Rome

Chapter 6

Location and place

• Rome – centrally located in the Mediterranean Basin

and distant from eastern Mediterranean powers

– Originally developed because of its strategic location and fertile soil

• Italian Peninsula• Alps - provided protection• Mediterranean Sea- protection, sea-borne

commerce

Social structure in the Roman Republic

• Patricians- powerful nobility inherited their power and social standing(few in number)

• Plebeians- majority of population• Slaves- not based on race

Social Order and Politics

• Both were Roman citizens, – their rights were different.

• Both Patricians and Plebeians could vote.

• Both had the right to make legal contracts and marry

• Intermarriage between the classes was not allowed.

• Patricians were the only ones allowed to hold political office.

Plebeians Gain Power

• Forced Patricians to write down laws– Twelve Tables

• Gov’t created a new assembly (Council of Plebs) in 471 B.C.

• New leaders called Tribunes protected the Plebeians.

• A new law allowed intermarriage.• In 278 B.C. the Council received the right

to pass laws for all Romans

Citizenship and Republic

Citizenship• Patrician and

plebeian men• Selected foreigners• Rights and

responsibilities of citizenship (taxes, military service, voting)

Republic• Representative

democracy• Assemblies• The Senate• Consuls• Laws of Rome

codified as Twelve Tables

Punic Wars

Rome v. Carthage 264-146 B.C.

Punic Wars

• Rome and Carthage (Latin for Phoenician) were in competition for trade

• Started when Rome sent troops to help settle a local dispute in Sicily (Carthage thought it was an act of war)

• Hannibal invaded the Italian Peninsula

Punic Wars

• Three wars resulted in Roman victory, the destruction of Carthage, and expanded trade and wealth for Rome– 241B.C. Carthage loses Sicily– 201 B.C. Carthage loses Spain– 146 B.C. Rome destroys Carthage and takes

Africa

Evolution of the Roman Empire

• Make a timeline showing Roman gains in the following places.

• Mediterranean basin – Africa– Asia– Europe– Including the Hellenistic world of the eastern

Mediterranean• Western Europe

– Gaul– British Isles

Mythology

• Based on the Greek polytheistic religion• And just like the Greeks--explains natural

phenomena, human qualities, and life events

Gods/Goddesses

• Jupiter/Zeus, Juno/Hera, Apollo/Apollo, Diana/Artemis, Minerva/Athena, and Venus/Aphrodite

• Symbols and images in literature, art, monumental architecture, and politics

**Foldable**• In addition to the Gods, Romans later

worshiped the Emperor

Decline of the Roman Republic

• Causes– Spread of slavery in the agricultural system– Migration of small farmers into cities and

unemployment– Civil war over the power of Julius Caesar– Devaluation of Roman currency; inflation

Rise of Imperial Rome (Rome as an Empire)

• First Triumvirate• Julius Caesar- seizure of power,

assassination (when)• Augustus Caesar- civil war, defeat of Marc

Anthony, Rome’s first emperor• Empire- unified and enlarged, using

imperial authority and the military• Failure to provide for peaceful succession

of Emperors

Pax Romana

Pax Romana

• Enabled by conquest and trade• Two centuries (200 years) of peace and

prosperity under imperial rule• Trade flourished• Roman culture spread• Expansion and solidification of Roman

Empire particularly in the Near East• Civil Service

– Government officials to carry out laws

Pax Romana: Economic, Social, and Political Impact

Economic• Established uniform

system of money, which helped to expand trade

• Guaranteed safe travel and trade on Roman Roads

• Promoted prosperity and stability

Social• Returned stability to

social classes• Increased emphasis

on the family

Political • Created a civil service• Developed a uniform

rule of law

CHRISTIANITYBeliefs, traditions, and customs

Origins

• Had its roots in Judaism, claimed to fulfill God’s promises in the Torah

• Was led by Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed to be the promised Messiah

• Conflicted with polytheistic beliefs of Roman Empire

All about Jesus

• Historical person• He said he was God

– “I and the Father are one.” -John 10:30• Claimed exclusive access to heaven and

truth– Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth

and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. –John 14:6

More about Jesus

• Arrested by Jewish religious leaders• They convinced Pilate, the Roman

governor, to crucify Jesus• Jesus died• Three days later, Jesus’ tomb was empty• Many people claimed that they had seen

Jesus and that He had been resurrected

Beliefs, traditions, and customs

• Monotheism• Jesus as both Son and incarnation of God

– God and Human simultaneously

• All humans sin; God punishes sinners with hell• Jesus substituted for the world perfectly and

paid for everyone’s sins with his life and death• God raised Jesus from the dead• Life after death

– Everyone has a soul• Believers = Heaven• Unbelievers = Hell

Beliefs, traditions, and customs cont.• New Testament, containing accounts of

the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as writings of early Christians

• Christian doctrine formalized by early church councils

Spread of Christianity

• Carried by the Apostles, including Paul, throughout the Roman Empire– Good road system

• Popular yet dividing message– FREE eternal life, humans do nothing!– For everyone (no discrimination gender, race, age, etc.)

• Persecution by Roman authorities– All 12 apostles except one martyred for their faith– Many others killed for their faith– Helped spread the religion by inspiring others

• Those people are dying without protesting. What’s up wit dat?

• Adopted as official religion of Empire by Theodosius• Religion protected by Constantine

Christian Symbols

CrossFish

Trinity

CHRISTIANITY AND ROME

Impact of the Church

• As Empire slowly crumbles and loses influence, the Western Church takes on some of that power

• Church became main unifying force of Western Europe– Different customs, etc., but still Christian

• Loyalty to the church became more important than loyalty to the Emperor

****Eventual split of Church into East and West over icons and Pope v. Emperor Control

• Church became an example of moral authority

Contributions

Ancient Rome

• Art/Architecture: Pantheon, Colosseum, Forum

• Technology: Roads, aqueducts, Roman arches

• Science: Ptolemy• Medicine: Emphasis on public health (public

baths; public water system; medical schools)• Language: Latin, Romance languages• Literature: Virgil’s Aeneid• Religion: Roman mythology; adoption of

Christianity as the imperial religion• Law: The principle of “innocent until proven

guilty” (from the Twelve Tables)

Decline and Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Causes and Division

Causes

• Economy—The cost of defense and devaluation of Roman currency

• Military—Army membership starting to include invaders, resulting in decline of discipline

• Moral decay—People’s loss of faith in Rome and the family

• Political problems—Civil conflict and weak administration

• Invasion—Attacks on borders

Division of the Empire

• Empire Divides into 2 due to size by Diocletian

• Move of capital by Constantine from Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople

• Survival of Western Roman Empire until 476A.D., when it ceased to have a Roman Emperor

• Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)