Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

Ancient Rome and Early Christianity, 500 B.C.–A.D. 500

The Roman Republic
Rome’s Geography
Site of Rome chosen for its fertile soil and strategic location
Located on Italian peninsula in center of Mediterranean Sea
Built on seven hills on Tiber River
The First Romans
Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans compete for control of region
Latins found original settlement of Rome between 1000 and 500 B.C.
Etruscans native to northern Italy; influence Roman civilization

The Early Republic
Early Rulers
Around 600 B.C., Etruscan kings begin to rule Rome
Kings build Rome’s first temples and public centers
Romans overthrow cruel Etruscan king in 509 B.C.
Romans found a republic—government in which citizens elect leaders
Patricians and Plebeians
Different groups struggle for power in early Roman Republic
Patricians—wealthy landowning class that holds most of the power
Plebeians—artisans, merchants, and farmers; can vote, can’t rule
Tribunes—elected representatives protect plebeians’ political rights
Twelve Tables
In 451 B.C. officials carve Roman laws on twelve tablets
Called Twelve Tables, they become basis for later Roman law
Laws confirm right of all free citizens to protection of the law
Citizenship is limited to adult male landowners
Twelve Tables are hung in the Forum
Government Under the Republic
Rome elects two consuls—one to lead army, one to direct government
Senate—chosen from Roman upper class; makes foreign, domestic policy
Democratic assemblies elect tribunes, make laws for common people
Dictators are leaders appointed briefly in times of crisis
The Roman Army
Roman legion—military unit of 5,000 infantry; supported by cavalry
Army is powerful; key factor in Rome’s rise to greatness

Rome Spreads Its Power
Rome Conquers Italy
Romans defeat Etruscans in north and Greek city-states in south
By 265 B.C., Rome controls Italian peninsula
Conquered peoples treated justly; this enables Rome to grow
Rome’s Commercial Network
Rome establishes large trading network
Access to Mediterranean Sea provides many trade routes
Carthage, powerful city-state in North Africa, soon rivals Rome
War with Carthage
Rome and Carthage begin Punic Wars—three wars between 264–146 B.C.
Rome defeats Carthage, wins Sicily, in first 23-year war
Hannibal—Carthaginian general—avenges defeat in Second Punic War
Attacks Italy through Spain and France, doesn’t take Rome
Rome Triumphs
Roman general Scipio defeats Hannibal in 202 B.C.
Rome destroys Carthage, enslaves people in last war (149–146 B.C.)

Section 2: The Roman Empire

The Republic Collapses
Economic Turmoil
Gap between rich and poor widens as Roman Republic grows
Farmers, former soldiers, lose to large estates; become homeless
Two tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius, try to help poor, are murdered
Civil war—conflict between groups within same country begins
Military Upheaval
Military becomes less disciplined and disloyal
Soldiers recruited from poor; show loyalty only to their generals
Julius Caesar Takes Control
Military leader Julius Caesar elected consul in 59 B.C.
Caesar, Crassus, Pompey form a triumvirate—a group of three rulers
Military victories give Caesar increasing popularity and power
Pompey fears Caesar’s growing power and challenges him
Caesar defeats Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, Egypt
Caesar is named dictator for life in 44 B.C.
Caesar’s Reforms
Caesar makes reforms: grants wider citizenship, creates jobs for poor
Group of senators opposes Caesar; kills him on March 15, 44 B.C.
Beginning of the Empire
43 B.C., Caesar’s supporters take control; become Second Triumvirate
Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus alliance ends in jealousy, violence
In 31 B.C., Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s forces are defeated at Actium
Octavian accepts title of Augustus, “exalted one,” and rules Rome

A Vast and Powerful Empire
Pax Romana
Under Augustus, Rome moves from a republic to an empire
Power no longer resides with citizens, but a single ruler
Rome enjoys 200 years of peace and prosperity known as Pax Romana
A Sound Government
Augustus, Rome’s ablest ruler, creates lasting system of government
- glorifies Rome with beautiful public buildings
- sets up a civil service to administer the empire
Agriculture and Trade
Agriculture most important industry in empire; 90% of Romans farm
Common coin, denarius, makes trade within empire easier
Rome has vast trading network, includes China and India
Network of Roman roads links empire to Persia, Russia

The Roman World
Slaves and Captivity
Slavery is a significant part of Roman life in both cities and farms
Some slaves become gladiators; forced to fight to death
Gods and Goddesses
Early Romans honor guardian spirits and gods Jupiter, Juno, Minerva
Worship of emperor becomes part of official religion of Rome
Society and Culture
Rich live well; most people are poor, receive grain from government
150 holidays and Colosseum events created to control the masses

Section 3: The Rise of Christianity

The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Romans Conquer Judea
Rome conquers Judea, home of Jews; makes it part of empire, A.D. 6
Many Jews believe a Messiah, or savior, eventually will free them
Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus—a Jew born in Bethlehem (around 6 to 4 B.C.), raised in Nazareth
At age 30 begins preaching monotheism, Ten Commandments
Does good works, reportedly performs miracles
Stresses personal relationship with God, love for friends and enemies
A Growing Movement
Apostles—the twelve men who are disciples (or pupils) of Jesus
Jesus ignores wealth and status; his message appeals to poor
Jesus’ Death
Many Jews view Jesus as the Messiah; others see him as a heretic
Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentences Jesus to be crucified
Apostles believe Jesus ascended into heaven after death
Christos, Greek word for “savior”; Christianity derived from “Christ”

Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
Growth of Christianity
Followers spread Christianity—new religion based on Jesus’ teachings
Paul’s Mission
Apostle Paul—spends life preaching and interpreting Christianity
Common languages of Latin and Greek help to spread message
Paul stresses Jesus is son of God who died for people’s sins
Paul declares that Christianity open to all converts
Jewish Rebellion
Jews rebel against Rome; Romans storm Jerusalem, destroy Temple
Rebellions in A.D. 66, 70, 132 fail; Jews driven from homeland
Diaspora—centuries of Jewish exile (from Greek word for “dispersal”)
Persecution of the Christians
Christians won’t worship Roman gods; become enemies of Roman rule
Roman rulers use Christians as scapegoats for hard times
As Pax Romana crumbles, Christians crucified, burned, killed in arena

A World Religion
Christianity’s Expansion
Christianity becomes powerful force; reasons for widespread appeal:
- embraces all people
- gives hope to the powerless
- appeals to those repelled by extravagance of Roman life
- offers personal relationship with a loving God
- promises eternal life after death
Constantine Accepts Christianity
Constantine—Roman emperor battles for control of Rome in A.D. 312
Has vision of cross, Christian symbol; places on soldiers’ shields
Believes Christian God helped him win; legalizes Christianity
In A.D. 380 Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity religion of empire
Early Christian Church
Priests direct a single church; bishops supervise numerous churches
Apostle Peter—first bishop of Rome; clergy trace their authority to him
Pope—the father, or head, of Christian Church; Rome, center of Church
A Single Voice
Church leaders compile standard Christian beliefs in New Testament
New Testament added to Hebrew Bible (also called Old Testament)
The Fathers of the Church
Early writers and scholars of teachings called Fathers of the Church
Augustine, bishop in North Africa, one of the most important Fathers
Stressed receiving sacraments to obtain God’s grace
Wrote famous book, The City of God

Section 4: The Fall of the Roman Empire

A Century of Crisis
The Empire Declines
Pax Romana ends in A.D. 180 with death of emperor Marcus Aurelius
Subsequent emperors unable to govern giant empire
Rome’s Economy Weakens
Hostile tribes outside the empire disrupt trade
Inflation—drop in value of money and rise in prices—weakens trade
Overworked soil, war-torn farmland leads to food shortages
Military and Political Turmoil
By third century A.D. Roman military in turmoil
Soldiers loyal to commanders, not Rome; commanders fighting for throne
Government enlists mercenaries—foreign soldiers they pay to fight
Average citizens lose interest in the affairs of Rome

Emperors Attempt Reform
Diocletian Reforms the Empire
In A.D. 284 Emperor Diocletian restores order, divides empire in two
Two emperors in Greek-speaking East, Latin-speaking West
In A.D. 305 Diocletian retires, rivals compete for power
Constantine Moves the Capital
Constantine becomes emperor of Western Empire in A.D. 312
Seizes Eastern Empire in A.D. 324; moves Roman capital to Byzantium
Byzantium eventually renamed Constantinople—city of Constantine

The Western Empire Crumbles
Germanic Invasions
Mongol nomads from Asia, the Huns, invade northern borders of empire
Germanic tribes flee Huns, enter Roman lands, sack Rome A.D. 410
Attila the Hun
Attila—unites the Huns in A.D. 444; plunders 70 cities in East
Attacks Rome in 452; famine and disease prevents victory
An Empire No More
Last Roman emperor falls to Germans in 476; end of Western Empire
East thrives for another thousand years (Byzantine Empire)

Section 5: Rome and the Roots of Western Civilization

The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization
A New Culture Emerges
Romans adopt aspects of Greek and Hellenistic culture
Results in Greco-Roman culture, or classical civilization
Roman Fine Arts
Romans develop bas-relief sculptures to tell stories
Artists skilled in creating mosaics, painting frescoes
Pompeii—Roman town; ash from volcano eruption A.D. 79 preserves art
Learning and Literature
Romans borrow from Greek philosophy and literature
Poet Virgil writes epic Aeneid modeled after Homer’s Greek epics
Roman historian Tacitus excels in writing factually accurate history
Annals and Histories provide comprehensive look at Roman life

The Legacy of Rome
The Latin Language
Latin was official language of Roman Catholic Church until 1900s
Develops into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian
More than half the words in English stem from Latin
Master Builders
Romans pioneer use of arch; also used domes and concrete
Create aqueducts—structures to bring water into cities, towns
Roman System of Law
Principles of Roman law form basis of modern legal systems
Rome’s Enduring Influence
By preserving and adding to Greek civilization, Rome strengthened the
Western cultural tradition