Transcript Chapter Six: Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

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1.How did Rome come to be such a
powerful empire and how has it
impacted our world today?
2.Describe the origins and rise of
Christianity and explain why it was
such an appealing religion.
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*While Greece was in decline a new
city to the west was growing in
power.
*Rome grew from a small settlement
into a mighty civilization
I. The Origins of Rome
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Legend says Rome founded by twin boys
Romulus and Remus in 753 BC
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Sons of god Mars and a Latin princess
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sent down Tiber River, raised by a shewolf- they built a city by the river
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In reality men built city of Rome by Tiber
river b/c of its strategic location
Boys abandoned in fear they would
overthrow their grandfather’s kingdom
A. Rome’s Geography
*Chosen for its fertile soil and strategic location
at the mouth of the Tiber River
*Located on Italian peninsula and in center of
Mediterranean Sea
*Built on hills by the Tiber River
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B. The First Romans
*Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans competed
for control of the region
*Latins built original settlement of Rome
between 1000 and 500 BC and are
considered the first Romans
*Etruscans from the north influenced the
civilization greatly, especially writing
and architecture
II. The Early Republic
*Early Rome was ruled by Etruscan kings
*These kings build the first temples and
public centers—the Forum the heart of
political life
*The last king of Rome was Tarquin the
Proud- a harsh tyrant
*In 509 BC- Tarquin was driven from power,
Rome became a Republic—form of gov’t in
which power rests with the citizens who
have the right to vote for their
representatives
*Citizenship in Rome was granted to free
adult males who owned land
A. Patricians and Plebeians
*Different groups struggled for power
*Patricians—wealthy land owning class that
holds most of the power- citizens
*Plebeians—artisans, merchants, farmers;
can’t rule, can’t vote
*Plebeians allowed to form Tribunes—
elected plebian reps who protect their
rights from unfair acts of patricians
B. Twelve Tables
*The Twelve Tables- written code of lawsvery important!
*Prior to Twelve Tables unwritten laws were
interpreted by patricians to suit themselves
*12 Tables confirm right of all free citizens
to protection of the law
C. Government Under the Republic
*Rome elects 2 consuls, similar to
kings—1 to lead army, 1 to direct gov’t
*Senate—300 members chosen from
Roman upper class; in charge of making
foreign and domestic policy
*Democratic assemblies were elected,
could make laws for common ppl
*Dictators, a leader who has absolute
power, are leaders appointed briefly in
times of crisis
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2 Consuls
Rule by 12 Tables
Senate
Tribunes
elected by and from Patricians
made of Plebeians
D. The Roman Army
*All land owning citizens were required to
serve in the army
*Certain public offices required 10 years of
military service
*Organized into legions—military unit of
5,000 foot soldiers (infantry) and a group of
men on horse back (cavalry)
* Legions were broken down into smaller
groups of 80 men called a century
*The army was very powerful and the key
factor in Rome’s rise to greatness
III. Rome Spreads Its Powers
- for the next few hundred years Rome
sought to expand its empire through
trade and conquest
A. Rome Conquers Italy
*Romans defeated the Etruscans in the
north and Greek city-states in south
*By 265 BC Rome controls Italian
peninsula
*Conquered ppls treated fairly; had all
rights of a regular citizen except right
to vote
*fair treatment of conquered ppl
allowed Rome to build a long lasting
empire
B. Rome’s Commercial Network
*Rome’s location gave it easy access to the
riches to the surrounding lands all along the
Mediterranean Sea
*Traded wine for olive oil, a variety of food,
raw materials, and manufactured goods
*Other large cities interfered w/ Roman
trade, esp. Carthage
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* Carthage
C. War with Carthage
*Carthage was a rival city across the
Mediterranean on the coast of Northern
Africa
*264-146 BC- Rome and Carthage fight
Punic Wars—three wars
1. 1st Punic War ended in defeat of
Carthage
2. 218 BC- 2nd Punic War
- led by Carthage under General Hannibal
-Carthage army of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry,
and 60 elephants
-Hannibal invaded Rome from north through Alps
-For over a decade Hannibal marched up and
down the Italian peninsula attacking
- Roman General Scipio devised a plan to
attack Carthage
-strategy forced Hannibal back home to
protect Carthage
-Rome defeated Carthage in 202 BC
3. 149-146 BC- 3rd Punic War
-Rome invaded Carthage, left it in ruins
-After wars, Rome dominate in western
Mediterranean
* P. 157
* Study the “comparing Republican
Governments” Chart
* Answer the Skill builder questions
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