Ancient Rome

1
Ancient Rome the Rise of Christianity
CHAPTER 5
37
2
Two geographic factors played a major role in
the growth of Rome

1. Central location
2. Lack of geographic barrier

3
The roman republic

• In 509 B.C. the Romans drove out their Etruscan
  king
• Set up a republic - govt by the people with
  elected leader
• Patrician (ruling/wealthy class) Senate had 300
  members
• Senate elected 2 Consuls as the executive branch.
• In event of war a dictator was elected and
  granted power for six months

4
The Roman Republic

• In 450 BC Plebeians
• (merchants farmers)
• demanded more power
• Eventually they could elect their own officials
  called Tribunes.
• Also known as the Plebeian tribunate
• Had the power of veto (Latin for "I forbid")
  over elections laws

5
The Roman Republic

• Law of 12 Tables - earliest code of Roman Law.
• Examples include
• A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly
  killed.
• Females should remain in guardianship even
  when they have attained their majority.
• A man might gather up fruit that was falling
  down onto another man's farm.
• If one is slain while committing theft by
  night, he is rightly slain.
• Marriages should not take place between
  plebeians patricians.

6
Rome conquers the Mediterranean

• Punic Wars
• Two long bloody wars fought between Rome
  Carthage over the years 264 BC - 146 BC
• General Hannibal led Carthage
• Over the Swiss Alps w/ elephants
• Fought Rome for 15 years before being called back
  to Carthage
• Took poison before capture
• Carthage destroyed and survivors sold in slavery

7
Rome conquers the Mediterranean

• By 133 B.C. Roman territory extended from
  Spain to Egypt
• Called the Mediterranean
• Mare Nostrum Latin for Our Sea

8
Summary

• Summarize your notes using at least four sentences

9
From Republic to Empire

• Growing inequality unrest
• New class of wealthy Romans who bought huge
  estates and used slaves to work them
• This forced small farmers into bankruptcy
• Angry mobs rioted

A Roman could tell how important or wealthy a
person was from their toga
10
Julius Caesar100 - 44 BC

• Forced the Senate to make him dictator
• Made many reforms in Rome
• Public works
• Gave land to the poor
• Gave Roman citizenship more people
• Introduced the Julian calendar (this is what we
  use todaythink July for Julian)

Ides of March 15th in 44 BC Caesar was stabbed
to death on the steps of the Senate. After this,
Rome fell into civil war. Again.
11
The end of the Republic
Cleopatra69-30 BC
Marcus Antonius 83-31 BC
Gaius Octavius 63 BC - 14 CE
Caesars chief general
The Last Pharaoh
Caesars grandnephew
12
Augustus Caesar Exalted one
Pax Romana Roman Peace

• Augustus Contributions
• Created a stable govt.
• Well trained civil service.
• Govt jobs went to those with talent .
• Allowed cities and provinces a large measure of
  autocracy- self-government

13
Pax Romana opened up trade
Extended Roman influence and culture along the
growing silk road trade network
14
Summary

• Summarize your notes using at least four sentences

15
Art architectureHellenistic civilization -
a blend of greek Roman culture
Aqueducts and Roads
Many of them still used after Rome fell and some
even today
16
The Coliseum
Tour
Over 160 feet high with 80 entrances, the
Coliseum could hold upwards of 50,000 spectators.
Public events such as gladiator fights, mock
naval battles and wild animal hunts were held at
the Coliseum. During the staged fights as many as
10,000 people were killed. Fighters were slaves,
prisoners or volunteers. Spectators saw
persecuted Christians killed by lions. After 404
AD gladiatorial battles were no longer held, but
animals such as lions, elephants, snakes and
panthers continued to be massacred in the name of
sport until the 6th century.
17
CIRCUS MAXIMUS
Racing Chariot
Third of a mile long and 150 yards wide, the
Circus Maximus allegedly held 250,000 people.
Military Chariot
18
Science
It was Galen who first introduced the notion of
experimentation to medicine. On the Natural
Faculties remained the authority on medicine
until the sixteenth century
Ptolemy proposed earth was the center of
universe which lasted for 1400 years
19
Romes greatest legacyThe rule of law

• An idea that continues to shape western
  civilization today
• Common principles
• Equal before the law
• Presumed innocent
• Face accuser and defend
• Guilt through evidence
• Fair decisions

20
Summary

• Summarize your notes using at least four sentences

21
The Rise of Christianity

• Romans conquered Palestine in 63 BC
• Jews were tolerated and excused from worshiping
  Roman gods
• Jews absorbed Greek influence creating rifts in
  the religion

22
Jesusthe founder of Christianity

• Called himself the Son of God
• Said his mission was to bring spiritual salvation
  and eternal life to anyone who would believe in
  him.
• Our history comes from the Gospels.
• Written by four of his followers

23
Was Jesus Dangerous?

• Romans considered Jesus a revolutionary.
• Jewish priests considered Jesus dangerous to
  their leadership.
• They became jealous of the huge crowds that
  followed him believed in him.
• So, they decided to get rid of him and have him
  killed.
• He was tried and crucified

24
Spread of Christianity

• Jesus told his disciples to spread his word.
• Those who spread his message are know as
  Apostles.
• Yet Christians were persecuted and became
  Martyrs.
• Paul (St. Paul) was from Asia Minor.

• Greek ideas from Plato and the Stoics moderated
  the Christian church which many Romans liked

25
Christianity

• Christianity becomes the official religion of the
  Roman Empire
• When the empire falls (as ALL empires do)
• The Church preserved, adapted and spread
  Greco-Roman civilization

Theodosius the Great 346-395
26
Reforming emperors tried to reverse the decline

• Diocletian 284 BC
• Divided the empire into two parts - East West
• Fixed prices

• Constantine 312 BC
• Granted toleration to Christians
• Built a new capital in Constantinople

27
Causes for Romes downfall

• Military causes
• German invasions
• Lack of discipline among the empires soldiers
• Political causes
• Authoritarian corrupt government
• Division w/in the empire

• Economic causes
• Heavy taxation
• Diminishing wealth
• Reliance on slave labor
• Population decline
• Social causes
• A decline in moral values
• A devotion to luxury and self-interest among the
  upper classes
• A loss of self-reliance among the masses

28
Foreign Invasions

• Huns
• Came from Asia
• Think of Atila the Hun
• Migrated into Europe through Germany.

• Germans
• Huns pushed the Germans ( known as Visigoths)
  into Roman territory
• By 410 the Visigoth General Alaric plundered Rome

Foreign invasions internal problems brought
the fall of Rome
29
Summary

• Summarize your notes using at least four sentences

30
Up NextCivilizations of The Americas