Transcript Ancient Rome & the Rise of Christianity ( 509 BC – 476 BC )

Ancient Rome & the Rise of
Christianity
(509 BCE – 476 CE)
Mr. Young
Kennedy Charter Public School
Parallel Events
(Greece vs. Rome)
Ancient Greek Events
490-479 BC: Persian
Wars
460 BC: Age of Pericles
in Athens
431 BC: Peloponnesian
Wars
331 BC: Alexander the
Great conquers Persian
Empire: Hellenistic Age
133 BC: end of Greek
dominance in Med. world
Ancient Rome Events
509 BC: Rome sets up a
Republic
450 BC: 12 Tables of
Law
270 BC: Rome controls
most of Italian peninsula
264-146 BC: Punic Wars
vs. Carthage
133 BC: Roman power
extends from Spain to
Egypt
Rome as a Kingdom –
First 200 Years
Geography and People of Italy
Rome began as a small city-state located in the center of
the Italian peninsula near 7 hills.
Apennine mountains run the length of Italy
Less rugged than Greek mountains
Italy much easier to unify --- no isolated city-states
Most Romans settled in the west
Fertile plains in the north below the Alps
The 7 Hills
Early Roman People
Latins: ancestors of the Romans
Herders and farmers: settled along the Tiber River
along the 7 hills
Etruscans: ruled central and northern Italy
Came from Asia Minor(Eastern Mediterranean)
Called themselves Tyrrhenians in honor of their
king
Romans borrowed Etruscan alphabet, arch and
worshipped similar gods/goddesses
Greeks: settled in southern Italy/Sicily
Etruscan Origins
1828 AD: a plowman and
his oxen crashed through a
buried stone roof of a
tomb
Knowledge of the
Etruscan way of life
comes from their death
Kept the ashes of their
dead in urns
Loved 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, traders
Made efforts to gain power
450 BC: 12 Tables of Law set up in the Forum -- made it possible for plebeians to appeal decision
of a judge
Later gained right to elect tribunes (10) to protect
their interests
Tribunes 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.h
tml
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 Christianity
Several 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