Ancient Rome & the Rise of Christianity

CHAPTER 5 Ancient Rome & the Rise of Christianity 37

*Two geographic factors played a major role in the growth of Rome • Central location • Lack of geographic barrier

The roman republic • In 509 B.C. the Romans drove out their Etruscan king • *Set up a republic - gov’t 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

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

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.

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

Rome conquers the Mediterranean • By 133 B.C. Roman territory extended from Spain to Egypt • *Called the Mediterranean… Mare Nostrum – Latin for “Our Sea”

Summary Summarize your notes using at least four sentences

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

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 today…think 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.

The end of the Republic Cleopatra69-30 BC Gaius Octavius 63 BC - 14 CE Marcus Antonius 83-31 BC Caesar’s chief general The Last Pharaoh Caesar’s grandnephew

Augustus Caesar “Exalted one” *Pax Romana = Roman Peace • * Augustus Contributions • Created a stable gov’t. • Well trained civil service. • Gov’t jobs went to those with talent . • Allowed cities and provinces a large measure of autocracy- self-government

PaxRomana opened up trade *Extended Roman influence and culture along the growing silk road trade network

Art & architecture*Hellenistic civilization - a blend of greek & Roman culture Aqueducts and Roads Many of them still used after Rome fell and some even today

*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.

*CIRCUS MAXIMUS Racing Chariot • Third of a mile long and 150 yards wide, the Circus Maximus allegedly held 250,000 people. Military Chariot

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

Rome’s greatest legacy…“The 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

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

Jesus…the 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

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

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

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

Reforming emperors tried to reverse the decline *Constantine – 312 BC • Granted toleration to Christians • Built a new capital in Constantinople *Diocletian – 284 BC • Divided the empire into two parts - East & West • Fixed prices

*Causes for Rome’s downfall • 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 • Military causes • German invasions • Lack of discipline among the empire’s soldiers • Political causes • Authoritarian &corrupt government • Division w/in the empire

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

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Ancient Rome & the Rise of Christianity