Ancient World History

Ancient World History Chapter 6 Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity

Section 1 • The Roman World Takes Shape

Geography and Peoples of Italy • Rome Began as a city-state, eventually spreading into an Empire • Geography • Rome is located right in the center of the Italian peninsula • Mediterranean Sea was the center of the Ancient World • Unlike Greece, the Italian peninsula is better built to support a larger population • Less Rugged Mountains to the North • Broad fertile plains

Rome is located in the center of the Italian peninsula. This location helped the Romans expand in Italy and beyond. The Apennine Mountains run down the center of Italy but are not too rugged. Fertile plains supported a growing population. Ancestors of the Romans settled along the Tiber River. These villages eventually grew into Rome. 1 Geography and Rome

Geography and Peoples of Italy (Con’t) • Peoples • The Latins settled along the Tiber River about 800 B.C. • Greek Colonist as well • Etruscans ruled much of the Italian peninsula for some time • Romans learned the alphabet, arches in building, engineering techniques, and gods from the Etruscans

The Roman Republic • Romans drove out their Etruscan ruler in 509 B.C. • Romans setup a government in which officials were chosen by the people • Republic • “Thing of the people” • Keep any individual from gaining to much power

The Roman Republic (Con’t) • The Government takes shape • The most powerful governing body was the Senate • All the members of the Senate were patricians • members of the landholding upper class • served for life • Every year senators elected two consuls • People who supervised the business of government and command the armies • Serve only one term • A system of checks and balance • In event of war, senate sometimes chose a dictator • ruler who has complete control over a government • Given power to rule for 6 months

The Roman Republic (Con’t) • Plebeians Demand Equality • Initially the government was completely run by patricians • Plebeians fought for the right to be apart of the government • average citizens • in 450 B.C. plebeians had the laws written down on tablets • called “The Laws of the Twelve Tables” • Citizens could appeal judgments by the government • Eventually Plebeians could elect tribunes to veto laws that were harmful to plebeians • Individual elected to protect the rights of Plebeians

The Roman Republic (Con’t) • Lasting Legacy • Romans gained political power without resorting to war or revolution

Roman Society • It was a patriarchal society • Male dominated • Changing Role of Women • Had a greater role than the Greek women • All classes of women ran a variety of businesses • most worked at home though • Patrician women went out and enjoyed entertainment with their husbands

Roman Society (Con’t) • Education • Boys and Girls both learned to read and write • Including the poor classes • Many wealthy Romans hired private tutors from Greece • rhetoric an important subject for future politicians • Religion • Polytheistic • Roman’s supreme God was Jupiter • Similar to Greek Zeus • Roman God of Sea was Neptune • Greek was Poseidon • Roman God of War was Mars • Roman calendar was full of celebrations • Had temples throughout cities to celebrate and worship their gods

Expansion of Italy • Citizen-Soldier • By 270 B.C., Rome controlled most of the Italian peninsula • Success was due to skillful diplomacy and to its loyal, well-trained army • Army broken up into Legions • army unit of about 5,000 soldiers • Fought without pay and with their own weapons • Valued loyalty, courage and respect for authority • Commanders mixed rewards with harsh punishments

Expansion of Italy (Con’t) • Conquered Lands • Conquered peoples had to acknowledge Roman leadership, pay taxes, and supply soldiers for the Roman army • Some conquered people were given citizenship in the Roman society • Protection and Unification • Posted soldiers and built roads to easily connect distant territories in the Empire • As trade and travel increased, locals incorporated Roman beliefs and language into their own customs

Section 2 • From Republic to Empire

2 The Roman Empire at Its Height By 133 B.C., Roman power extended from Spain to Egypt.

Winning an Empire • Territorial Expansion moved Rome from a Republic to an Empire • As Rome expanded, they became more in conflict with the city-state of Carthage • Wars with Carthage • Rome fought three wars against Carthage between 264 B.C. -146 B.C. • Carthage was an empire that stretched over northern Africa and western Europe • These wars are called the Punic Wars • First Punic War • Rome won and captured Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia

Winning an Empire (Con’t) • Wars with Carthage • Second Punic War • Hannibal surprised Rome by marching through France to Italy • Hannibal lost half his army by the time he reached Italy • Fought for 15 years, engulfing much of Italy, except Rome • Eventually Rome won and took down Hannibal • Third Punic Wars • Rome demolished the Carthage lands • Rome became the master of the western Mediterranean

Winning an Empire (Con’t) • Other Conquests • Rome was committed to imperialism • establishing control over foreign lands and peoples • While still fighting the Punic Wars, Rome began expanding towards the east • Began conquering the Hellenistic rulers near the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea • Those areas became provinces • Lands under Roman rule • Eventually Rome controlled all the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea

Winning an Empire (Con’t) • Social and Economic Effects • Conquest and control of the trade center of the ancient world, brought Rome exponential wealth • New classes of wealth emerged and bought Latifundia • Huge estates similar to plantations • Farmers unable to compete with Latifundias were forced to sell their land move to Rome for jobs • A continued gap between rich and poor led to angry mobs • New wealth increased corruption, greed, and self-interest

Winning an Empire (Con’t) • Attempts at Reform • Sought to help struggling farmers, however, the reformers were murdered

Decline of the Republic • Civil wars began in Rome over who should control the political power • Led to armies militias controlled by their favorite commanders, who fought between each other

Decline of the Republic (Con’t) • Julius Caesar’s Rise to Power • In 59 B.C., Caesar completed the conquest of Gaul (France) • The Senate, fearful of Caesar’s power, demanded he disband his army • Julius refused and crossed the Rubicon River in northern Italy • He killed his rivals, took control of the senate and became a dictator • Then crushed any remaining rebellions throughout the Roman empire • “Veni, Vidi, Vici” – “I came, I saw, I conquered”

Decline of the Republic (Con’t) • Caesar’s Reforms • He created public works programs to employ the jobless and gave public land to the poor • Expanded Roman citizenship • Created the Julian calendar, based on the Egyptian knowledge, mostly what we use today

Decline of the Republic (Con’t) • Assassination and Civil Wars • Fear of his ambitions, led to his assassination in the senate in 44 B.C. • Beware the Ides of March, March 15 • Led to new round of civil wars • Main struggle between Octavian and Mark Antony (who had allied with Cleopatra of Egypt) • Octavian eventually won and gained controlled of the new Roman Empire

Roman Empire and Roman Peace • Octavian was called “Augustus” by the senate • Exalted One • He ruled from 31 B.C. to 14 A.D.

Roman Empire and Roman Peace (Con’t) • A Stable Government • He left the Senate be, but created a civil service to enforce the laws • allowed a great deal of autonomy • Self-Governing power • To fix the tax system, he enacted a census • population count • Set up a postal system, and created new coins to make trade easier

Roman Empire and Roman Peace (Con’t) • Bad Emperors and Good Emperors • Not all successors were successful or great • Caligula and Nero were possibly evil and insane • Good emperors from 96 A.D.-180 A.D. • Hadrian codified Roman law for all provinces • Marcus Aurelius probably the most famous • Greatly influenced by Greek Stoic Philosophy • “Hour by hour resolve firmly… to do what comes to hand with correct and natural dignity” Aurelius

Roman Empire and Roman Peace (Con’t) • The Pax Romana • 200 year span that began with Augustus and ended with Marcus Aurelius is known as “Roman Peace” • Empire stretched from the Euphrates River to present-day Britain • Trade greatly flowed during this period, greatly increasing the spread of ideas, especially from the Hellenistic east

Roman Empire and Roman Peace (Con’t) • Bread and Circuses • Romans were known for their love of spectacular entertainments • Circus Maximus – Rome’s largest racecourse • Gladiators were greatly popular • Roman leaders used entertainments to appease and keep quiet the city’s restless mobs • Pax Romana led to ignorance of the underlying social and economic problems

Section 3 • Roman Achievement

Greco-Roman Civilization • Rome absorbed ideas from the Greek culture • Leading to the development of the Greco-Roman Civilization • Trade and Travel during the Pax Romana helped spread this vital new civilization

Literature, Philosophy, and History • Poetry • Aeneid, Virgil tried to show that Rome’s past was as heroic as that of Greece • Used as propaganda to arouse patriotism and help unite Rome after years of civil wars • Others used poems to satirize Roman society • Make fun of • Generally make fun of human folly • History • Roman Historians sought the theme of the rise and fall of the Roman Power • Tacitus, wrote negatively about Rome

Literature, Philosophy, and History (Con’t) • Philosophy • Hellenistic and Stoic philosophy greatly influenced Rome and it’s leaders (Marcus Aurelius) • importance of duty and acceptance of one’s fate • concern for the well-being of all people

Art and Architecture • Art • Stressed realism, like Greeks, however added emotions • Very much idealistic as well • Romans made their homes into works of art • Used mosaics • Picture made from chips of colored stone or glass • Architecture • Romans emphasized grandeur and their buildings stood as might monuments to Roman power and dignity • Used concrete, rounded domes to roof large spaces • Example: Pantheon

Technology and Science • Romans excelled in engineering • Application of science and mathematics to develop useful structures and machines • They built roads, bridges, harbors and aqueducts • Bridgelike stone structures that brought water from the hills into Roman cities • Used to give the wealthy water in the cities • Many of these different structures were still used long after the fall of the Roman Empire

Technology and Science (Con’t) • Greeks were the major research scientist of the time period • Ptolemy proposed geocentric theory • Galen codified a medical encyclopedia • Pliny the Elder, compiled volumes on assorted subjects

Roman Law • Possibly greatest achievement was the rule of law, which fostered unity and stability • Two Systems • Under the Republic they had codified civil law • laws that applied to its citizens • Then they developed the law of nations • dealing with those under Roman influence, who were not citizens • Common Principles • Accused person was presumed innocent until proven guilty • Accused allowed to face accuser • Judges were allowed to interpret the laws and were expected to make fair decisions

Section 4 • The Rise of Christianity

Religious Diversity in the Early Empire • Within the culturally diverse Roman empire, a variety of religious beliefs and practices existed • Mystery Religions • Emphasized secret rituals and promised special rewards • Religious Toleration • Rome was tolerant as long as citizens recognized Roman Gods and Caesar’s divine spirit • Most people were polytheistic

Religious Diversity in the Early Empire (Con’t) • Divisions in Judea • By 63 B.C., Judea was under Roman control • Jews excused from worshipping Roman Gods • Due to Cultural Diffusion, many Jewish conservatives called for strict adherence to Jewish laws and traditions • Zealots called for Jews to revolt against Rome • believed that a messiah would soon appear to lead the people as a King • anointed king sent by God

Religious Diversity in the Early Empire (Con’t) • Jewish Revolt • A.D. 66 Jews rebelled and Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple • Forced many Jews to leave Judea

Jesus and His Message • Most of what we know about Jesus comes from the New Testaments first four books, known as The Gospels, or “Good News” • Life of Jesus • Born in Bethlehem about 4 B.C. • Grew up in Nazareth, and likely was a carpenter • At the age of 30, he began preaching and chose 12 apostles • from Greek word meaning “a person sent forth” • Grew greatly in popularity due to word of miracles and parables

Jesus and His Message (Con’t) • The Message • Defended Jewish law, however He preached new ideas as well • He claimed to be bringing spiritual salvation and eternal life to all who believed • Emphasized God’s love and taught the need for justice, morality, and service to others

Jesus and His Message (Con’t) • Death on the Cross • Jesus was considered by some Roman and Jewish leaders as a dangerous troublemaker • Tried and condemned to be crucified • Disciples were initially confused, however The Gospels proclaimed that Jesus rose again, embolden the disciples

Spread of Christianity • After Jesus’ death, Disciples spread Jesus’ message and helped establish Christian communities • Peter and Paul most influential Jews who helped spread Christianity • Work of Paul • Never actually saw Jesus and actually initially persecuted Christians • A constant traveler who setup churches all over the Roman Empire • He wrote letters to churches explaining important Christian ideals • Now a part of the New Testament • Major idea was that Jesus had sacrificed his life out of love for humankind

Spread of Christianity (Con’t) • Persecution • Since Christians were unwilling to bow to Roman Gods, they were constantly persecuted and many became martyrs • people who suffer or die for their beliefs • Nero most famous Caesar who persecuted Christians • Peter and Paul killed under Nero • Reasons for Christianity’s Appeal • People found comfort in the message of Jesus • The roads and sea protection allowed Christians to travel throughout the Mediterranean, spreading the Gospel • Triumph • Emperor Constantine ended the persecution of Christians in A.D. 313 with the Edict of Milan

The Early Christian Church • Patterns of Life and Worship • Believers joined Christianity by going through the baptizing of their sins, receiving forgiveness by the grace of God • Believers participated in the Eucharist, or Communion • Role of Women • Often led the way to Christianity

The Early Christian Church (Con’t) • Structure of the Church • Each community had a priest • who was under the authority of a bishop • a church official who was responsible for all Christians in an area called a diocese • Eventually bishops gained more power, and became a patriarch • Exercised authority over the other bishops in the area

The Early Christian Church (Con’t) • Divisions in the Church • Major divisive force was rivalry among patriarchs • Latin speaking bishops called popes and singular power • Greek speaking bishops called patriarchs and shared power • Differences over what was heresies • Beliefs said to be contrary to official Church teachings • To deal with disagreements, the church set up councils of Church leaders to decide official Christian teachings

The Early Christian Church (Con’t) • Theology and Scholarship • Theology borrowed from Greeks meaning “Talk or discourse about God” • Origen and Clement greatly influenced Christianity • Most influential scholar was Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in North Africa

Ancient World History