historical significance: how did the small city-state of rome become the center of a vast, diverse...
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Historical Significance: How did the small city-state of Rome become the center of a vast, diverse empire that spanned the Mediterranean world? What were Rome’s legacies to Europe, Africa, the Middle East,
and other parts of the world?
Ancient Rome and Early Christianity
Rome’s Early PeoplesEarly Neolithic peoples had small farming villages
Between 2000 B.C and 1000 B.C. Indo-Europeans overwhelmed the Neolithic peoples (see map to the right)
No one knows where the Etruscans came from between 900 B.C. to 500 B.C. They did not speak Indo-European languages like the other inhabitants
900 B.C.- Came in contact with the Greeks
The early inhabitants of Italy mostly traded with themselves because they were cut off by the Alps to the north
750-500 B.C.- Greeks set up farming communities in Southern Italy
Legend of RomulusBetween 800 B.C. and 700 B.C. the
Latins established the community that became Rome
620 B.C. Etruscans gained control of Rome
534 B.C. Tarquin the Proud, a cruel ruler came to the throne
The Patricians declared Rome a republic
The Rise of Rome
PlebeiansWealthy non-aristocratic
townspeople and landowners
Merchants and shopkeepers
Small farmersLaborersThey have the right to
vote, had to pay taxes, and had to serve in the military
They could not hold office
Wealthy Aristocratic Class
NoblesThey have the right
to vote, had to pay taxes, and had to serve in the military
They COULD hold office
Plebeians and Patricians
Patricians
Community in which people elect their leaders
Executive and Legislative branchesConsulsDictatorAssembly of CenturiesSenate
Plebeians v. PatriciansTribunesAssembly of TribesThe Twelve Tables
The Roman Republic
Worshipped nature spiritsUnder Etruscan leadership, they
began to see them as gods and goddesses
SoothsayersBorrowed from Greek deities and
gave them Roman namesFamilies also privately worshipped
ancestral spirits
Religion
Basic unit of Roman societyFather was the absolute head of the
familyWives had few legal rights, but more
freedom than Greek womenChildren were raised with firm
disciple and learned family loyaltyValues: thrift, discipline, self-
sacrifice, and devotion to the family and to the Republic
Family
From 500 to 300 B.C. Rome faced threats from many of their neighbors in Italy
A strong army was necessary and all male citizens had to serve in the military when needed
Phalanxes were too large and slow- Romans used legions of 6,000 men
Legionaries were well trained and deserters were punished with death
Coloniae- permanent military settlements throughout Italy
Roman Legions
First Punic War264 B.C. Carthage threatened to seize the straight of
MessinaRome had the land advantage and Carthage had the sea
advantage until Rome built a larger fleet and started using grappling hooks
Second Punic War221 B.C. Hannibal became general of the Carthaginian
army in Spain202 B.C. Scipio’s forces defeated Hannibal’s army at
ZamaThird Punic War
After 50 years of peace, Rome ended Carthaginian independence, burned Carthage, sewed slat into its fields and enslaved their population
Rome against Carthage
While Rome was fighting the Punic wars, they were also fighting in the East and ultimately became rulers of the Mediterranean region from Spain to Asia Minor
The large territory presented some serious problems
The ProvincesProconsuls
LatifundiaEquites
Crowding the Cities
The Republic in Crisis
Many Romans feared the growth of the latifundia and the spread of corruption
The GracchiTiberiusGaius
Marius and SullaThe First TriumvirateJulius CaesarThe Second Triumvirate
Marc AntonyMarcus LepidusOctavian
Reform and the End of the Republic
The First EmperorsAugustus Caesar
The Julian EmperorsTiberiusCaligulaClaudius
Nero
The Good Emperors NervaTrajan
HadrianAntonius Pius
Marcus Aurelius
Imperial GovernmentProfessional GovernorsNew RoadsPontifex Maximus
The LawJus GentiumJus CivileState above the individualInnocent until proven guilty
Imperial ArmyLegions supplemented by recruits from the
provincial peopleWith all forces, there were 300,000 troops which
were not enough to defend a 4,000 mile border
Roman Rule
From 31 B.C. to A.D. 180 Romans enjoyed the Pax Romana
Stability during this time boosted trade, increased the standard of living, and generated many achievements in the arts.
Unprecedented Economic GrowthFamily life changedCelebrated over 130 holidays, the Circus
Maximus, and Gladiator fightsAdvances in construction and technology
Roman Civilization
A.D. 6 Augustus turned the kingdom of Judah into the Roman province of Judea
Jews began looking intently for the coming of the Messiah
A.D. 66 Jews rebelled against the Romans A.D. 70 The Romans took back Jerusalem and
destroyed the TempleA.D. 132 The Romans banned the Jews from
living in Jerusalem and they were forced to live in other parts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Judaism and the Empire
Jesus traveled through Galilee and Judea from A.D. 30 to A.D. 33 preaching and making disciples
There was much debate about whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, and the Roman government felt threatened by him. He was ordered to death by crucifixion in A.D. 33 by Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor.
Jesus’s resurrection led to His followers preaching that He is in fact the Son of God and small groups of Christians formed churches
Paul’s role as a missionaryPeter’s role in creating the first Christian church in
RomePeriod of Persecution
Jesus and the Spread of Christianity
A.D. 312 Constantine became known as the Protector of Christianity
A.D. 392 Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire
Augustine’s Confessions describes how he was converted to Christianity and he later wrote City of God, which was the first history of humanity from a Christian viewpoint
Church Structure: Parishes and Priests, the Diocese and the Bishops, Pope
Romans adopt Christianity: The Early Church
The Empire’s ProblemsPolitical instability under Emperor Commodus
Rome’s armies began fighting each other rather than defending the borders
Economic decline due to the political instability
Severe Inflation
Heavy Taxes
Unsuccessful Reforms
Diocletian, Constantine, and Theodosius
Barbarian Invasions
The VisigothsThe HunsThe Vandals
A.D. 455 they thoroughly sacked RomeA.D. 476 A German Soldier names Odoacer
seized control of Rome, killed the emperor, kept the emperor’s son from the throne, and proclaimed himself king
The new German rulers accepted the Latin Language, Roman laws, and Christianity.
The end of the Western Empire
Time Line c. 753 B.C. Romulus founds
Rome c. 620 B.C. Etruscans gain
control of Rome 509 B.C. Rome becomes a
republic 451 B.C. The patricians enact
the Twelve Tables 287 B.C. The Plebeians begin
to make laws for Rome 264 B.C. Punic Wars begin A.D. 14 Augusus Caesar dies A.D. 33 Jesus dies in Jerusalem A.D. 79 Volcanic Eruption
destroys Pompeii
A.D. 96 Rule of the Good Emperors begins
A.D. 180 Pax Romana Ends A.D. 284 Diocletian becomes
Roman Emperor A.D. 312 Constantine begins his
rule A.D. 330 Constantine moves
Capital to Byzantium and renames it Constantinople
A.D. 392 Christianity becomes Rome’s official religion
A.D. 395 Theodosius divides the Roman Empire
A.D. 476 German soldier Odoacer Seizes Rome