Classic Greece and Rome

Chapter 4 Section 1

Classic Greece

• Classic Greece is referring to Classic Europe• Greece was a Polis before it was a Democracy• Reached its “Golden Age” in the 400s B.C.• “Cradle of Democracy”

Polis

• City-State• Ruled by a King

Democracy

• Direct rule of the people

Athens

• City in Greece• The world’s first democratic constitution• Produced significant works of philosophy,

literature, and drama

Philosophy

• Greek for, “love of wisdom”• 3 great Greek philosophers:

1. Socrates2. Plato (a student of Socrates)

-Author of The Republic3. Aristotle (a student of Plato)

The Republic

• A book written by Plato• A dialogue with Socrates• Concerned the issue of justice and the city-

state of Athens.• Takes place during the time of the

Peloponnesian War.

Sparta

• Its government was an Oligarchy• Infamous for its well established and well

trained army• All male citizens, once seven years old, moved

to a training school, to teach them to be good soldiers.

Oligarchy

• Power rests with a small number of people, royalty or the wealthy.

Conflict Between City-States

• Athens and Sparta wanted to expand their boundaries.• Athens- Open to Democracy and new ideas• Sparta- Ruled by a few nobles and disliked change• The two fought often• They united for the Persian Wars, when they prevented

the Persians form taking over Greece.• They fought again, in the Peloponnesian War, when

Sparta finally defeated Athens.• This greatly weakened Greece.

Invasion of Greece• Phillip II, of Macedonia, and his son, Alexander the Great,

conquered Greece.• Alexander created an empire• View map on page 129• Alexander spread Greek culture everywhere• Alexander died at only 32 years old• His death was very suspicious and many rumors circled

around it.• Malaria, Typhoid Fever, Poison, Lifestyle• Alexander’s empire came under Rome rule about 130 B.C.

The Rise of Rome

Historical Rome

• Settled around 1000 B.C.• Developed a strong army.• Started as a Monarchy but changed to a

Republic.• Led by two consuls• The consuls reported to the senate

Republic

• People choose their leaders

Consuls

• Individuals elected by the people, to represent them.

Senate

• Landowners who served for life- What does this concept resemble?

• This was guaranteed by the system of Roman Law

Roman Law

• The foundation of Roman Law was the Twelve Tables.

• The Twelve Tables were bronzed tablets, on which laws were recorded on.

Republic to Empire

• 264 to 146 B.C. Rome transformed into “The Roman Empire”

• Senators lost power to Emperors.

Emperors

• Absolute rulers

Julius Caesar

• Supporters of the Senate killed Julius Caesar, in 44 B.C., for trying to become the 1st Emperor.

• This led to a Civil War between Senate supporters and people who supported Julius Caesar.

Caesar Augustus

• Octavius• Julius Caesar’s nephew• The 1st Roman Emperor• He initiated a period of peace and prosperity,

known as Pax Romana.

Pax Romana

• A period of peace and prosperity, for Rome.• Lasted almost 200 years.

Christianity in Rome (1)

• Jesus born in Palestine• Palestine was under the rule of Caesar

Augustus, at the time.• During Pax Romana:• Jesus carried out his teachings.• Peter and Paul, his disciples established a new

Christian Church

Christianity in Rome (2)

• Christians were persecuted. • Despite the persecution Christianity spread• It became the official religion of the Roman

Empire• This occurred under the leaders: Constantine I

and Theodosius I.

Decline of the Roman Empire

• After the period of Pax Romana• Constantine I moved the capitol, of Italy, from

Rome to Constantinople, near the Black Sea.• Plagues killed numerous people.• Northern defense crumbled against Germanic

tribes.• Germany ruled over Rome and much of Italy.• The Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire

did not fall. It continued for another 1,000 years.