Ancient Rome & the Rise of Christianity

(509 BCE – 476 CE)

Mr. Young

Kennedy Charter Public School

Parallel Events (Greece vs. Rome)

Ancient Greek Events490-479 BC: Persian Wars460 BC: Age of Pericles in Athens431 BC: Peloponnesian Wars331 BC: Alexander the Great conquers Persian Empire: Hellenistic Age133 BC: end of Greek dominance in Med. world

Ancient Rome Events509 BC: Rome sets up a Republic450 BC: 12 Tables of Law270 BC: Rome controls most of Italian peninsula264-146 BC: Punic Wars vs. Carthage133 BC: Roman power extends from Spain to Egypt

Rome as a Kingdom – First 200 Years

Geography and People of ItalyRome began as a small city-state located in the center of the Italian peninsula near 7 hills.Apennine mountains run the length of ItalyLess rugged than Greek mountainsItaly much easier to unify --- no isolated city-statesMost Romans settled in the westFertile plains in the north below the Alps

The 7 Hills

Early Roman People

Latins: ancestors of the RomansHerders and farmers: settled along the Tiber River along the 7 hillsEtruscans: ruled central and northern ItalyCame from Asia Minor(Eastern Mediterranean)Called themselves Tyrrhenians in honor of their kingRomans borrowed Etruscan alphabet, arch and worshipped similar gods/goddessesGreeks: settled in southern Italy/Sicily

Etruscan Origins

1828 AD: a plowman and his oxen crashed through a buried stone roof of a tombKnowledge of the Etruscan way of life comes from their deathKept the ashes of their dead in urnsLoved games: chariot races, wrestling, boxing, discus, dice, handball, & knucklebones

Rome as a Republic – 500 Years

Romans drove out Etruscan rulers around 509 BC

Set up a Republic (govt. of the people)

Senate: most powerful governing body made up of 300 patricians (landholding upper class): served for life

Roman Senate

2 consuls elected from the patrician class

Job was to consult with the Senate, supervise business of the govt. and command the armies

Consuls served 1 year term

In times of war: Senate chose a dictator to rule for 6 months

Plebeians Demand Equality

Plebeians (commoners): farmers, merchants, artisans, tradersMade efforts to gain power450 BC: 12 Tables of Law set up in the Forum --- made it possible for plebeians to appeal decision of a judgeLater gained right to elect tribunes (10) to protect their interestsTribunes could veto (block) laws that weren’t in the interest of the common people

Roman Society

Family: basic unit of society

Male head of household (usually father) had absolute power

Enforced discipline

Demanded respect

Women: played larger role than Greek women

Could run businesses, attend baths, theater and public entertainment – supported arts and public festivals

Most worked at home, however!

Education

Girls and boys learned to read and write

Wealthy Romans hired private tutors (from Greece) to supervise education of children

Rhetoric was important subject for boys who wanted to pursue political success

Religion

Gods/goddesses resembled Greek and Etruscan deities

Statues and temples built throughout Rome

Festivals honored the deities

http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/

http://www.messagenet.com/myths/names.html

Roman Expansion

During the Roman Republic period, Rome expanded.

First Punic War:- Began in 264 BCE- Fought against Carthage – powerful city in North Africa – challenged Roman trade superiority in the Mediterranean- After 23 years of war, Rome is victorious.

Roman Expansion (continued)

Second Punic War:- Began in 218 BCE- Fought for similar reasons (plus revenge)- Carthage was led by greatest general of the age, Hannibal, whose army was large including foot & horse soldiers, and ELEPHANTS!- Hannibal attacked the Roman countryside and the Romans countered by attacking Carthage – led by brilliant Roman General Scipio- Scipio defeated Hannibal and Rome again was victorious.

Hannibal crossing the Alps

Roman Expansion around 100 BCE

Rome as an Empire – 500 Years

It became difficult to manage all the conquered territories and the Republic-style government weakened.

Consul’s became power hungry and changed the power system to dictatorships:- Gaius Marius- Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Julius Caesar- Nephew of Sulla- Was a General who rose in

popularity- Joined the “Triumvirate”

which was rule by three- Elected Consul in 59 BCE- Declared himself “Dictator

for life” in 46 BCE- Was brutally murdered in a

conspiracy led by his best friend, Brutus, on March 15

- “Beware the Ides of March”

Caesar Augustus

Several dictator-like rulers followed:- Octavian or Caesar Augustus – “the revered one”- Pax Romana – Roman Peace – peaceful era under Augustus

Rise of ChristianitySeveral leaders followed Augustus – Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian.

Roman expansion during this time included Israel and the Jewish people.

Came into contact with a young carpenter named Jesus Christ

His followers were called Christians

Many Romans converted to his monotheistic belief system

After initially persecuting Christians (Nero), Theodosius officially made Christianity the religion of Rome in 312 CE