owned” his wife,
children, slaves and could dispose of them
at will.
The Challenge of Christianity
and the Barbarians…
• Christianity articulated a different moral
and spiritual vision: including ideals of
humility, charity, ecumenicism and
brotherly love: “do unto others as you
would have others do unto you…” and the
hope of a “Second Coming.”
• The barbarian tribes of Europe and Asia
presented military threats to the Empire….