Legacy of the Ancient Romans

Roman Empire (350 B.C.E – 476 C.E.)

• Importance: Had a profound impact on the political, cultural & religious movement which was a key foundation for Western Civilization

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700 B.C.E. 2009 C.E.1 C.E.

Timeline

BCE = before common era

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/RomanEmpire_117.svg

Romans Establish 1st Republic• 500 B.C.E Rome was a small city-state ruling only a 10 mile area!

• 509 – 31 BCE Rome is declared a Republic– a combination of democracy and oligarchy

– Patricians and Plebeians social classes participate but not equally

Roman Republic 3 Phases• The gradual extension of rights to ordinary people

• The astonishing territorial expansion throughout the Mediterranean world

• The political decline and collapse into monarchy in the first century before Christ

Roman Republic Origin Reading

Executive Legislative Judicial

USA:

Roman Written Law• 451 B.C.E. Developed the 12 Tables: a system of written

laws that applied to ALL people throughout the empire

• Highlights of Written law:– Based on reason & justice– Designed to “protect” citizens and their property – A Person was considered innocent until proven guilty

Term Set Review

• Got importance? Socrates469-399 B.C.E.

Expansion of Roman Empire Reading

The Roman Conquests 341-31 B.C.E.

• The Romans built an empire not based solely on military supremacy

• They used skillful diplomacy to establish networks of alliances– Built loyal “new citizens” (not bitter conquered people)

– Offered Republic Gov’t, legal system, religious freedom, written language, advanced culture

• They created a system of strong military colonies– Romans sent to live & protect each new area from invasion

Growth of the Roman Empire

Polytheism Monotheism

The Birth of New Religions

1 God

Judaism

Christianity

multiple Gods

Reading: Religious Persecution

Emperor ConstantineRuled Rome 337-340 CE

Scapegoat Christianity

Emperor Constantine

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojq-XmobDKw

Ruled Rome 337-340 CE

The 10 Commandments• 1200 BCE: Code of both religious & social behavior

– Provided a moral code for living…

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Judeo-Christian Thought

• Greco-Roman thought initially spread in the Roman Empire

• Judaism & Christianity created a new line of “thought” – It focused on morality/ethics more than political law

• The expansion of those monotheistic religions produced a new line of thought called Judeo-Christian– It included a code of social behavior

– It would greatly influence U.S. democracy and written law

Greco-RomanThought

Judeo-ChristianThought

Greco-Roman Thought vs. Judeo-Christian ThoughtReading:

Roman Empire Legacy

Established Republic Gov’t

Embraced Written Law

Adopted Christianity

Had written language (Latin)

Expanded Greco-Roman & Judeo-Christian thought throughout empire

Rome Empire collapses in 476 CE

Middle Ages follow rule of Rome: 500-1200 CE

Why did Rome Collapse?

• Size of empire (too big)• Increasing attacks by barbarians • Corrupt emperors• Plague • Gap between wealthy & poor • The rise of Christianity