ROMAN EMPIRE

Ch. 5

Pax Romana

Roman Empire at its peak Jesus born during this time

Augustus

1st Citizen of Rome Shared power with Senate Also known as

Augustus (title of divinity, honor, majesty) Caesar Emperor

Augustus and Pax Romana

Economic prosperity &

Stable currency

Farming and trade

flourished

Ease of communication• Everyone used

Roman and Greek languages

Safe travel• Got rid of piracy

Regulate taxation:

Census every 14 yrs.

Social reforms to revive: duty,

discipline, hard work

Roman Culture & Achievement

Law

System of justice Protected individual rights Many European adopted these principles

into their current law

Literature

Influenced by Greeks Virgil (70-19BC)

Greatest roman poet Glorified Rome “Rome was destined to rule the world”

Horace Friend of Virgil Warned of danger of luxury and ease Praised virtues of morality, justice, moderation and

courage Ovid

Wrote about mythology and love Popular among upper class Rome

After Augustus death, mood of writers changed…

Juvenal• Satires about loose morals and

social problems

Tacitus• Favored old republic to new

empire• Wrote about Germanic peoples

Latin language remains main used language throughout Medieval times

Greek Influence

Plutarch Wrote about influential Greeks and Romans

Galen Advances in medical knowledge Wrote medical encyclopedia

Ptolemy Theory that earth is center of universe

(geocentric)

Art and Architecture

Art Generals brought back from conquests Copied Greek statues

Romans excelled at busts Statues realistic (scars and all) Excelled at relief art

Architecture Aqueducts Bridges Road system Buildings were: large, durable, and practical

Religious Beliefs

nature gods mythology philosophy Epicureans (Lucretius)

Free your mind from fear and pain Seek happiness for yourself

Stoics (Seneca) Goal of romans to seek “good behavior”

Courage Dignity Duty service

Eastern Influence

Mystery religions Polytheistic and mythological Tolerated by Romans as long as

acknowledged emperor as a god too Pontifex maximus – worship of emperor

Christians persecuted because they would not participate in this

Introduction of Christianity

A World Made Ready

God prepared world for birth of Christ Romans

Made travel safe Political stability

Greeks Main language understood in all empire

Jews Temple destroyed Jews built synagogues as places of worship Translated OT into Greek so all could read

(Septuagint) Jews and Gentiles

Turning Point in History

God sent Jesus to redeem sinful man Born in Roman Province – Judea Most Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah

They wanted freedom from Roman oppression He offended Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees)

They plotted His death Brought Him before Pontius Pilate

Charge Him wanted to overthrow Roman rule Pontius Pilate gave in to keep peace in province

Jesus death and resurrection brought HOPE to world Jesus changed history

Spread of Gospel

Jesus charged disciples to spread gospel in all world

Conditions were favorable for spread of Gospel

Jerusalem became center of early Church Disciples preached and converted thousands in

Jerusalem Persecution of Christians in Jerusalem

Lead to spread of Christianity throughout Judea and Samaria Even further because of:

Conversion of Paul Destruction of Jerusalem

Paul

Born into prosperous Jew family Tarsus (Turkey) Well educated Persecuted Christians until conversion on

Damascus Road Wrote epistles in NT Planted churches in:

Asia Minor Macedonia Greece Rome

Destruction of Jerusalem

586 BC – 70 AD – Jerusalem under foreign rule Chaldeans Persians Alexander the Great Ptolemies Seleucids Romans

Jews grew restless under Roman rule 66 AD- Rebellion 70 AD- Roman legions arrive and destroy city

Looted temple Jews scatter throughout world

Church Organizational Development

First Christians met in homes or synagogues Early leaders apostles chosen by Jesus

Christ Pastor and Elders were equal at first

Later Elders took care of business Pastor concentrated in studying scripture

As churches grew in size power and prestige of pastor/bishop grew

Problems facing early church: Rapidly increasing membership Persecution Heretical attacks

Persecution to Acceptance

Nero Diocletian 54 AD 305 AD

Nevertheless, Christianity grew and flourished

313 AD – Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine Made Christianity legal Dramatically changed history of church Rome changes from persecutor of

Christianity to its protector and patron

Constantine

Arius Heretic who challenged deity of Christ Constantine called general assembly of

church leaders Council of Nicea 325 AD

Affirmed Christ deity and Trinity Emperor involved in church business

Brought power and prosperity to church

Theodosius I Made Christianity official and exclusive

religion in Roman state

Church

Grows in number and prosperity Decline in purity

People join just because it’s “the thing to do” Pagan practices leak in:

Monasticism – live separate from society Influence from Eastern religions DOES NOT HAVE ANY BIBLICAL BASE!

Organization changes Hierarchy similar to political system instead of

based on Biblical teachings

Patriarchates & Patriarch

In time, Roman patriarch grew

in power

Pope main power in

Catholic church

* Worldliness and paganism

influences church and it departs from Biblical truths

Collapse of Roman Empire

1. Political Reasons2. Economic Reasons

1. Cost to maintain

3. Moral Reasons

Political • Internal weakness• No strong

leadership• Assassinations,

civil war, and inner turmoil

• Army controlled state to satisfy its greed

Economic• Cost to maintain

large empire• Raise taxes• Value of coins

decrease• Prices increase

Moral• Discipline, duty

and loyalty not valued anymore

• Greed increases• People anted free

food and entertainment

• Family life disintegrated

Reasons for Collapse of Roman Empire

Reform and Reorganization Attempts

Diocletian and Constantine Strong leaders who delayed fall of Rome for

200 years Diocletian realized empire too large!

Appointed a co-emperor to rule west “Augustus” Augustus appointed a helper = Caesar

Divided empire into 4 parts (prefectures) Brought stability back to empire New coins and tax system

Reform and Reorganization Attempts

Constantine won civil war after Diocletian Moved capital east to Byzantium

(Constantinople)

Barbarian Invasions

• Courageous

• Restless• Drinkers• Gamblers• Skilled

fighters• Romans

allowed barbarians in army

• 410 AD – Visigoths ransack Rome

• 476 AD – Official fall of Western Roman Empire