Transcript SSWH3 (Ancient Rome) PPT

 The
Greeks and
Romans practiced
polytheistim
• numerous gods and
goddesses whose
origins were
established through
traditional stories of
mythology.
 The
Greeks and
Romans shared
many of the same
religious concepts
 Roman culture was
influenced by
Hellenistic
diffusion
 Roman
Republic developed concepts
of government by laws
 Government – Major Positions
• Consuls (2)
 Head of government, act as commanders-inchief. Become senators at the end of term.
• Senate (300)
 Supervise government matters, especially
military and foreign affairs. Serve for life.
• Tribunes (10)
 Guard rights of plebeians can veto senators and
other officials. Serve for one year.
Patricians: wealthy landowners
Plebeians: common farmers, artisans, and merchants
(majority)


Barred by law from holding important government
positions.
Eventually form tribunes: protected the rights of the
plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials
 Three
wars
stretching from 246
to 146 BCE
 Carthage
originated as a
Phoenician colony.
 Rome emerges as
the Mediterranean
power.
 After
Punic Wars; republic becomes unstable
 Economic Turmoil
• Rich live on big estates (with lots of slaves)
• Small farmers had difficulty competing

Civil War: Tribunes tried for reforms but
made enemies with senators
 Generals start to gain power (recruiting soldiers
turned farmers—promising them land) and take over
by force
 Julius
Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus rule as
a triumvirate
 50 BCE Caesar undermines senate
• Caesar appointed
lifelong dictator in
44 BCE
• Reforms:
• Extends Roman
citizenship to provinces;
• Expanded the senate
• Built new public
buildings
Started from
the bottom,
now I’m
here!
Is he
holding a
chair?
More civil war
Roman Republic destroyed
2nd Triumvirate
•
•
•

•
•
Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus
 Ruled for 10 years
 Jealousy and violence
 Lepidus retires, Octavian and Marc Antony
rivals
Octavian rules; becomes Augustus Caesar
Pax Romana (207 years)
– After Augustus death, empire remained
stable
 Originally
Christians
are persecuted by the
empire
• Christianity threatened
the Roman social
structure
• Christianity gradually
came to be accepted,
then spread throughout
the Roman world
 Paul
and Paul spread Christianity on Roman
roads.
 The Emperor Constantine ended persecution
of Christians.
 The emperor Theodosius made Christianity
the empire’s religion.
 Factors for collapse
 Economic Weakness
• Inflation
 Disruption of trade
 Military Overextension
• Too many places to protect and lack of loyalty
 Invasions
• Germanic Tribes (Goths, Ostrogoths, and Visigoths)
• Huns
 The
Eastern Empire thrives, and becomes
the Byzantine Empire.