ROMAN REPUBLIC ROMAN EMPIRE ROMAN ACHIEVEMENTS THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY THE FALL OF ROM E

ROMAN REPUBLICROMAN EMPIRE

ROMAN ACHIEVEMENTSTHE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY

THE FALL OF ROME

ANCIENT ROME

REPUBLIC: a system of government where

the officials are chosen by the people

PATRICIANS• Landholding upper class• 300 patricians made up

the senate• The senate was the most

powerful body of government

PLEBEIANS • Farmers, merchants,

artisans, traders• Majority of the

population• Had little influence in the

government

ROMAN REPUBLIC

TWO SOCIAL CLASSES

• The Senate elected two consuls from the patrician class

• Power was shared between the senate and the consuls

• In the event of war, the senate would choose a dictator

• The plebeians elected tribunes (officials) to represent their views

ROMAN REPUBLICGOVERNMENT

• Covered civil, criminal, and religious law, as well as trial procedure

• Provided a foundation for later Roman law codes

ROMAN REPUBLICTWELVE TABLES OF ROMAN LAW

• Punic Wars – Rome fought three wars against Carthage, located in North Africa

• Between 264 B.C. and 146 B.C. Romans and Carthaginians fought bloody battles

• Outcome of the Punic Wars – Rome conquered Carthage

• Other conquests – Macedonia, Greece, parts of Asia Minor, Spain, Gaul

HOW DID ROME WINAN EMPIRE

WHERE’S CARTHAGE?

ROMAN EMPIRE

• Ambitious military commander who rose to power and forced the senate to make him dictator

JULIUS CAESARDICTATOR OF ROME

• At one time, dominated Roman politics with Pompey, another military commander

• He set out to expand Rome and conquered Gaul after nine years of fighting

• Suppressed rebellions and revolts taking place throughout the Mediterranean – “I came, I saw, I conquered”

• Forced the senate to make him dictator• Imposed many reforms – public works programs, employment,

gave land to the poor, granted Roman citizenship to more people, introduced a new calendar based on Egyptian knowledge

• On March 15th, 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was assassinated – “Ides of March”

JULIUS CAESARDICTATOR OF ROME

• Means “Roman Peace”• 200 year period of time that

brought peace, order, unity, and prosperity

• The golden age of Ancient Rome• Began with Emperor Augustus • Many achievements were made• Ended after the death of Marcus

Aurelius

PAX ROMANA

GRECO-ROMAN CIVILIZATION: a

classical civilization that blended both Greek and Roman culture

ROMAN ACHIEVEMENTS

LANGUAGE

LAW

ENGINEERING

RELIGION ARCHITECTURE

ROMANACHIEVEMENTS

• Colosseum: Ancient

Rome’s largest stadium where spectators watched the slaughter of exotic animals and gladiators battling to the death

• Gladiators: Slaves who had been trained to fight; they would battle one another in the Colosseum for entertainment

ROMAN ACHIEVEMENTS

• Aqueducts: Bridge like stone structures that brought water from the hills to Roman cities

ROMAN ACHIEVEMENTS

ROMAN ACHIEVEMENTS

The Pantheon Building

Jesus is born in 4 B.C.E. in Bethlehem

Around age 30, Jesus began spreading his teachings. To help him, he recruited 12 apostles

THE GROWTH OFCHRISTIANITY

Jesus was crucified by the Romans because they thought he might lead the Jews to revolt against the Romans

Followers of Jesus (apostles, disciples) preached Jesus’ message. The most influential were Peter and Paul.

THE GROWTH OFCHRISTIANITY

For three centuries, Christians were persecuted by the Romans. They were thought to be disloyal to Rome.

In 313 C.E., Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, freeing the Christians from religious persecution

THE GROWTH OFCHRISTIANITY

Roman Catholic Church was established and legalized

In the 380’s, Christianity became the official religion of Rome

THE GROWTH OFCHRISTIANITY

WHERE WAS IT FOUNDED?• Roman Empire, Middle EastWHO WAS THE FOUNDER?• JesusWHAT IS THE SACRED TEXT?• The BibleWHERE DID IT INFLUENCE?• It spread worldwide

CHRISTIANITY

MAJOR BELIEFS• Monotheistic (Trinity)• Jesus was resurrected

and rose to heaven• Christ is the savior• Justice and morality• Ten Commandments:

ethical code of conduct• Old and New Testament

CHRISTIANITY

FALL OF ROME

• Government became too strict (authoritarian)

• People stopped supporting the government

• The empire divided – Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman EmpireWestern Roman Empire Capital – RomeEastern Roman Empire Capital – Constantinople

MAJOR CAUSESPOLITICAL

• Roman army lacks training and discipline

• Barbaric invasions (Germanic tribes, Vikings, Huns)

• Romans were forced to hire foreign soldiers to defend the borders (mercenaries)

MAJOR CAUSESMILITARY

• Heavy taxes to support the government

• Farmers began to abandon their land

• Middle class families were going into poverty

• Romans depended too much on slaves

MAJOR CAUSESECONOMIC

• Because people depended on slaves too much, people became selfish and lazy

• Patriotism and traditional Roman citizenry declined

• People neglected the state and focused more on personal salvation

• Population declined because of disease and war

MAJOR CAUSESSOCIAL

• The fall of Rome refers to the fall of the Western Roman Empire

• The Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper and flourish for another 1000 years, and renamed itself the Byzantine Empire

• The Western Roman Empire entered a period of chaos, disorder, and disunity

THE AFTERMATH