Ancient Rome and Early Christianity 500BC –AD 500

1. Ancient Rome and Early Christianity 500BC –AD 500 Vocabulary and Study Questions

2. Let’s Preview the Chapter • SSWH3: The student will examine the political, philosophical, and cultural interaction of Classical Mediterranean societies from 700 BCE to 400CE. • A) Compare the origins and structure of the Greek polis, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. • B) Identify the ideas and impact of important individuals; include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and describe the diffusion of Greek culture by Aristotle’s pupil Alexander the Great and the impact of Julius and Augustus Caesar.

3. Let’s Preview the Chapter • C) Analyze the contributions of Hellenistic and Roman culture; include law, gender, and science. • D) Describe polytheism in the Greek and Roman world and the origins and diffusion of Christianity in the Roman world. • E) Analyze the factors that led to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

4. Let’s Preview the Chapter • In this Chapter you will trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and analyze its impact on culture, government, and religion. • Can you name any ancient Romans? • Julius Caesar • Augustus Caesar • Mark Antony • Cleopatra

5. Let’s Preview the Chapter • The Chapter has three main ideas: • *Power and Authority • *Empire Building • *Religious and Ethical Systems

6. Let’s Preview the Chapter • Rome began as a republic, a government in which elected officials represent the people. Eventually, absolute rulers called emperors seized power and expanded the empire. • About how many miles did the Roman Empire stretch from east to west? • The Roman Empire stretched about 3,500 miles from east to west.

7. Let’s Preview the Chapter • At its height, the Roman Empire touched three continents-Europe, Asia, and Africa. For several centuries, Rome brought peace and prosperity to its empire before its eventual collapse. • Why was the Mediterranean Sea important to the Roman Empire? • The Mediterranean Sea gave Rome access to the oceans for trade, conquest, and communication.

8. Let’s Preview the Chapter • Out of Judea rose a monotheistic, or single-god, religion known as Christianity. Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, it soon spread throughout Rome and beyond. • What geographic features might have helped or hindered the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire? • They had to control borders, protect distant territories, rule different cultures and peoples, and manage trade and commerce.

9. Timeline Review • The period of 500 BC to AD 500 saw the rise and fall of an entire empire. • When did Rome become a Republic? • Rome became a republic in 509 BC. • How many years passed between the start of the first and second Punic Wars? • 46

10. Timeline Review • In what year was Italy invaded during the Punic Wars? • Italy was invaded in 218 BC.

11. Timeline Review • What events happened in the world around the time of the Punic Wars? • Empires were founded in India and China. • Notice the longtime span between the second Punic War and Octavian’s defeat of Antony and Cleopatra. What might this quiet time suggest about events in Rome during the period? • Rome was in a stable condition during this period.

12. Timeline Review • After Diocletian became emperor of Rome how long did the Western Roman Empire survive? • It survived 192 years.

13. Who are Romulus and Remus? • According to legend, the city of Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin princess. It is said that the infant twins were abandoned on the Tiber River and raised by a she-wolf. The twins are said to have built a city in this site, Rome. • In, reality men and not immortals built Rome in its highly strategic and fertile location.

14. Romulus and Remus

15. How did geography influence Rome’s development? • Rome was built on seven rolling hills at a curve on the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian peninsula. It was midway between the Alps and Italy’s southern tip. Rome was near the midpoint of the Mediterranean Sea.

16. Four reasons that location of rome was favorable

17. Four reasons that location of rome was favorable

18. What was the early structure of Rome? • Three groups of people inhabited the region of Rome and eventually battled for control. • Those groups were the Latins, Greeks, and the Etruscans. • The Latins built the original settlement at Rome which was a cluster of wooden huts atop one of its seven hills, called Palatine Hill. • Between 750 and 600 BC, the Greeks established colonies along southern Italy and Sicily. These cities became prosperous and commercially active.

19. What was the early structure of Rome? • The Etruscans were native to northern Italy. They were skilled metalworkers and engineers. They strongly influenced the development of Roman civilization. They boasted a system of writing and influenced Rome’s architecture, especially the arch.

20. The three ways early rome was influenced by the etruscans Etruscans launched a building program that turned it into a city. The Romans adopted the toga and short cloak, the Etruscan dress. The organization of the Roman army was borrowed from the Etruscans.

21. Etruscan buildings

22. Etruscan Dress

23. Etruscan army

24. What is a republic? • After Rome’s last harsh tyrant, the Romans declared they would never again be ruled by a king. • After this they established a republic, which means “public affairs”. A republic is a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders.

25. Who were the Patricians? • One of the two groups in early Rome who struggled for power. One group were the Patricians. • The Patricians were the wealthy landowners who held most of the power. • This group usually inherits their power and social status. They claimed their ancestry gave them the authority to make laws for Rome.

26. Patricians

27. Who are the Plebeians? • The other of the two groups in early Rome who struggled for power were the Plebeians. • These people were common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population. • The Plebeians were Roman citizens who had the right to vote, but they were barred by law from holding most important government positions. • In time the Plebeians were allowed to form their own assembly and elect representatives.

28. Plebeians

29. What is a tribune? • An assembly of representatives that were elected by the plebeians. • The tribune was responsible for protecting the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials.

30. What was the important victory for the Plebeians? • The important victory for the plebeians was to force the creation of a written law code...without unwritten laws, the patricians often interpreted the laws for their advantage. • In 451 BC a group of officials began writing down Rome’s laws, which became known as the Twelve Tables because the laws were carved on 12 stone tablets and hung in the Forum.

31. Describe the early Roman Republic government. • Rome had achieved a balanced government by taking on features of a monarchy (king), aristocracy (nobles), and democracy (people). • Rome had two officials called consuls who took the kingly role of commanding the army and directing the government, but they had limited power. They only served in office for one year and could not serve on the consul again for ten years. • Of the two consuls, one could always overrule, or veto the other’s decisions.

32. Describe the early Roman Republic government. • The Roman Republic government also had a senate which was the aristocratic branch of Rome’s government. • It had the power to act in both a legislative and administrative function. • It consisted of 300 members of the upper class Roman citizens (patricians). Plebeians were later allowed to join the senate. • The senate exercised great influence over both foreign and domestic policy.

33. Describe the early Roman Republic government. • In times of crisis, the Republic would appoint a dictator a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army. • The dictator’s power lasted for only six months. • Dictator’s were chosen by the consuls and elected by the senate.

34. Why was the Roman military just as important as the Roman government? • Military service was just as important for Romans as the government because in order to hold certain public offices there was a requirement of having to have served ten years of military service. • Legions – Roman soldiers who were organized in large military groups usually consisting of about 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers or an infantry. Each legion was supported by a calvary or group of soldiers on horseback.

35. Who did Rome conquer? How did Rome maintain control of its conquered lands? • Rome conquered the Italian peninsula. They dominated both the Etruscans in the north and the Greeks in the south. • Rome had different laws and treatment for different parts of it conquered territory. The Latins became full Roman citizens. Others who were conquered became full citizens with the exception of being able to vote. Still other groups simply became allies of Rome by supplying troops to the Roman army and did not make friends with other city-states.

36. What were the Punic Wars? Who was Hannibal? • In 264 B.C. Rome and Carthage went to war. Carthage was a city-state located in Northern Africa. They fought for control of the Mediterranean Sea trade. • The Punic Wars (3 wars) was a long struggle from 264 to 146 BC (118 yrs.) between Rome and Carthage.

37. What were the Punic Wars? Who was Hannibal? • First War (264-241BC) was fought for control of Sicily and Western Mediterranean. (23 Yrs.) Carthage defeated. • Second War began in 218 BC ended in 202 BC and was masterminded by Hannibal a 29 yr. old Carthaginian general who was a brilliant military strategist who wanted to avenge Carthage’s defeat. He did so by surprise attacking the Romans. Carthage heavily damaged the Romans, but did not capture the city. (Read bottom of pg. 158)

38. What were the Punic Wars? • The Romans finally found a military leader to match Hannibal’s boldness named Scipio who in 202 BC devised a military strategy to defeat Hannibal. • Third War (149 – 146 BC) Rome laid siege to Carthage. Carthage was set afire and 50,000 of its residents were sold into slavery. • Rome’s victories in the Punic Wars gave it dominance over the western Mediterranean.

39. Section 2 Study Questions • SSWH3b: Identify the ideas and impact of important people such as Julius and Augustus Caesar. • Essential Questions: • What kind of problems did the Roman Republic face? • What events led to the creation of the Roman Empire? • Describe the Roman Empire’s economy and government.

40. What happened to Rome after its government started to expand? • After Rome started to enlarge its territory, its republican form of government grew increasingly unstable. • Eventually the Republic gave way to the formation of a mighty dictator-ruled empire that continued to spread Rome’s influence far and wide.

41. What problems did the Roman Republic begin to face? • The most serious problems were growing discontent among the lower classes and a breakdown in military order. • Economic turmoil – the gap between the rich and poor grew wider. The wealthy were forcing the poor and enslaved to work their lands. Small farmers were forced to sale their farms and become homeless.

42. What problems did the Roman Republic begin to face? • Military upheaval – with the Republic’s instability, generals began seizing power by recruiting soldiers from the landless poor and promising them land for their service. Now soldiers were loyal to their generals rather than the republic. • Civil War – conflict between groups of people within the same country.

43. Who are the Gracchus Brothers? • Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus attempted help Rome’s poor. They were both tribunes on the Plebeian assembly. • They proposed such reforms as limiting the size of estates and giving land to the poor. • The brothers made enemies of numerous senators, who felt threatened by their ideas. • They both met violent deaths at the hands of their fellow assembly members. • Tiberius was killed in 133 BC and his brother Gaius in 121 BC.

44. Who are the Gracchus Brothers? • Tiberius was elected to the assembly and killed in the same year. (133 BC) • Gaius was elected to the assembly and killed two years later. (121 BC elected, 123 BC killed)

45. What events led to the creation of the Roman Empire? • Growing discontent among the poor class, economic turmoil and military upheavals led to the creation of the Roman Empire. • The Republic was UNSTABLE! • Military generals began to exert their power and take over the Republic. These military generals began to form triumvirates. • A triumvirate was a group of three rulers. • The first triumvirate was formed in 60 BC by Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey.

46. What events led to the creation of the Roman Empire? • Julius Caesar was elected as the consul of the first triumvirate. • Ten years after the creation and rule of the first triumvirate, a second was formed which included Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus.

47. What events led to the creation of the Roman Empire? • Second Triumvirate

48. What was different about Rome after Julius Caesars reforms? • Julius Caesar – a strong leader and military genius. Caesar served just one year as his triumvirate’s consul and then declared himself governor of Gaul (present day France) and became a great military leader there. He would later in 46 BC turn on Rome and attack and defeat them and the same year the Senate appointed him dictator and in 44 BC he declared himself dictator for life. He was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC by a number of his fellow senators.

49. What was different about Rome after Julius Caesar’s reforms? • Julius ruled as an absolute ruler or one who has absolute power. • He granted Roman citizenship to many people in provinces that had been conquered. • He expanded the senate, adding friends and supporters from Italy and other places. • He helped the poor by creating jobs constructing public buildings. • He started colonies where people without land could own property. • He increased pay for soldiers.

50. Who was Augustus Caesar? • He was Julius Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son. His name was Octavian before taking on the name Augustus. • He was one of the three members of the Second Triumvirate. • Just as his uncle, he forced one of the other two members of his triumvirate to retire and became rivals with Mark Antony. • After Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s death, Octavian became the unchallenged ruler of Rome and accepted the name Augustus.