ANCIENT ROME AND EARLY

CHRISTIANITY

A JOURNEY INTO THE PAST

 THE ORIGINS OF ROME
Legend: Romulus & Remus
Twin sons of the god
Mars and a Latin
princess.
The twins are abandoned on the Tiber River
as infants and raised by a she-wolf.
 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.
(Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline,
Palatine, Quirinal and Viminal)
 THE FIRST ROMANS
The Latins, the Greeks and
the Etruscans inhabited the
peninsula and eventually
battled for control (about
1000 to 500 B.C.).
 
  LATINS
Built the original
settlement at Rome,
a cluster of wooden
huts atop one of its
seven hills, Palatine Hill.
These settlers were
considered to be the
first Romans.
 GREEKS
They established colonies
along southern Italy and
Sicily.
The cities became
prosperous and commercially
active.
They brought all of Italy,
including Rome, into closer
contact with Greek civilization
(between 750 – 600 B.C).
 ETRUSCANS
Were native to northern Italy.
 They were skilled
metalworkers and engineers.
Strongly influenced the
development of Roman
civilization.
They also influenced Rome’s
architecture, especially the use of
the arch.
 ETRUSCANS
Were native to northern Italy.
 They were skilled
metalworkers and engineers.
Strongly influenced the
development of Roman
civilization.
They boasted a system of
writing, for example, and the
Romans adopted their alphabet.
They also influenced Rome’s
architecture, especially
They boasted a system of writing,the use ofand the Romans adopted their
for example,
thealphabet.
arch.
 THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
(EARLY REPUBLIC)
Around 600 B.C., Etruscan Kings
began to rule Rome.
Kings built Rome’s first temples and public centers.
Romans overthrow the cruel Etruscan king in 509
B.C. Tarquin the Proud, and vow to never be ruled by
a king again.
The Romans would found a republic —government
in which citizens elect leaders
Latin phrase res publica,
which means“public affairs.”
Two groups struggled for power
in early Roman Republic:
Patricians
•wealthy
landowning class
that holds most
of the power.
•Small part of
populations.
Plebeians
•artisans,
merchants, and
farmers; can
vote, can’t rule.
•Majority of the
population.
In time, Rome’s leaders allowed
the plebeians to form their own
assembly and elect
representatives called tribunes.
Tribunes protected the rights of
the plebeians from unfair acts of
patrician officials.
12 tables
Kept the Patricians from making any
laws they wanted.
 451 B.C. officials carve Roman laws on
twelve tablets called Twelve Tables and
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.
 Ruins of the Forum,
the Political Center of the
Roman Empire,still stand in
present day of Rome.
 ROMAN GOVERNMENT
A. Two consuls, elected by the assembly for one year— chief executives of the
Executive
government and commanders-in-chief of the army.

A. Senate of 300 members, chosen from aristocracy for life—controls foreign and
financial policies, advises consuls.
B. Centuriate Assembly, all citizen-soldiers are members for life—selects consuls, makes
Legislative
laws.
C. Tribal Assembly, citizens grouped according to where they live are members for life—
elects tribunes and makes laws.

A. Praetors, eight judges chosen for one year by Centuriate Assembly—two oversee civil
Judicial
and criminal courts (the others govern provinces).

Legal Code A. Twelve Tables—a list of rules that was the basis of Roman legal system

Citizenship A. All adult male landowners

CONSULS
SENATORS
ROMAN GOVERNMENT
CITIZEN ASSEMBLIES
DICTATORS
DID YOU KNOW?
 THE ROMAN
The Roman Army – the
ARMY
Romans placed great values
The Romans placed
on their military. All citizens
great values on
their
who ownedmilitary.
land were All citizens who owned
required to serve in the army.
land were required
Seekers of certain public
to serve in the
army.
offices hadSeekers
to performof tencertain public offices
years
hadoftomilitary
perform service.ten years of military
Roman soldiers were
service.intoRoman
organized soldiers were
large military
organized
units into large military units
called legions.
called legions.
The Roman Army – the
Romans placed great values
on their military. All citizens
who owned land were
required to serve in the army.
Seekers of certain public
offices had to perform ten
years of military service.
Roman soldiers were
organized into large military
units called legions.
The Roman legion was made up of some
5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (infantry).
A group of soldiers on horseback (cavalry)
supported each legion. Legions were divided
into smaller groups of 80 men, each of which
was called a century.
The military organization and fighting skill of
the Roman army were key factors in Rome’s
rise to greatness.
ROME SPREADS ITS POWER
A hundreds of years after
founding of the Republic,
Rome sought to expand its
territories through Trade and
Conquest.
 ROME CONQUERS ITALY
The Romans dominated central Italy by the fourth century B.C.,
and eventually they defeated the Etruscans to the north and
the Greek-city states to the south.
By 265 B.C., the Romans were masters of nearly all Italy.
Rome had different laws and treatment for the different
territories they conquered.
Full citizenship for neighboring Latins on the Tiber.
All rights except vote for the territories farther from Rome.
And allies for all the other conquered groups.
ROME’S COMMERCIAL NETWORK

Rome establishes large trading network

Access to Mediterranean Sea provides
many trade routes
Carthage, powerful city-state in North
Africa, would come to rival Rome.
 WAR WITH CARTHAGE
In 264 B.C. Rome and Carthage went
to war. Between 264 and 146 B.C.
they fought three wars, known as the
Punic Wars. The first Punic War 23
years, Rome defeated Carthage for
control over Sicily and the western
Mediterranean.
 WAR WITH CARTHAGE
In 264 B.C. Rome and Carthage went
to war. Between 264 and 146 B.C.
they fought three wars, known as the
Punic Wars. The first Punic War 23
years, Rome defeated Carthage for
control over Sicily and the western
Mediterranean.
 WAR WITH CARTHAGE

The second began in 218 B.C.,

Hannibal —Carthaginian general—
avenges defeat in Second Punic War by
marching troops, Cavalry, and
elephants.
 ROMAN TRIUMPHS
Roman general Scipio defeats
Hannibal in 202 B.C.
Rome destroys Carthage,
enslaves people in last war
(149–146 B.C.)
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
(THE REPUBLIC COLLAPSES)

Rome’s increasing wealth and

expanding boundaries brought
many problems.
ECONOMIC TURMOIL
Gap between rich and poor widens
as Roman Republic grows
Farmers and former soldiers lose
land to large estates and become
homeless. Rome becomes full of
slaves who work for those who own
the large estates.
Gaius Gracchus
try to help the poor but
are murdered over their
ideas.
This leads to civil war
between the people.
Civil war —conflict
between groups within
same country.
MILITARY UPHEAVAL
Military becomes less disciplined and
disloyal
Soldiers are recruited from poor by
promises of land and money, and show
loyalty only to their generals
Left the door open for one general to
cease power
 JULIUS
Crassus 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.
TRIUMVIRATE
 CAESAR’S REFORMS

grants wider citizenship,

creates jobs for poor.
Crassus
Group of senators opposes Caesar; kills him on March 15, 44 B.C.
because they feared how popular and powerful he was becoming.
 23 times
Et tu Brute? (You,too
Brutus?)
BEGINNING OF THE
EMPIRE
 BEGINNING OF THE EMPIRE

43 B.C., Caesar’s supporters take control after a civil war; become
Second Triumvirate.
Octavian (his nephew),
Mark Antony, Lepidus alliance ends in jealousy and violence.
 BEGINNING OF THE EMPIRE

Octavian forces Lepidus to retire while

Mark Antony moves to Egypt after falling in
love with Cleopatra. Octavian fears Antony
will try to rule Rome from Egypt and goes
to war with him.
In 31 B.C., Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s
forces are defeated at Actium.
 BEGINNING OF THE EMPIRE
Octavian forces Lepidus
to retire while Mark
Antony moves to Egypt
after falling in love with
Cleopatra. Octavian fears
Antony will try to rule
Rome from Egypt and
goes to war with him.
In 31 B.C., Mark Antony
and Cleopatra’s forces are
defeated at Actium.
Octavian
BEGINNING
accepts OFtitle
THEofEMPIRE
AUGUSTUS,
“EXALTED ONE,” and rules Rome.
Octavian forces Lepidus to retire while
OCTAVIAN
Mark Antony moves to Egypt after falling in
love with Cleopatra. Octavian fears Antony
will try to rule Rome from Egypt and goes
to war with him.
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
sets up a civil service to administer the
empire.
glorifies Rome with beautiful public buildings.
 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 and Russia.
 Virtue of gravitas.
virtue of gravitas.

Throughout its history, Rome emphasized

the values of discipline, strength, and
loyalty. A person with these qualities was
Asaid to have
person the the
with important
valuesvirtue of
of discipline,
gravitas.and
strength, The loyalty.
Romans were a practicalwere a
The Romans
people.people.
practical They honored
They strength
honoredmore than
STRENGTH
beauty, power more than grace, and
more than beauty, POWER more than
usefulness more than elegance.
grace, and USEFULNESS more than
elegance.
THE ROMAN WORLD
Slavery -significant part of Roman life in both cities
and farms.
Slavery -significant part of Roman life in both cities
and farms.
 gods and goddesses
Early Romans honor guardian
spirits (Numina and Lares) and
gods Jupiter, Juno, Minerva.
WORSHIP OF EMPEROR becomes
part of official religion of Rome.
JUPITER-the Chief Roman god
MINERVA
 Society and Culture

Rich live well; most people are

poor, receive grain from government
By 250A.D, there were 150 holidays. On these days,
the COLOSSEUM, a huge arena would fill with rich and
poor people alike to watch gladiators and wild
creatures fought to the death.
THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY
Religion played an important role
in Roman society.
 As the empire grew so did a new
religion called Christianity.
Born as a movement within
Judaism, it emphasized more
personal relationship between God
and people-and attracted many
Romans.
THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS
Romans Conquer Judea
Around 63 B.C. Rome conquers Judea
which was the home of Jews, it remains
independent for the time being. Eventually
the Romans make it a part of their empire
around A.D. 6.
Many Jews believe a Messiah, or savior,
eventually will free them, as this land had
been promised to them by God. Sometime
around 6-4 B.C. this savior would arrive.
 Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus —a Jew born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea
(around 6 to 4 B.C.),is raised in the town of Nazareth
At age 30 begins preaching monotheism and the Ten
Commandments
He would do many good works and would reportedly
performs miracles
Jesus stressed a personal relationship with God, love
for God, friends and enemies. He also promised an
eternal kingdom for those who believed in God and
repented their sins.
He was baptized by John the Baptist.
About A.D. 29 , enthusiastic
crowds greeted him as the Messiah
or King when
Jesus’ Deathhe Jesus’visited Jerusalem.
growing popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
The chief priests
About A.D. of
29 , enthusiastic the
crowds Jews
greeted
him as the Messiah or King when he visited
said
that His teachings were blasphemy,
Jerusalem. The chief priests of the Jews said
that His teachings were blasphemy, or

or contempt
crucified tofor
die. God.
contempt for God. He was sentenced to be

 He was sentenced to be crucified

to die.
 JESUS’ DEATH
Many Jews view Jesus as the Messiah.
 His popularity starts to concern both Roman
and Jewish leaders.
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
Jesus’ followers continued
to spread His ideas. The new
Jesus’ Death Jesus’ growing popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
religion of Christianity spread
About A.D. 29 , enthusiastic crowds greeted
him as the Messiah or King when he visited
Jerusalem. The chief priests of the Jews said
slowly but steadily
that His teachings were blasphemy, or
contempt for God. He was sentenced to be

throughout the Roman

crucified to die.

Empire.
 JEWISH REBELLION
Jews rebel against Rome; Romans
storm Jerusalem, destroy Temple. The
only thingJesus’
left was
Death Jesus’the
growingwestern
popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
portion of
the wall, which
About A.D. 29remains the
, enthusiastic crowds holiest
greeted
him as the Messiah or King when he visited
Jewish shrine
Jerusalem.today.
The chief priests of the Jews said
that His teachings were blasphemy, or
Rebellions
contemptin forA.D.
God. He 66, 70,
was sentenced 132
to be fail; Jews
crucified to die.
driven from homeland.
Diaspora—centuries of Jewish exile
(from Greek word for “dispersal”)
 PAUL’S MISSION
The apostle Paul
had enormous
influence on
development of
Christianity.
He never met Jesus
and was an enemy of
Christianity.
Damascus
He spent the rest of his life spreading the teachings
of Jesus.
PERSECUTIONS
AGAINST
Jesus’ followers continued to spread His ideas.
The new religion of Christianity spread slowly

CHRISTIANS
but steadily throughout the Roman Empire
Christians won’t worship Roman gods, so they
become enemies of Roman rule
Roman rulers use Christians as scapegoats for
hard times.
As Pax Romana crumbles,
Christians were crucified, burned,
Jesus’ followers continued to spread His ideas.
The new religion of Christianity spread slowly
killed
in arena.
but steadily throughout the Roman Empire
Jesus’ followers continued to spread His ideas.
The new religion of Christianity spread slowly
but steadily throughout the Roman Empire
Thousands were crucified, burned,
or killed by wild animals in the circus arenas.
Christianity’s Expansion
Christianity becomes powerful force and its
reasons for widespread appeal were:
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
Roman emperor battles for control of
Rome in A.D. 312
He has vision
Jesus’ Deathof cross
Jesus’ growing before
popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
battle,
Christian symbol,
About A.D. 29 , so he
enthusiasticplaces the cross on
crowds greeted
him as the Messiah or King when he visited
soldiers’ shields.
Jerusalem. The chief priests of the Jews said
that His teachings were blasphemy, or
Believescontempt
Christianfor God. HeGod
crucified to die.
helped
was sentenced to be him win,

so he eventually legalizes Christianity.

In A.D. 380 Emperor Theodosius makes
Christianity religion of empire
 A Single Voice
Church leaders compile standard
Christian beliefs in New Testament,
to keep disputes
Jesus’ Death Jesus’over what should be
growing popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
taught fromhim as happening.
About A.D. 29 , enthusiastic crowds greeted
the Messiah or King when he visited
Jerusalem. The chief priests of the Jews said
New Testament added
that His teachings to orHebrew Bible
were blasphemy,
contempt for God. He was sentenced to be
(also called Old
crucified Testament)
to die.
 Early Christian Church Structure
•Priests direct a single church; bishops supervise numerous churches
•Apostle Peter—first bishop of Rome; clergy trace their authority to him.

first pope .( They said that whoever was bishop of Rome

Jesus’ Death Jesus’ growing popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
was also the leader
About A.D.of29 ,the whole
enthusiastic Church.
crowds greeted Also, as Rome
him as the Messiah or King when he visited
was the capital of the
Jerusalem. Theempire,
chief priestsit
of seemed
the Jews saidthe logical
choice to be the center
that His teachingsofwere
theblasphemy,)
Churchor.
contempt for God. He was sentenced to be
•Pope—the father, or head,
crucified of Christian Church; Rome, center of Church
to die.
 A Single Voice
Early writers and scholars of teachings
were called Fathers of the Church
Augustine, bishop
Jesus’ Death in
Jesus’ growing North Africa,
popularity
concerned both Jewish and Roman leaders.
one of him
the as themost
Messiah orimportant
King when he visited Fathers.
About A.D. 29 , enthusiastic crowds greeted

Jerusalem. The chief priests of the Jews said

Stressed following
that His God’s
teachings were blasphemy, or will.
contempt for God. He was sentenced to be
Wrote crucified
famous to die. book, The City of God.
 THE FALL
OF
ROMAN EMPIRE
 A CENTURY OF CRISIS
The Empire Declines
•The peace and
prosperity of
•Pax Romana ends in
A.D. 180 with the death
of emperor Marcus
Aurelius.
•The emperors who
followed were unable to
govern giant empire.
 Rome’s Economy Weakens
Hostile tribes and pirates outside the empire
disrupt trade
Inflation—drop in value of money and rise in
prices—weakens trade. This happened
because of more coins being made and higher
taxes as well.
Agriculture suffered because of overworked
soil and war-torn farmland, these things would
lead to food shortages.
Military and Political Turmoi
By third century A.D. Roman military in turmoi
Soldiers loyal to commanders, not Rome, and
this leads to commanders fighting for throne
Government enlists mercenaries—foreign
soldiers they pay to fight against commanders.
Average citizens lose interest in the affairs of
Rome, they start to care less what happens.
 EMPERORS
ATTEMPT REFORM
 Diocletian Reforms the Empire
In A.D. 284 Emperor
Diocletian restores order by
ruling with iron fist and
limits personal freedoms,
divides empire in two.
Two emperors, one in
Greek-speaking East, one in
Latin-speaking West
In A.D. 305 Diocletian
retires, rivals compete for
power, a civil war starts.
 •Constantine Moves the Capital

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. Makes it so
the empire is under one ruler again.
 Constantine Moves the Capital

Byzantium,a greek City eventually renamed

Byzantium eventually renamed Constantinople—city of Constantine
  Constantinople
city of Constantine
THE WESTERN EMPIRE
CRUMBLES
 
 •Constantine Moves the Capital

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.
 •Constantine Moves the Capital

Attila the Hun

unites the Huns in A.D. 444; plunders 70
cities in East
With his 100,000 soldiers,
He terrorized both halves of the empire
Attacks Rome in 452; but famine and
disease prevents his victory.
Also known as The Scourge of God
•Constantine Moves the Capital

Although the
Huns were no
longer a threat
to the empire
after Attila’s
death in 453,
the Germanic
invasions
continued.
 •Constantine Moves the Capital

An Empire No More
Last Roman emperor
falls to Germans in 476;
end of Western Empire.
Although the East thrives for another thousa
years (Byzantine Empire).
 
GRAZIE!!!