Title: Ancient Rome
1Ancient Rome the Rise of Christianity
CHAPTER 5
37
2Two geographic factors played a major role in
the growth of Rome
- Central location
- Lack of geographic barrier
3The 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
4The 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
5The 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.
6Rome 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
7Rome conquers the Mediterranean
- By 133 B.C. Roman territory extended from
Spain to Egypt - Called the Mediterranean
- Mare Nostrum Latin for Our Sea
8Summary
- Summarize your notes using at least four sentences
9From 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
10Julius 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.
11The 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
12Augustus 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
13Pax Romana opened up trade
Extended Roman influence and culture along the
growing silk road trade network
14Summary
- 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
16The 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.
17CIRCUS MAXIMUS
Racing Chariot
Third of a mile long and 150 yards wide, the
Circus Maximus allegedly held 250,000 people.
Military Chariot
18Science
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
19Romes 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
20Summary
- Summarize your notes using at least four sentences
21The 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
22Jesusthe 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
23Was 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
24Spread 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
25Christianity
- 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
26Reforming 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
27Causes 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
28Foreign 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
29Summary
- Summarize your notes using at least four sentences
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