Rise of rome
Transcript of 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
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
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
“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
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.
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