Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

1. Ancient Rome and Early Christianity Historical Significance: How did the small city-state of Rome become the center of a vast, diverse empire that spanned the Mediterranean world? What were Rome’s legacies to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and other parts of the world?

2. Rome’s Early Peoples Early Neolithic peoples had small farming villages Between 2000 B.C and 1000 B.C. Indo-Europeans overwhelmed the Neolithic peoples (see map to the right) No one knows where the Etruscans came from between 900 B.C. to 500 B.C. They did not speak Indo-European languages like the other inhabitants 900 B.C.- Came in contact with the Greeks The early inhabitants of Italy mostly traded with themselves because they were cut off by the Alps to the north 750-500 B.C.- Greeks set up farming communities in Southern Italy

3. The Rise of Rome • Legend of Romulus • Between 800 B.C. and 700 B.C. the Latins established the community that became Rome • 620 B.C. Etruscans gained control of Rome • 534 B.C. Tarquin the Proud, a cruel ruler came to the throne • The Patricians declared Rome a republic

4. Plebeians and Patricians Plebeians Patricians • Wealthy non-aristocratic townspeople and landowners • Merchants and shopkeepers • Small farmers • Laborers • They have the right to vote, had to pay taxes, and had to serve in the military • They could not hold office • Wealthy Aristocratic Class • Nobles • They have the right to vote, had to pay taxes, and had to serve in the military • They COULD hold office

5. The Roman Republic • Community in which people elect their leaders • Executive and Legislative branches • Consuls • Dictator • Assembly of Centuries • Senate • Plebeians v. Patricians • Tribunes • Assembly of Tribes • The Twelve Tables

6. Religion • Worshipped nature spirits • Under Etruscan leadership, they began to see them as gods and goddesses • Soothsayers • Borrowed from Greek deities and gave them Roman names • Families also privately worshipped ancestral spirits

7. Family • Basic unit of Roman society • Father was the absolute head of the family • Wives had few legal rights, but more freedom than Greek women • Children were raised with firm disciple and learned family loyalty • Values: thrift, discipline, self-sacrifice, and devotion to the family and to the Republic

8. Roman Legions • From 500 to 300 B.C. Rome faced threats from many of their neighbors in Italy • A strong army was necessary and all male citizens had to serve in the military when needed • Phalanxes were too large and slow- Romans used legions of 6,000 men • Legionaries were well trained and deserters were punished with death • Coloniae- permanent military settlements throughout Italy

9. Rome against Carthage • First Punic War • 264 B.C. Carthage threatened to seize the straight of Messina • Rome had the land advantage and Carthage had the sea advantage until Rome built a larger fleet and started using grappling hooks • Second Punic War • 221 B.C. Hannibal became general of the Carthaginian army in Spain • 202 B.C. Scipio’s forces defeated Hannibal’s army at Zama • Third Punic War • After 50 years of peace, Rome ended Carthaginian independence, burned Carthage, sewed slat into its fields and enslaved their population

10. The Republic in Crisis • While Rome was fighting the Punic wars, they were also fighting in the East and ultimately became rulers of the Mediterranean region from Spain to Asia Minor • The large territory presented some serious problems • The Provinces • Proconsuls • Latifundia • Equites • Crowding the Cities

11. Reform and the End of the Republic • Many Romans feared the growth of the latifundia and the spread of corruption • The Gracchi • Tiberius • Gaius • Marius and Sulla • The First Triumvirate • Julius Caesar • The Second Triumvirate • Marc Antony • Marcus Lepidus • Octavian

12. The First Emperors Augustus Caesar The Julian Emperors Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero The Good Emperors Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antonius Pius Marcus Aurelius

13. Roman Rule • Imperial Government • Professional Governors • New Roads • PontifexMaximus • The Law • Jus Gentium • Jus Civile • State above the individual • Innocent until proven guilty • Imperial Army • Legions supplemented by recruits from the provincial people • With all forces, there were 300,000 troops which were not enough to defend a 4,000 mile border

14. Roman Civilization • From 31 B.C. to A.D. 180 Romans enjoyed the PaxRomana • Stability during this time boosted trade, increased the standard of living, and generated many achievements in the arts. • Unprecedented Economic Growth • Family life changed • Celebrated over 130 holidays, the Circus Maximus, and Gladiator fights • Advances in construction and technology

15. Judaism and the Empire • A.D. 6 Augustus turned the kingdom of Judah into the Roman province of Judea • Jews began looking intently for the coming of the Messiah • A.D. 66 Jews rebelled against the Romans • A.D. 70 The Romans took back Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple • A.D. 132 The Romans banned the Jews from living in Jerusalem and they were forced to live in other parts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

16. Jesus and the Spread of Christianity • Jesus traveled through Galilee and Judea from A.D. 30 to A.D. 33 preaching and making disciples • There was much debate about whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, and the Roman government felt threatened by him. He was ordered to death by crucifixion in A.D. 33 by Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor. • Jesus’s resurrection led to His followers preaching that He is in fact the Son of God and small groups of Christians formed churches • Paul’s role as a missionary • Peter’s role in creating the first Christian church in Rome • Period of Persecution

17. Romans adopt Christianity: The Early Church • A.D. 312 Constantine became known as the Protector of Christianity • A.D. 392 Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire • Augustine’s Confessions describes how he was converted to Christianity and he later wrote City of God, which was the first history of humanity from a Christian viewpoint • Church Structure: Parishes and Priests, the Diocese and the Bishops, Pope

18. The Empire’s Problems Political instability under Emperor Commodus Rome’s armies began fighting each other rather than defending the borders Economic decline due to the political instability Severe Inflation Heavy Taxes Unsuccessful Reforms Diocletian, Constantine, and Theodosius Barbarian Invasions

19. The end of the Western Empire • The Visigoths • The Huns • The Vandals • A.D. 455 they thoroughly sacked Rome • A.D. 476 A German Soldier names Odoacer seized control of Rome, killed the emperor, kept the emperor’s son from the throne, and proclaimed himself king • The new German rulers accepted the Latin Language, Roman laws, and Christianity.

20. Time Line • c. 753 B.C. Romulus founds Rome • c. 620 B.C. Etruscans gain control of Rome • 509 B.C. Rome becomes a republic • 451 B.C. The patricians enact the Twelve Tables • 287 B.C. The Plebeians begin to make laws for Rome • 264 B.C. Punic Wars begin • A.D. 14 Augusus Caesar dies • A.D. 33 Jesus dies in Jerusalem • A.D. 79 Volcanic Eruption destroys Pompeii • A.D. 96 Rule of the Good Emperors begins • A.D. 180 PaxRomana Ends • A.D. 284 Diocletian becomes Roman Emperor • A.D. 312 Constantine begins his rule • A.D. 330 Constantine moves Capital to Byzantium and renames it Constantinople • A.D. 392 Christianity becomes Rome’s official religion • A.D. 395 Theodosius divides the Roman Empire • A.D. 476 German soldier Odoacer Seizes Rome