Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

Ancient Rome and Early Christianity 500 B.C. – A.D. 500

Establishment of the Roman Republic • 509 B.C. – Roman nobility or patricians overthrewof the last Etruscan king and replaced the monarchy with an aristocratic republic. • Roman forum – heart of the city • Political and civic center filled with temples and public buildings where leading citizens tended to government business

Struggle of the OrdersBetween Patricians and Plebeians • In the beginning, the patrician-dominated government consisted of 2 elected executives (consuls), the CenturiateAssembly, and the Senate • Patricians owned most of the land and controlled the army • Annually elected consuls where the executive heads of government. They came from nobility, commanded the army, served as judges, and initiated legislation • Centuriate Assembly – controlled by nobility • Senate advised the Assembly and controlled public finances and foreign policy • Senate was principal organ of patrician power

Struggle of the OrdersBetween Patricians and Plebeians • At this time, there was an absence of a written code of laws • Plebeians were unhappy with their lack of political representation • Plebeians had one decisive weapon: Their threat to seceded from Rome, that is, not to pay taxes, work, or serve in army. • Patricians realize they needed Plebeian help. Thus, plebeians slowly gained legal equality.

The Twelve Tables • Early 5th century – Plebeians won right to form their own assembly (the Plebeian Assembly, which was later enlarged and called the Tribal Assembly) • This assembly could elect Tribunes – officials who were empowered to protect Plebeian rights! • Plebeian pressure resulted in the first written Roman code of laws – Twelve Tables • This gave Plebeians some degree of protection against unfair and oppressive patrician officials. • Although Plebeians gained legal equality, Rome was still ruled by an upper class.

Roman Expansion • Rome extends power over the Italian peninsula • 146 B.C. – Rome is dominant power in the Mediterranean world • Roman expansion occurred in 3 main stages: • Uniting of the Italian peninsula, which gave Rome manpower that transformed it from a city state into a great power • The Collision with Carthage, from which Rome emerged as ruler of the Western Mediterranean • Subjugation of the Hellenistic states, which brought Romans in close contact with Greek civilization

Conquest of the Mediterranean World • First Punic War (264-241 b.c.) • Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians, was a prosperous commercial center • Carthaginian empire comprised North Africa and coastal regions of southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica, and Western Sicily • Rome prevailed over Carthage, which had to surrender Sicily to Rome • Rome then seized the island of Corsica and Sardinia • Rome had the beginnings of an EMPIRE.

Second Punic War • Carthaginian army was commanded by Hannibal – military genius! • Coming from Spain, Hannibal led a seasoned army, complete with war elephants for charging enemy lines, across mountain passes so steep and icy that men and animals sometimes lost their footing and fell to their deaths. • 26,000 men survived the crossing into Italy • Battle of Cannae (216) Hannibal’s army completely destroyed a Roman army of 60,000 soldiers • Defeated, Rome invaded North Africa, threatening Carthage and forcing Hannibal to withdraw his troops from Italy in order to defend his homeland. • Hannibal, who had won every battle in Italy, was defeated by Scipio at the battle of Zama in North Africa • Carthage surrendered Spain • Left Rome as the sole great power in the Western Mediterranean

Third Punic War • Unnecessary • Carthage was a second-rate power and no longer a threat to Rome’s security • Rome sold Carthaginian survivors into slavery • Obliterated the city • Turned the territory into the Roman province of Africa

Collapse of the Republic • Agricultural crisis • Long wars left farms devastated • Roman soldier-farmers who served in the army left their fields neglected • Returning veterans were forced to sell their farms to wealthy landowners at low prices

Gracchus Brothers • Tiberius Gracchus, came from one of Rome’s most honored families was elected tribune • Sought to help Rome’s poor • Proposed reforms such as limiting the size of estates and giving land to the poor • Rome’s leading families viewed Tiberius as a revolutionary who threatened their property and political authority • Senatorial extremists killed Tiberius and some 300 of his followers, dumping their bodies into the Tiber River

Gracchus Brothers • Gaius Gracchus, younger brother of Tiberius – elected tribune • Aided the poor by reintroducing his brother’s plan for land distribution • Aroused anger of the senatorial class • Civil war rage in Rome – Gaius and 3,000 of his followers perish • By killing the Gracchi brothers, the Senate had substituted violence for reason and made murder a means of coping with troublesome opposition.

Rival Generals • Marius – consul in 107 b.c. adopted a military policy that eventually contributed to the wrecking of the Republic • As the republic grew most unstable, generals began seizing great power for themselves • Recruited soldiers from the landless poor by promising them land • These soldiers fought for pay and owed allegiance only to their commander • Replaced citizen-soldiers whose loyalty had been to the republic • Now possible for a military leader supported by his own troops to take over by force. • Eventually, one would do just that…

Julius Caesar • 60 b.c., a TRIUMVIRATE (ruling group of three) consisting of: • Julius Caesar – politician • Pompey – general • Crassus – wealthy banker • These men conspired to take over Rome

Julius Caesar •Recognized importance of military command •Gained command of the legions in Gaul (France) in 59 b.c. •Following year, began conquest of part of Gaul outside of Roman control •Successful Gallic campaign and invasion of Britain revealed Caesar’s exceptional talent for generalship •Caesar’s victories alarmed Senate!!! •Triumvirate falls apart – Crassus perished and Pompey (jealous of Caesar’s success sides with the Senate)

Julius Caesar • Senate orders Caesar to relinquish his command • Caesar decides to march on Rome • Crosses Rubicon River into Italy, civil war ravaged the Republic • Pompey cannot defeat Caesar • Senate acknowledges Caesar’s victory and appointed him to be dictator – a legal office – 10 years!!!!

Julius Caesar – Assassinated!!! • Governed as an absolute ruler – total power • Started a number of reforms • Granted Roman citizenship to many people in the provinces • Expanded the senate • Helped the poor by creating jobs, especially through the construction of new public buildings • February 44 b.c. – Rome’s ruling class, jealous of Caesar’s success and power and afraid of his ambition, became alarmed when his temporary dictatorship was converted into a lifelong office • Aristocracy saw this event as the end of senatorial government and rule • March 15th – a group of aristocrats, assassinated Caesar

Beginning of the Empire • After Caesar’s death – civil war broke out and destroyed what was left of the Roman Republic. • Octavian – Caesar’s 18 year old adopted son • Mark Antony – experienced general • Lepidus – powerful politician • All 3 join forces to crush the assassins – defeat the armies of Brutus and Cassius, conspirators in the plot against Caesar

Beginning of the Empire • Lepidus was forced by Octavian into political obscurity • Antony and Octavian fight each other – prize is ROME. • Battle of Actium – Western Greece • Octavian crushed the forces of Mark Antony and his wife Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra • Octavian emerges as master of Rome and 4 years later he becomes THE FIRST ROMAN EMPEROR!!!

BATTLE OF ACTIUM

Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra • Born in Alexandria during the reign of the Ptolemy family • Cleopatra and her family were not Egyptian, Macedonian – descended through a general of Alexander the Great • Married her 12 year old brother • Rules Egypt for 3 years then exiled, along with her sister • Cleopatra’s brother, Ptolemy, became involved in a bitter war with Julius Caesar • She was smuggled into Egypt in a rug – begins affair with Julius Caesar (they have a child) joins Caesar in Rome. • After his death – she marries Mark Antony • Her reign marks the end of the Hellenistic Era in Egypt and the beginning of the Roman era in the eastern Mediterranean

Octavian (Augustus) 1st Roman Emperor • Reign of Augustus signified the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire – termination of aristocratic politics and the emergence of one-man rule • Not a tyrant, considered a “creative statesman” • Regarded his power as a public trust, delegated to him by the Roman people

PaxRomana – Roman Peace • Rome’s greatest age • During this time, Roman empire included more than 3 million square miles • Population numbered between 60 and 80 million people • 1 million lived in Rome itself • Time of Happiness • One of the finest periods in ancient history

Vast and Powerful Empire • Held empire together through efficient government and able rulers • Augustus was Rome’s ablest emperor • Stabilized the frontier • Glorified Rome with splendid public buildings • Created a system of government that survived for centuries

Vast and Powerful Empire • After Augustus died in A. D. 14 – system of government he established maintained the empire’s stability • 2nd century AD – empire stretched from Spain to Mesopotamia, North Africa to Britain • Agriculture was MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY • 90% of people engaged in farming • Vast trading network – traded with China and India • Complex network of roads linked the Roman empire to Persia and Southern Russia

Roman World • Most people lived in the countryside and worked on farms • Slavery was a significant part of Roman life • Widespread and important to economy • Made more use of slaves than any previous civilization • Most slaves were conquered people brought back by victorious Roman armies • Many treated cruelly, children were slaves • Some strong, healthy males – forced to become gladiators (professional fighters) who fought to death in public

Rise of Christianity • Born as a movement within Judaism • Emphasized a more personal relationship between God and people (attracted many Romans) • Roman power spread to Judea, (home of the Jews) • God promised a savior known as the Messiah

Jesus of Nazareth • Born in Bethlehem in Judea • Raised in Nazareth (northern Palestine) • Baptized by John the Baptist • Main source of information about Jesus’ teaching are the Gospels (1st four books of the New Testament) • Gospels are thought to have been written by one or more of Jesus’ disciples (pupils) – these 12 men became the APOSTLES • 1o commandments (Hebrew law) • Jesus ignored wealth and status – attracted poor

Jesus’ Death • Growing popularity concerned Jewish and Roman leaders • Crowds called him Messiah (king) • Jewish priests denied this, said his teachings were blasphemy • PONTIUS PILATE accused Jesus of defying the authority of Rome • Arrested Jesus and sentenced him to be crucified • According to the Gospels, 3 days after Jesus was buried, his body was gone • Apostles convinced he was the Messiah!!!

Christianity Spreads • Apostle Paul (huge influence on Christianity’s development). Paul was a Jew, never met Jesus, at first an enemy of Christianity. • PaxRomana made travel and the exchange of ideas fairly safe, provided the ideal conditions for Christianity to spread • Paul wrote letter (EPISTLES) to groups of believers • In his teaching, Paul stressed that Jesus was the son of God who died for people’s sins • Universality that enable Christianity to become more than just a local religion

Persecution of the Christians • Christians posed a problem for Roman rulers • Main reason – refused to worship Roman gods (seen as opposition to Roman rule) • When PaxRomana began to crumble, persecution of the Christians intensified • Romans exiled, imprisoned, or executed Christians for refusing to worship Roman deities • Thousands were crucified, and burned

Constantine Accepts Christianity • A.D. 312 Roman emperor Constantine announced an end to the persecution of Christians • Edict of Milan – declared Christianity to be one of religions approved by the emperor • 380 – Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the empire’s official religion

Early Christian Church • Local level – priest led each small group of Christians • Bishop (also a priest) supervised several local churches • Apostle Peter became 1st bishop of Rome • Every major city had its own bishop • Later bishops of Rome claimed that Peter was the first pope – father or head of the Christian Church • Since Rome was the capital of the empire, logical choice for it to be center of Church

Nicene Creed • Church leaders tried to set a single, official standard of belief – THE NEW TESTAMEST • Contained the four Gospels • Epistles of Paul • Other documents • New Testament was added to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) • Constantine called Church leaders to Nicaea where they wrote the Nicene Creed – defined the basic beliefs of the Church

Ancient Rome and Early Christianity