A Crash Course in Roman HistoryBecause in order to understand the Middle Ages,

you need to understand what came before.

The Major Points

Rome began as a city, grew into a kingdom, became a republic, then expanded into an empire (autocratic).1

The Major Points

The Roman Empire spanned most of Europe, North Africa & the Middle East.2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWfh6sGyso

ideas about gov’t spread

REPUBLIC * SENATE

ideas about religion spread

CHRISTIANITYideas about art & arch SCULPTURE * PAINTING * MOSAIC

AQUEDUCTS *ARCHES *COLUMNS * COLISEUMS * BATHS

latin (language & alphabet) spreads, mixes with others, makes new [ROMAN]CE languages

FRENCH * SPANISH * ITALIAN * PORTUGUESEj’aime Rome!

Roman ideas spread in general!* MASS ENTERTAINMENT * HEATING * CALENDARS *

The Major Points

viva Roma!

Vast area = Vast influence... politically, intellectually, religiously, artistically, technologically, economically

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ideas spread through trade & the trade routes (ECONOMICS)ROMAN ROAD SYSTEM

Vast area = Vast influence... politically, intellectually, religiously, artistically, technologically, economically

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The Major Points

The Roman Empire had a centralized government. 4

The Major Points

The Roman Empire is the major reason Christianity spread so far, so wide, and so well. 5

The Major Points

The Roman Empire is the major reason Christianity spread so far, so wide, and so well. 5

The Roman Empire had been expanding...

through the Punic Wars...

and after various campaigns...

JUDEA was one new acquisition...

• Roman power spread to Judea, the home of the Jews, in 63BCE.

• Rome added the kingdom to the empire.

• The Jews, at this time, were divided into two factions:

one group really wanted the Romans out.

the other believed that the Messiah was soon to come.

What does messiah mean?• the chosen one - the deliverer

• Yeshua, a man who is known to many as JESUS, was born in Bethlehem around 6-4BCE.

• A Roman subject and a Jew, as a young man he became a carpenter.

• At the age of 30, he began his public ministry.

His teachings included many ideas from the Jewish tradition including monotheism.

FOCUSES: - God’s personal relationship with people- Good people go to HEAVEN- COMPASSION

His popularity grew...

people were tired of corruption...

they were tired of being mistreated...

Jesus gained a following.

• Jewish officials said he was committing blasphemy by preaching his message

• Roman officials said he was threatening the empire and trying to take power

he was eventually sentenced to die for these crimes.

Christ is a Greek word that means savior. It is NOT Jesus’ last name.

• Apostles spread the word.

• AND it spread and spread and spread.

Factors that contributed to the rise of Christianity

1. The Road System

• Romans built road systems across the empire, increasing them as they gained territory

• road system made it easy to travel!

Allowed for significant cultural diffusion.

2. The Pax RomanaAugustus’ governmental reforms changed the economic, political and social situation of Rome for the better. Mixing the old and the new - A VERY Roman idea - Augustus was able to please the majority.

His reforms made the Empire a peaceful environment

PAX ROMANA made it SAFE to travel!

proselytize: trying to convert someone to your belief

3. Religious SyncretismRoman religion was a mix of different religions, and as they expanded they added gods of places they conquered.

Because of this, religion was pretty personal in Rome. Many beliefs coexisted, and people in the same family didn’t even always worship the same deities.

syncretism: the merging of different belief systems, cultures, schools of thought

4. Emperor Constantine converts - approx. 312 AD

4. Emperor Constantine converts - approx. 312 AD

5. An Emperor makes Christianity the official religion of Rome380 AD

The Roman Empire split into two, and so did the Church.

Towards the end, the Roman Empire was split into two empires. One half fell and the other half was around for another 1000 years.

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The Major Points