Rise of rome

Legend: Aeneas settles in Rome after Trojan War

His descendants, Romulus & Remus found Rome

History: 600s BC: Etruscans conquer Rome

509 BC: Etruscan king overthrown & republic established

Hills & Rivers

Built on 7 steep hills

What advantages did the land near Rome offer?

Farm Life

Live in simple huts of mud or timber

What values did Roman farmers share?

Republic lasted 500 years

Conflict between patricians & plebeians

450 BC: Constitution written (12 Tables)

Three Branches of Government

Executive

2 consuls

Commanded army & directed gov’t for one year

Power of veto

Legislative

Senate:

Assemblies:

Judicial

8 judges served for one year

Leader with absolute power.

Used in times of crisis

Appointed for a short time.

458 BC: Cincinnatus made dictator

Defeated the enemy & returned power in one day

By 275 BC: dominate central Italy & Greece

How did the Romans treat these conquered people?

Three wars with North African city-state Carthage

Starts 264 BC

Rome wins all three wars

Highlights

2nd: Hannibal invades Rome with elephants

3rd: Rome destroys Carthage and enslaves its people

Positive Effects

Negative Effects

General, politician, dictator

Captures Gaul

Wants to help the poor

Popularity makes others nervous

44 BC: Senate names him dictator for life

Expands the Senate

Creates jobs for the poor

Senators fear Caesar's growing power

March 15, 44 BC: assassinated on the Senate floor

What happens after Caesar is killed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FvgP5hO99o

Adopted son of Julius Caesar

27 BC: Becomes first emperor

How did Augustus rule?

“Peace of Rome”

Lasted 200 years

2 million square miles

300,000 men in army

Public works projects

By 100s AD: Empire stretches from Spain to Mesopotamia; N. Africa to Britain

Agriculture

Most Romans farmers

Industry

Manufactured:

Trade

Land and sea trade routes throughout Mediterranean

What’s not grown is traded for

What is currency?

What are the advantage of currency?

Father was the head of the household

Women ran household and raised children

Could not vote

Wealthy boys educated at private schools

Girls married at age 14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juWYhMoDTN0

(Teenage life)

Who was in the new middle class?

1/3 of population slaves

Most did physical labor

Slave revolts common, but usually unsuccessful

Hundreds of nature spirits

Idea of gods in human form from Etruscans

Specific gods from the Greeks

Priests were government officials

Emperors worshiped as gods

1 million people (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population)

What problems existed in the city of Rome? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrIEwjgfbYs (3D tour)

Large homes in countryside

Attended theater and threw dinner parties

What foods were served at Roman dinner parties?

Problem: free-flowing human waste

Solution:

Problem: lack of fresh water

Solution:

Problem: many Romans dirty

Solution:

“Bread and Games”

Rome gave free grain to the poor

Entertainment at public areas

Chariot races at the Circus Maximus

Gladiator fights in the Coliseum

What did Romans like about these contests?

Gladiator Youtube

14:55

Hunger Games

63 BC: Rome conquers Jewish kingdoms in Judea

Jewish sacred writings promise a Messiah

What did the Jews believe about the promised Messiah?

Jewish

Born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth

Traveling preacher with many followers who believed him to be the promised Messiah.

What was Jesus’ message?

How did Jesus teach his lessons?

A threat to the Roman Empire.

Roman Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus to death.

Jesus rises from death, proving his divinity.

Church encouraged charity, helping the poor, equality

Gentiles (non-Jews) also convert to Christianity

Debate over whether Christians should follow Jewish law

At first, Rome ignores Christianity

Saul converts on the road to Damascus

Expert in Jewish law

Roman citizen. Why did this help?

Took advantage of the PaxRomana to spread Christianity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZJxb4uW-E

Gentiles need not follow Jewish law to be Christians

Wrote epistles (letters) to churches throughout the Mediterranean

Paul explained Christian beliefs and encouraged conversion

Arrested by the Romans in Jerusalem

60 AD: House arrest in Rome for two years

Dies in Rome

Most influential Christian missionary