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