Download Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

Ancient Rome and Early
Christianity
500 BC – 500 AD
Ch 6
The Roman Republic
Sec 1
What do you know about
Rome?
Objectives
• Describe the formation of the Roman
Republic and the spread of its influence
• Understand the importance of the Twelve
Tables
Origins of Rome
• Legend says that the city was founded by
Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars
and a Latin princess
• The twins were abandoned as infants and
raised by a she-wolf
Geography
• Rome was built on 7 rolling hills at a curve
on the Tiber River, near the center of the
Italian peninsula
• Midpoint between the Alps and Italy’s
southern tip
First Romans
• The earliest settlers in Italy arrived in prehistoric times
• From 1000 BC – 500 BC 3 groups
inhabited the region and fought for control
Latins
• Latins –built the original settlement at
Rome, a cluster of wooden huts atop one
of the 7 hills
Greeks
• Greeks- established colonies along
southern Italy and Sicily
– Brought all of Italy, including Rome, into
closer contact with Greek civilization
Etruscans
• Etruscans- natives to northern Italy who
were skilled metalworkers and engineers
– Influenced through their alphabet and
architecture like the arch
The Early Republic
• Around 600 BC an Etruscan became king
of Rome
• In following decades Rome grew from a
collection of hilltop villages to a city that
covered nearly 500 square miles
• The last king of Rome, Tarquin the
Proud, was a harsh tyrant who was driven
from power in 509 BC
Republic
• The Romans declare they would never be
ruled by a king again
• The Romans established a republic, form
of government in which power rests with
citizens who have the right to vote for their
leaders
• Citizenship with voting rights was granted
only to free-born male citizens
Patricians and Plebians
• Different groups struggled for power in the early
republic
• Patricians- wealthy landowners who held most
of the power
– Inherited power and social status
• Plebeians- common farmers, artisans, and
merchants who made up the majority of the
population
– Barred by law from holding the highest government
positions
Tribunes
• Tribunes- political body elected by the
plebeians that protected them from unfair
acts of patrician officials
Twelve Tables
• Twelve Tables- written laws hung in the
Forum that established the idea that all
free citizens had a right to the protection of
the law
Government
• Mix of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy
• Consuls- 2 people who directed the army and
government like kings.
– Limited to a one year term
• Senate- 300 aristocratic lawmakers who were
chosen from the upper class of Roman society
• Dictator- leader with absolute power that could
be appointed to power for 6 months in times of
distress
Roman Army
• Great value was placed on the military
• All citizens who owned land were required to
serve
• Roman soldiers were organized into legionslarge military units made up of 5000 foot soldiers
• Each legion was supported by cavalry, soldiers
on horseback
• Legions were divided into centuries, made up of
80 men
Rome Spread its Power
• By 265 BC Rome conquered the
Etruscans to the north and the Greek citystates to the south
• Kept a lenient policy towards conquered
states.
– Closest to Rome became full citizens
– Territories that were farther became citizens
except for the right to vote
– All others became allies who were left alone
as long as they supplied troops to the army
Rome’s Commercial Network
• Rome’s location gave it easy access to the
Mediterranean Sea
• Merchants moved by land and sea
• They traded wine and olive oil for a
variety of foods, raw materials, and
manufactured goods from other lands
War with Carthage
• Punic Wars- 3 wars between Rome and
Carthage from 264 BC to 146 BC
• The first war resulted in control of Sicily
for Rome
Hannibal
• Hannibal- Carthaginian general and
brilliant military strategist who fought
against Rome
• Army consisted of 50,000 men, 9,000
cavalry, and 60 elephants
• Led his men across the Alps to surprise
the Romans
• Initially worked but was never able to take
Rome
Rome Triumphs
• Romans decided to attack Carthage and
force Hannibal to defend his home city
• In 202 BC Hannibal was defeated at Zama
near Carthage
• During the Third Punic War, Rome laid
siege to Carthage
• The city was burned at all 50,000
inhabitants were sold into slavery
The Roman Empire
Sec 2
What kind of government did
Rome have?
Collapse of the Republic
• The republican government grew more
unstable as the empire got bigger
• As Rome grew the gap between rich and
poor got bigger
• Small farmers could not compete with rich
landowners who owned huge estates run
by slaves
• Many farmers were forced to sell their land
and move to cities to look for work
Civil War
• Civil War- conflict between groups within
the same country
• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus attempted to
help Rome’s poor by proposing reforms
but were both assassinated
Military Upheaval
• As the republic grew more unstable
generals began taking power for
themselves
• They recruited soldiers by promising them
land and pay
• Soldiers were now loyal to their
commanders and not the republic
Julius Caesar
• Julius Caesar- Roman military leader who
became dictator for life in 44 BC
• In 60 BC, Caesar joined forces with
Crassus and Pompey
• With their help, Caesar was elected consul
in 59 BC
• For the next 10 years they dominated
Rome as a triumverate- group of 3 rulers
Julius Caesar
• After his 1 year as consul, Caesar
appointed himself governor of Gaul
(France)
• From 58-50BC, he led his men in a
successful campaign to conquer all of
Gaul
• Victories in Gaul earned him respect and
loyalty of his troops and the people of
Rome
Caesar vs. Pompey
• In 50 BC, at Pompey’s urging, the Senate
ordered Caesar to disband his legions and
return home
• In January 49 BC, Caesar marched his
army to Rome and Pompey fled
• After defeating Pompey’s army in Greece,
Asia, Spain, and Egypt, Caesar returned
to Rome
Caesar’s Rule
• In 46 BC Julius Caesar was named
dictator and in 44 BC he was named
dictator for life
• Caesar governed as an absolute ruler,
one who has total power
Caesar’s Reforms
• Granted citizenship to people in many
provinces
• Expanded the Senate
• Created jobs through the construction of
new public buildings
• Started colonies where people without
land could own property
• Increased pay for soldiers
Et tu, Brute?
• Many nobles and senators were worried
about Caesar’s growing power, success,
and popularity
• March 15, 44 BC Caesar was stabbed 23
times by assassins led by Brutus and
Cassius
Beginning of the Empire
• Another civil war broke out after Caesar’s
death
• Caesar’s supporters led by Mark Antony,
Octavian, and Lepidus crushed the
assassins and took control of Rome
• Ruled for 10 years as the Second
Triumverate
Alliance Falls Apart
• Mark Antony and Octavian start another
civil war after mark Antony falls in love
with Cleopatra of Egypt
• Octavian eventually wins and excepts the
title of Augustus or “exalted one” and
rules the Roman empire alone
Pax Romana
• Pax Romana- means “Roman peace”,
period from 27 BC to 180 AD where Rome
was at peace
– Roman empire included more than 3 million
square miles
– Population numbered between 60 million and
80 million
– About 1 million people in the city of Rome
itself
Government
• The government established by Augustus
was able to maintain stability in the
empire long after his death in 14 AD
• Civil service- paid workers to manage the
affairs of the government such as grain
supply, tax collection, and postal service
• The civil service carried out the day to
day operations of the empire
Agriculture and Trade
• Agriculture was the most important
industry in the empire
• About 90% of the people were engaged in
farming
• Rome also had a vast trading network
• Roman merchants protected by the navy
traveled as far as India and China
• A complex network of roads built by the
army connected the empire to far off
places such as Russia and Persia
Ancient Roman Jobs
The Roman World
• Most people lived in the countryside and
worked on farms
• Slavery was a significant part of Roman
life
– May have been 1/3 of the population
• Most were conquered people brought back
to work on farms or in the cities
• Occasionally slaves would rebel, more
than 1 million died trying to gain their
freedom
Spartacus
• Slave who rebelled
against Rome
Gods and Goddesses
Society and Culture
• Wealth and social status made a huge
difference in the Roman Empire
• The rich lived extravagantly while most
Romans barely had necessities
• Much of the city’s population was
unemployed and relied on grain rations for
food
• Most people lived in rickety, sprawling
tenements
Why did the Roman
government build the
Colosseum?
Distractions
• To distract the masses the government
provided free games, races, mock battles,
and gladiator contests
• By 250 AD there were 150 public holidays
• Colosseum- huge arena that held 50,000
people
Colosseum
YouTube - Benhur Chariot
Race.mpg
Pompeii
Pompeii
• Roman city located at the base of Mt
Vesuvius
• Eruption in 79 AD buried the city under 60
feet of ash and pumice
• Accidentally discovered in 1748
Rise of Christianity
Sec 3
Rome in Judea
• Roman power spread to Judea, home of
the Jews, around 63 BC
• Judea remained independent until 6 AD
when Rome made it a province of the
empire
• According to the Bible, God had promised
the Messiah would arrive and restore the
kingdom of the Jews
Map of Judea
Jesus of Nazareth
• Sometime between 4 and 6 AD a Jew
named Jesus was born in the town of
Bethlehem in Judea
• Jesus was raised in the village of Nazareth
in northern Palestine
• Baptized by a prophet named John the
Baptist
• Took up the trade of carpentry as a young
man
Jesus
• At the age of 30, Jesus began his public
ministry
• For the next 3 years he taught, did good
works, and reportedly performed miracles
Teachings
• Jesus emphasized God’s personal
relationship to each human being
• Stressed the importance of love for God,
neighbors, enemies, and self
• God will end the wickedness in the world
and establish an eternal kingdom for
those who have repented for their sins
• The teachings of Jesus contained many
Jewish beliefs
– Monotheism
– 10 Commandments
A Growing Movement
• Historical records of the time mention very
little about Jesus
• The main source of information about his
teachings are the Gospels, the first 4
books of the New Testament
• Some of the Gospels are thought to have
been written by one or more of Jesus’ 12
disciples or apostles
Growing Movement
• As Jesus preached from town to town, his
fame grew
• He had a particular appeal to the poor
• Blessed are the meek for they will inherit
the earth
Jesus’ Death
• Jesus’ popularity was alarming to both the
Romans and Jewish leaders
• When Jesus visited Jerusalem around 29
BC crowds greeted him as the Messiah
• The chief Jewish priests denied that Jesus
was the Messiah, saying that his teachings
were blasphemy
Pontius Pilate
• The Roman governor Pontius Pilate
accused Jesus of defying Roman authority
• Jesus was arrested and sentenced to be
crucified, nailed a large wooden cross to
die
Resurrection
• After Jesus’ death, his body was placed in
a tomb
• According to the Gospels, after 3 days the
body was gone, and a living Jesus began
appearing to his followers
• Jesus then came to be referred to as
Jesus Christ, Greek for savior
Spread of Christianity
• Despite political and religious opposition,
Christianity began to spread throughout
the empire
• Paul apostle who had an enormous
influence on the development of
Christianity
• He taught that Christians should allow
anyone to convert
Jewish Rebellion
• In 66 AD a band of Jews rebelled against
the Romans
• In 70 AD the Romans stormed Jerusalem
and destroyed the Temple
• All that remains of the Temple is the
western wall
Diaspora
• Diaspora- dispersal of the Jews
• After a second rebellion in 132 AD most
Jews were driven from their homeland into
exile
Persecution of Christians
• Christian refusal to worship Roman gods
was seen as opposition to Roman rule
• Some Roman rulers blamed the Christians
for political and economic troubles
• Thousands of Christians were crucified,
burned, or killed by wild animals in arenas
A World Religion
• Despite persecution, Christianity continued
to grow
• By the 3rd century there were millions of
them in Rome
Why did Christianity spread so
quickly?
Appeal of Christianity
• Embraced all people
• Gave hope to the powerless
• Appealed to those who were appalled with
the extravagances of imperial Rome
• Offered a personal relationship with a
loving God
• Promised an eternal life after death
Constantine
• Constantine- Roman emperor who
converted to Christianity in 312 AD
• Edict of Milan- ended the persecution of
Jews in 313 BC
Early Church
• Priests led the church on the local level
• Bishops- priests who supervised several
local churches
• Peter- apostle who became the first pope
• Pope- father or head of the church
Nicene Creed
• Nicene Creed- document written in 325
BC that defines the basic beliefs of the
Church.
Fall of the Roman Empire
Sec 4
Marcus Aurelius
• Marcus Aureliuslast emperor of Pax
Romana
• (161- 180 AD)
Rome’s Economy Weakens
• Hostile tribes and pirates interrupted
trade
• Reached the limits of their expansion
• No new resources for gold or silver
• Raised taxes
• Began minting more coins with less silver
in them
• Inflation- drop in the value of money
coupled with a rise in prices
Military and Political Turmoil
• Soldiers became less disciplined
• Loyal to commanders and not Rome
• Hired mercenaries, soldiers who fought
for money, to defend the empire
• Citizens became indifferent
Diocletian
• Diocletian- military leader who became
emperor in 284 AD and divided the empire
into 2 halves
• Rome was divided into the Latin speaking
west (Italy, Gaul, Spain, Britain) and
Greek speaking east (Greece, Anatolia,
Egypt, Syria)
Constantine
• After Diocletian’s death Constantine
became emperor of the western empire
• In 324 Constantine gained control of the
east and reunited the empire
• He also move the capital to Byzantium and
renamed it Constantinople
Western Empire Falls
• In 370 a group of Mongol nomads known
as the Huns moved into the Germanic
areas
• To escape the Huns the Germanic people
invaded Rome and settled in Gaul, Spain,
and Africa
• In 410, Germans overran Rome itself and
plundered in for 3 days
Attila the Hun
• Attila the Hun- powerful Hun chieftain
who united the Huns and attacked both
halves of the Roman empire
• With his army of 100,000 men he
plundered 70 cities but was unable to
conquer Rome due to famine and disease
The Last Emperor
• Romulus Augustulus- 14 year old boy
who was last emperor of the Roman
empire, was ousted by Germanic forces in
476
Byzantine Empire
• Byzantine Empire- eastern half of the
Roman empire that flourished for another
1000 years after the fall of Rome
Legacy of Rome
• Greco-Roman Culture- mix of Hellenistic,
Greek, and Roman cultures
• Latin Language- influenced many other
languages- French, Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, English
Architecture
•
•
•
•
Arch, dome, columns
Concrete
Aqueducts
Roads
Laws
• All persons have the right to equal
treatment
• Innocent until proven guilty
• Burden of poop lies with the accuser
• A person should be punished only for
actions, not thoughts
• Unfair laws could be set aside