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Chapter 5 – The Roman Empire. Pax Romana. Augustus and the Pax Romana (Roman Peace) Trade prospered, travel & communication improved (Roman built strong roads) – Silk Road Stable Roman currency Government restructuring: imperial, senatorial Emphasis on living a virtuous life
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PaxRomana • Augustus and the PaxRomana(Roman Peace) • Trade prospered, travel & communication improved (Roman built strong roads) – Silk Road • Stable Roman currency • Government restructuring: imperial, senatorial • Emphasis on living a virtuous life • Nonetheless, the peace was artificial
PaxRomana • Augustus and the PaxRomana(Roman Peace) • Augustus was first Roman Emperor • Original name is Octavian (adopted son of Julius Caesar) and returns to Rome victorious over Antony & Cleopatra • First title was “First Citizen” to appear more common & later named “Augustus” – monarchy disguised as a republic • Has strong hold of Roman government and brings order to Roman society
PaxRomana - After Augustus’ death, there is political turmoil • 26 different emperors after Augustus (235 - 285 AD) - 25 died violent death • Other Roman Emperors • Notorious emperors: Caligula, Nero • Good emperors • Trajan: Rome becomes the largest (117AD) • Hadrian: Greek emphasis – reconstruction of Pantheon • Marcus Aurelius: the last good emperor (180AD)
Roman Achievement • Development of Infrastructure • Connection system, which includes roads, power system, internet system, and communication • Roman Road System • Traded: goods (silk, slaves, grain, glassware) and ideas (Christianity) • Connected Rome with other important cities • Roman Aqueduct (a pipe that is used to bring water) • Used only gravity to bring water • Brought plenty of water for the people of Rome
Roman Achievement - Trade • The Silk Road: 206BC-500AD • Han China (Silk, spices, jewels) • Rome flourishes with foreign goods • Ideas were exchanged • Central Asian Kingdoms: Kushan, Parthian Empires • Money from Silk Trade: middle traders and lodgings • Water Trade • Land route: Wasteful Time, Costs a lot • Deserts, mountains • Long time, Want to make direct profit (skipping China) • Water Trade: connecting more places • China, Southeast Asia, India, East Africa – Monsoon • Monsoon: Seasonal Rain/wind • Application: Gulf Stream Trade (Europe, Africa, North America)
Roman Achievement - Economy • Growth of trade - China, India: silk, spices, jewels - Africa: gold, ivory • Established currency of gold & silver coins (used by merchants to conduct business) • Greek & Latin universal languages (easy communication)
Roman Achievement - Law • Roman Law - Burden of proof is upon affirming party, not on denying party. • Justice is constant, unfailing disposition to give everyone his legal due. • Credibility of witness should be carefully weighed. • No one is to be convicted on suspicion alone.
Roman Achievement - Political System • Political System - restore honesty & competency in gov’t - placed ability above social class when selecting gov’t officials • First police & fire service for Rome • Postal Service • Building programs
Roman Achievement - Political System • Abolish corruption & create just taxing - Stronger supervision - Census every 14 yrs. (Luke2:1) • Moral reforms – to revive traditional Roman virtues of duty, discipline, hard work, honesty • Promote family life; rewarded many children Reforms failed in the end.
Roman Achievement - Culture • Latin Literature: • Famous poets: Virgil (Aeneid), Horace, Ovid • Cicero & Augustine • Livy: History of Rome • Becoming Lingua Franca of Europe for a millennium • Entertainment: gladiators, chariot race, colloseum • To win public favor and to relievie the lower class’ frustrations of unemployment • Repeated in Korea: 3S
Roman Achievement - Culture • Roman Mythology • Emphasis on art and learning • Heavily influenced by Greek mythology • Mythology: • Zeus – Jupiter, Aphrodite – Venus • Emperors = gods
Roman Achievement - Culture • Roman philosophy • Epicureanism: emphasis on pleasure only (Lucretius) There is nothing to fear in God, There is nothing to be alarmed at in death; Good is easily obtained, Evil is easily endured. • Stoicism: emphasis on life’s duty (Seneca) highest good is pursuit of virtues (courage, dignity, duty, simplicity of life, service) Seneca, Marcus Aurelius solution to Rome’s moral decline
Roman Achievement - Culture • Art and Architecture • Use of concrete and arches • Domes created from forming several arches together
Greek & Roman Comparison • Greek culture influenced Rome Greek: beauty Romans: usefulness (practical) Greek: art, philosophy Roman: law, politics
Pompeii – Remains of PaxRomana • 79AD • Wealth vacation city (near Naples) • Mount Vesuvius: still considered as erupting volcano • Volcanic ash covered the whole city, intact • Since 1748 (rediscovery) • Shows how people lived during PaxRomana • Famous tourist site • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlZ-SGfp6Os(BBC)
Introduction of Christianity • The persecution in Jerusalem: • scatters the Christians throughout the empire • Persecuted because Christians refused to worship the Roman Emperor (worship on Yahweh God) • Paul’s Journey: • Roman roads + common language (Greek) helped the spread • The Destruction of Jerusalem (70AD): 2nd Jewish diaspora (scattering, dispersed community) begins • The Jews will not have their country until 1948
Introduction of Christianity • Structure • Home church – apostle, deacon – pastor, elder – patriarch ruling (Rome is the most important) – Catholic Church • Moving into catacombs (underground barrier chambers) * Fish (Ichthus) = Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior • Septuagint: translation of Old Testament into Greek - Monasticism: withdraw from the world and practice strict religious discipline
Introduction of Christianity • Major persecutions • Pontius Pilate: Roman governor who sentences Jesus to the crucifixion • Tiberius (14-37 AD): emperor during Jesus time • Nero’s persecution (50 AD): 1st persecution of Christians • Titus (70 AD): destroys Jerusalem and its temple when Jews rebel • Diocletian (280-305 AD): most severe persecution
Jewish Religious Groups • Pharisee & Sadducee
Jewish Religious Groups • Pharisee & Sadducee
Jewish Religious Groups • Sadducee - theology based on temple; more rigid - most powerful group during Jesus’ time - challenged after fall of temple • Pharisee - theology based on synagogue; more flexible - synagogue was place of worship, of learning, community center - thrived after fall of temple and during Jewish diaspora era
Christianity & Rome • The Change • Constantine legalizes Christianity (313): The Edict of Milan • Constantine’s cross dream that gave him victory • Needed money from the Christians • Theodosius I approveds Christianity as official religion(379-395) • Many forms of Christianity-government connection formed • Empire giving benefits to church and church people • Emperor controlling the church
The Collapse of Rome • 1. Political Problems • Inefficiency & waste in government • Unstable successor system: Military generals clashing for power to become emperor & gain control of the government • Turmoil, assassination, civil war became common • Border control weakened: barbarians coming • Diocletian: co-emperors to manage the empire
The Collapse of Rome • 2. Economic Problems • Too much expenditure: maintaining a wasteful large military & government cost a lot of money • Unstable currency: started to use less silver • This led to massive inflation + more taxation 3. Moral Decay • Rome was built on virtues of citizens (honest, disciplined, hard-working, patriotic, respect for authority) • Now people were greedy (fraud and abuse funds) • Family broke down, divorce, immorality, superstitious
Efforts of Reform • Reform by two emperors • Diocletian • Emperor Diocletian : able administrator & organizer • Introduces co-emperor (augustus) system to rule western half of the emperor • Brought stability to the government • To curb inflation, he set maximum prices on goods and services. Punished anyone who sold at a higher price. • Introduced new gold and silver coins to revive confidence in Rome’s monetary system
Efforts of Reform 2. Constantine • Moved the capital to the East – Constantinople • But this further weakens the already struggling Western Rome • Roman Empire is permanently divided into two under emperor Theodosius I between his two sons
Fall of Roman Empire The Split Empire (395): Western and Eastern • Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople (330) • Reasons: barbaric invasions, focusing on more important region (Asia Minor), administrative difficulties • “Barbarian”: means anyone outside the Roman empire • The Vandals destroying Rome (410) - Germanic tribe raided & pillaged Rome - vandalism: the word origin came from vandals • Visigoths defeat Roman army & kill the emperor in the Battle of Adrianople (378 AD)
Fall of Roman Empire • Western Roman Empire collapsed (476) • The Huns move across Asia into Europe &begin to push - Germanic people seek refuge in Roman territory • Huns menaced the Chinese empire for centuries • Latin-Roman population declined: German soldiers • Finally in 476AD, a non-Roman is named emperor of Rome • Eastern Roman Empire Continues (1453) called the Byzantine Empire
Significance: Europe’s cultural home • Music and arts, humanism • Democracy • Empire: • Many powerful kingdoms wanted to be a Roman empire: ie. Holy Roman Empire • Conquer Italy + take Rome’s symbol (Hitler and Mussolini) • Christianity: Christianity firmly established in Europe