Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity

Chapter 5509 BC to 476 AD

Section 1The Roman World Takes Shape

• A. Roman Civilization Arises in Italy– Geography made Italy easier to take over– Latins had settled on Tiber River– Romulus and Remus- brothers, settled on the

seven hills- founders of Rome– Sons of Latin women and god Mars– Eventually take over Etruscans• Adopted alphabet from them • Also arch architecture

B. Rome Republic

• Res publica- belongs to the people• People chose the officials that run gov’t• Patricians• Consuls• Dictator• Plebeians• Tribunes • Veto• Rome’s 12 tablets

C. Roman Society

• Males head of the household• Women did have larger role- could own

property, own businesses, get educated, but most worked in the home

• Most children educated

• Adopted many Greek gods

D. Republic Grows• Army made up of citizen soldiers divided into

legions of 5,000• Eventually, would become well trained

professional soldiers • Paid with the spoils of war• Honor, bravery, courage rewarded• Running away punished• Defeated enemies usually treated well• Created roads to increase trade and protect

lands

Section 2From Republic to Empire

• A. Rome Grows Through Conquest – Carthage was a city state in Northern Africa– North Africans and Phoenician traders– 264BC to 146BC fought 3 wars– Called the Punic Wars

B. First Punic War

• Rome defeated Carthage • Won the islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia

C. Second Punic War

• Carthaginians seek revenge• General Hannibal leads army through France

and over Alps• Brings war elephants• 1/3 of his army doesn’t survive the march• Invades Italy from North• On war path for 15 years

• Hannibal failed to take Rome• Had to return home to defend Carthage• Was defeated

• D: Third Punic Wars– Rome invades and destroys Carthage– Salts the land so nothing will grow again

E. Ruling Mediterranean

• Imperialism- Rome took over areas, colonized them, and used their influence to benefit Rome

• Pretty soon, the Mediterranean was a Roman lake

• Spain, Gaul, North Africa, Britain, and parts of Asia Minor belonged to Romans

F. Impact

• Riches brought to Rome• Latifundia? • 1/3 of Rome eventually slaves• Farmers couldn’t compete• Unemployment rises• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus attempt reform– Feed the poor– Killed by the Senate

G. Republic Declines

• Revolts and slave uprisings weakened the republic

• Professional soldiers loyalty to their generals• Julius Caesar marches back with army and

makes himself dictator– Veni Vidi Vici

• Once in charge, made many reforms• However, 44BC stabbed on Senate floor

H. Empire

• Octavian defeated Marc Antony• Senate names him Augustus and appointed

him First Citizen • Rome no longer a Republic as emperors had

complete power• Used census to build a stable gov’t • However, didn’t lay out how to replace an

emperor

I: Emperors Vary

• Good Emperors would follow– Hadrian– Marcus Aurelius

• However, many bad emperors– Nero – Caligula

J: Pax Roma

• Roman Peace- 200 years of peace ending with Marcus Aurelius

• The Coliseum • The Circus Maximus

• Games hid underlying economic problems

Section 3The Roman Achievement

• A. Literature, History, and Philosophy• Blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman

traditions called Greco-Roman Civilization• Poem- Virgil’s epic- Rome’s great past– Satirize- Horace’s satires

• Philosophy- almost stole completely from Greeks

• History- stressed heroic past

• Art- – Sculptures stressed realism

– Mosaic- picture made of tiny pieces

• Architecture- used concrete– Immense palaces and structures– Most famous domed Pantheon

B. Engineering

• Best roads, bridges, and harbors united empire

• Aqueducts • Ptolemy?

C. New Law Codes

• Rule of law- Let justice be done though the heavens fall

• Civil Law• Law of nations

• Innocent until proven guilty • Could face your accuser • Guilt established using evidence • However, Penalties still not equal

Section 4The Rise of Christianity

• A. Diverse Religion– As Rome conquered territory, new religions fell

under their dominion– Most were polytheistic– Had to acknowledge and honor Roman gods

B. Judea

• Jews were monotheistic• Conquered by the Romans in 63 BC• Tried to rebel, defeated, and the temple

destroyed• Masada?• Many Jews leave Judea, but believed Messiah

would soon appear and lead them to freedom

C. Jesus

• What we know comes from the bible- Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John

• Preached near Galilee• 12 Apostles, or followers• Romans and Jewish leaders felt he was a

threat• Had him Crucified

D. Christianity spreads

• Peter and apostles spread the teachings of Jesus

• Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, was one of the most influential preachers

• Using good Roman roads, Christianity spread and became its own religion

E. Persecution

• Romans felt Christianity a threat• Persecuted Christians- made them martyrs• However, many moved by their faith and

willingness to die for it• Emperor Constantine issued Edict of Milan-

made Christianity acceptable• Theodosius actually made official religion of

Rome

F. Early Church

• Baptized to join • Became a hierarchy – Clergy, bishops, patriarchs, Pope

• Heresies?

Section 5The Long Decline

• A. Roman Empire Divides– After death of Marcus Aurelius in 180, turmoil

would grip the empire– Many coups and assassination- 50 years- 26

emperors- only one died of natural causes – Bad economy as more and more people become

poor- live on large estates owned by few

B. Empire Splits

• Rome divided into East and West– West still centered on Rome, crumbling– East- Diocletian puts capital at Constantinople-

empire much richer and last a 1,000 years longer

C. Invaders

• The Huns, emerging out of Asia, pushed into Europe

• Attila the Hun- leader, forced Visigoths, Ostrogoth, and other Germanic people into Roman territory

• Weakened Roman legions can’t repel attacks• 378- Rome is sacked by Alaric of the Visigoths• Meanwhile, most of Roman colonies breaking

away

• 476- Odoacer, a Germanic leader, ousted the emperor and the Roman empire ceased to exist as it was

• Why – Military attacks- mercenaries and barbarians – Political Turmoil- politics and leaders corrupt – Economic weakness- more taxes to support army

hurt economy as most people become poor– Social Decay- parties prestige instead of morals

• Many aspects of Rome survived, and Eastern empire continued as Byzantine empire