Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity

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Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity
CHAPTER 6

• (509 B.C.A.D.476)

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Two geographic factors played a major role in
the growth of Rome
Lack of geographic barrier
Central location
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Etruscans
In 509 B.C. the Romans drove out their Etruscan
king

• Set up a republic (thing of the people)
• 300 member Patrician Senate
• Senate elected two Consuls as the executive
  branch
• In event of war a dictator was elected and
  granted power for six months

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In 450B.C. Plebeians demanded more power

• Laws of the Twelve Tables
• The earliest code of Roman law
• Could elect their own officials called Tribunes.
• plebeian tribunate
• Had the power of veto (Lat. "I forbid") over
  elections, laws, decrees of the senate

• 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 and patricians

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War and rivalry with Carthage 264 B.C. to 146
B.C.Punic Wars

• General Hannibal
• Led Carthaginian army over the Alps
• Fought Rome for 15 years before being called back
  to Carthage
• Took poison
• Carthage destroyed and survivors sold in slavery

Called the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum meaning
(Our Sea)
By 133 B.C. Roman territory extended from Spain
to Egypt
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From Republic to Empire

• Social Effects of Expansion
• New class of wealthy Romans
• Bought huge estates and used slaves to work them
• Forcing small farmers bankrupt
• Angry mobs rioted

A Roman could tell how important or wealthy a
person was from their toga
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Julius Caesar100 - 44 B.C.
Forced the Senate to make him dictator

• Reforms Rome
• Public works
• Gave land to the poor
• Gave Roman citizenship more people
• Introduced the Julian calendar

Ides of March 15th 44B.C. Caesar stabbed to
death of the steps of the Senate Rome again in
civil war
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The end of the Republic
MARCUS ANTONIUS 83-31 BC
Gaius Octavius 63 B.C. - 14 C.E.
CleopatraB.C. 69-30
Caesars grandnephew
Caesars chief general
The Last Pharaoh
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Augustus Caesar Exalted one
Pax Romana or 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 self- government

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Pax Romana opened up trade
Extending Roman influence and culture along the
growing silk road trade network
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CIRCUS MAXIMUS
Racing Chariot
Third of a mile long and 150 yards wide, the
Circus Maximus allegedly held 250,000 people."
Military Chariot
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The Coliseum
Tour
Over 160 ft high with eighty 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.
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Greco-Roman civilizationA blend Greek,
Hellenistic, and Roman achievements
Aqueducts and Roads
Many used after Rome fell and some even today
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Science
It was Galen who first introduced the notion of
experimentation to medicine.
Ptolemy proposed the earth centered universe
which lasted for 1400 years
On the Natural Faculties remained the authority
on medicine until the sixteenth century
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Romes greatest legacyThe rule of law
A principle that continues to shape western
civilization today

• Common principles
• Equal before the law
• Presumed innocent
• Face accuser and defend
• Guilt through evidence
• Fair decisions

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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
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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

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Was Jesus Dangerous?
Jewish priests considered Jesus dangerous to
their leadership
They became jealous of the great crowds that
followed Him and believed in Him, and finally
decided to get rid of Him by having Him killed.
Romans considered Jesus a revolutionary
He was tried and crucified
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Spread of Christianity
Jesus talked to his disciples telling them to
spread his word
Those who spread his message are know as Apostles
Greek ideas from Plato and the Stoics moderated
the Christian church which many Romans liked
Paul from Asia Minor
Christians were persecuted and became Martyrs
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Christianity the official of the Roman Empire
After the empire fell, The Church preserved,
adapted and spread Greco-Roman civilization
Theodosius the Great 346-395
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Reforming emperors tried to reverse the decline

• Diocletian in 284
• Divided the empire into two parts
• Fixed prices

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

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Foreign Invasions

• Christian Romans saw the Huns as the very
  Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

• Pushed the Germans (Visigoth) into Roman
  territory
• In 410 the Visigoth general Alaric plundered Rome

Internal problems combine with foreign invasion
to bring about the fall of Rome
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Causes for Romes downfall

• Military causes
• German invasions
• Lack of discipline among the empires soldiers
• Political causes
• Authoritarian and corrupt government
• Division of 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

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