1 / 30

The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire. From the Republic to the Silk Roads. Early Stages. Rome grows in influence on peninsula after the Rape of Lucretia. Consolidates control over Peninsula. 2 nd Century B.C.E Rome victorious in regional war with Carthage-Punic Wars. Northern Africa acquired.

oliver-torres
Download Presentation

The Roman Empire

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Roman Empire From the Republic to the Silk Roads

  2. Early Stages • Rome grows in influence on peninsula after the Rape of Lucretia. Consolidates control over Peninsula. • 2nd Century B.C.E Rome victorious in regional war with Carthage-Punic Wars. Northern Africa acquired. • Roman government known for tolerance becomes popular.

  3. Civil War: fuels fire • After the failed Gracchi Brothers reform efforts to equalize classes. A War breaks out in 87 B.C.E between rival generals; Gaius Marius (Plebians) and Gaius Sulla (Patricians). Both men wrought destruction upon the state. • Sulla murdered tens of thousands in the wake of Marius death.

  4. Violence and Republic • Not compatible. • Rome is thrust on a path of strong centralized leadership. • Caesar marches on Rome and replaces the Republican Constitution with a centralized Imperial Government. • Rise of gladitorial games.

  5. Caesarian Politics • Building projects to support lower class • Centralization • Assassinated in 44 B.C.E • Rise of his grand nephew (not related) Octavian Augustus. • Birth of the Pax Romana (Peaceful Rome) and the Age of Empire.

  6. Roman Roads (Appian Way) Dramatic impacts on areas…Roman expansion unlike Hellenistic had been into “newer” more rural areas such as Iberia, Germany, and Britannia. Tempo of society increased dramatically. Roman traditions took root. Cross cultural interactions increased. Expansion and Integration

  7. Empire and Commerce • Mare Nostrum (our sea): dominance in Mediterranean • Communication and exchange united • Urbanization movement—Rome and Beyond • Wealth and commerce concentrated in cities • Diversification and specialization of labor

  8. Roman Aqueducts Buildings such as the Colliseum “Bread and Circuses” Innovation

  9. Roman Religion and Philosophy • Early religion saw a parallel to Greek Religion • During Hellenistic age their religion was the subject of diffusion, as they acquired faiths from the region such as Mithraism. • Primary philosophy was Stoicism which was embodied by Cicero and Cincinnatus, this prescribed civic virtue as a great good.

  10. Prior to the rise of Augustus Consul whose Caitiline Oratories saved the republic. Become a model for the stoic brilliance of Roman culture and philosophy. Greatness of Cicero

  11. Aeneid by Virgil: a heroic tale about the virtue and greatness of Rome. Livy: the History of Rome a comparable work to Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War. Horace: essayist who promoted the simplicity and brilliance of Roman culture and life. Literary Flowering

  12. Religions of Salvation • Appealed to the masses • Mithraism: Zoroastrian god identified with sun and light. Romans associated him with virtues such as strength, discipline, and courage. • Rewarded military and moral virtue • Promised a union with Mithras

  13. Mithraism not open to women. Isis had become the most popular faith in the region during the Hellenistic age. Seen as benevolent and tolerant, her worship seen as salvation. Rome moving away from Greco-Roman traditions, setting the stage for Christianity. Cult of Isis

  14. Jews and Rome • State cults were blasphemous • Refused to worship Roman Emperors • Judea suffered greatly economically and politically. • Resistance and conflict were common: Jewish War 66-7. • Essenes and other groups looked for a savior who would deliver them from Roman rule.

  15. A “client king” or “puppet king” of Judea. Hated by the Jews for his taxes, harsh laws, and religious interference. Promoted the “cult of Roma”. Anti-Roman movements emerge: Zealots King Herod

  16. Born in 4 C.E Arrived during a time of tension between Jews and their emperor. “Kingdom of god” in direct contrast to the Roman Empire. Political v. Religious overtones His death in the early 30’s C.E didn’t put an end to the movement. Jesus of Nazareth

  17. Teachings • His teachings were in the Jewish tradition • His teachings amended Jewish traditions • Taught his followers not to revolt against Rome. • Pontius Pilate the Roman Prefect (Governor) put him to death not for his religious teachings but in his mind to quell disobedience and promote social order.

  18. Spread of Christianity • Peter continued the teachings of Jesus. His leadership in the Apostles led to the creation of Bishoprics and the Papacy. • Paul of Tarsus (purple pages) brought the church outside of Judea through his missionary activities and made it applicable to all peoples not just Jews.

  19. Open to all, including non-Jews, women, and commoners. Held out a promise of salvation Gave each person a sense of community. Contrast with pagan (Greco-Roman) faiths of the day. Spread quickly Appeal of Christianity

  20. Martyr stories suggest that the degree of hostility towards them was savage. Roman citizens misunderstood Christianity. Distrusted the exclusivity of the faith. Didn’t understand the rituals and sacraments, thought of them as atheists. Emperor Constantine, in the Edict of Milan removed religious intolerance from Roman law and granted religious freedom. Theodosius 391 CE made it the official faith of Rome. Acceptance of Christianity

  21. Reign of Commodus after the brilliance of the Philosopher Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Barracks Emperors Period (235-284, 26 Emperors!) Fall of Rome

  22. The Empire was growing too large to effectively governing. Diocletian’s Division: 284 CE

  23. Barbarians found gaps in Roman defenses. Goths burst into Europe in 285. Franks, Saxons, Visigoths, and other groups looted the empire. Rome West ceased to exist after 476 CE. Barbarian Groups

  24. Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman empire, 450-476 C.E. • Page: 316

More Related