Phases of Roman History

Latinium

Republican

EmpiricalCollapse

Byzantium

In addition to thinking about each period, you’ll need to think about each AP Theme.Roman history is a narrative, with all the elements of a dramatic story—view it that way!Chronology and theme—both are important!

A story told in themes…

Geography

Comparison to

Greece?

Need to colonize?

Dominated by

neighbors

Indo-European Migration

s

Phase 1: Latinium Phase

Roman Kingdo

m

Etruscan

dominion

Public Works

to support

Early Pottery and manufacturi

ng

Trade with Etruscans

Etruscan

Religion

Tomb paintin

gs

Strict patriarchy

Rape of Lucretia

Lived in cities

Phase 2: Republican Rome

Rejection of Monarchy-510 B.C.EDisinterest in Empire and conquest…initiallyConcept of Roman Citizenship Rome itself was ethnically diverse—need to

incorporate citizen groups.Expansion of citizenship to increase its pool

of military recruits

Roman Political Identity

The Hellenistic political value that emphasized the virtue of improving human affairs through civic involvement.

Roman political ideology evolved in a manner that was similar to Greece and China

“mos maiorum” UprightnessFaithfulnessRespect

Importance of Stoicism

“virtue is to know the human relevance of each thing, to know what is humanly right and useful and honorable…and in addition virtue is putting the country’s interest first, then our parents, with our interests third and last”.

Compare this ideal to China, Greece, or India

Lucilius on Political Virtue

Expansion and interaction

with Carthage

Expansion of Republic

Need to Colonize

• Overthrowing Etruscans

• Senate • Consulate• “Tyrants”

• Rule of law• Twelve Tables

• Patricians v. Plebians

Rape of Lucretia

Establishment of Republic

Constitutional Government

Struggle for the Orders

A Cosmopolitan City10,000 statues500 fountains700 pools36 “monumental

buildings”Constructed by

public dollarsMagnificent

engineeringCulture spread to

other areas

Roman food day?Boiled ostrichParrot-tongue pieTree fungus in fish

fatJellyfish stewGarum

Religion

Rome adopted Greek traditions via the Etruscans.

Jupiter the supreme god

Pantheon of Gods

Roman Religion

Changed as they came

into contact with diverse

peoples in the Republican

phase

Some small groups adopted

Zoroastrianism and

Mithraism

Mithraism became

popular with warriors in

the Empirical

phase

Hellenistic “mystery religions extremely popular

Struggle of the

Orders

12 Tables

Establishment of Plebian Assemblies

Gracchus Brothers push for economic

equality

Pater Familias

?

Phase 3: Empirical Rome

Caesar starts reform

Brutus, the famed assassin of Julius Caesar said after the murder… “I loved Julius Caesar, but I loved Rome more”.

The mere idea of Rome and the virtue of citizenship sponsored remarkable devotion amongst the populace.

Famous last words…

Last great naval battle of antiquity

Octavian defeats Mar Antony and Cleopatra

Battle of Actium changes the course of history.

A monarch disguised

as a republic.

Senate a mere

puppet

Claimed vast

powers and

political functions

The Aeneid

“Augustus”-semi divine ruler

Pax RomanaThe Augustian age

sponsored several centuries of pece and stability that was able to overcome shockingly poor emperors.

Scope

Great Cultural Floweri

ng

Revival of Greek

Philosophy

Impact of Hellenistic

Culture

Spread of new

religions

Conflicts with

Jewish cultures

Growth and

Spread of Christianit

y

Movement away from

state religion to religions of salvation

Brilliant art and

architecture

Jews and RomeState cults were blasphemousRefused to worship Roman EmperorsJudea suffered greatly economically and

politically.Resistance and conflict were common: Jewish

War 66-7.Essenes and other groups looked for a savior

who would deliver them from Roman rule.

King HerodA “client king” or “puppet king” of Judea.Hated by the Jews for his taxes, harsh laws, and

religious interference. Promoted the “cult of Roma”.Anti-Roman movements emerge: Zealots

Jesus of NazarethBorn in 4 C.EArrived during a time of tension between Jews

and their emperor.“Kingdom of god” in direct contrast to the Roman

Empire. Political v. Religious overtones His death in the early 30’s C.E didn’t put an end

to the movement.

Revolt of the Jews

Essenes (Messianic Jews)

Birth of Jesus (4 C.E.)

Jesus challenges conventional

values of the timeMiracle working and ministry (3

year period)

Jesus speaks on the poor and

oppressed

Jesus teachings contradict state

religion and agitate Roman

Empire

Jesus is crucified as a common

criminal

Jesus teachings gain traction

thanks to missionaries like

Paul of Tarsus

Persecution of Christians by

Roman Empire

Constantine reverses courses

and embraces Christianity to

unify Rome

Establishment of Roman Catholic

Church and spread along Silk

Roads

Evolution of Christianity

Jesus of NazarethBorn in 4 C.EArrived during a time of tension between Jews

and their emperor.“Kingdom of god” in direct contrast to the Roman

Empire. Political v. Religious overtones His death in the early 30’s C.E didn’t put an end

to the movement.

Spread of ChristianityPeter continued the teachings of Jesus. His

leadership in the Apostles led to the creation of Bishoprics and the Papacy.

Paul of Tarsus (purple pages) brought the church outside of Judea through his missionary activities and made it applicable to all peoples not just Jews.

Acceptance of Christianity Martyr stories suggest

that the degree of hostility towards them was savage.

Roman citizens misunderstood Christianity.

Distrusted the exclusivity of the faith.

Didn’t understand the rituals and sacraments, thought of them as atheists.

Emperor Constantine, in the Edict of Milan removed religious intolerance from Roman law and granted religious freedom.

Theodosius 391 CE made it the official faith of Rome.