Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity

1
Chapter 6

• Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity
• (509 B.C. A.D. 476)

2
Section 1

• The Roman World Takes Shape

3
Geography and Rome

• Rome is located in the center of the Italian
  Peninsula.
• Ancestors of the Romans settled along the Tiber
  River. These villages eventually grew into Rome.

4
The Roman Republic

• 509-the Romans drove out the Etruscans and set up
  a new govt. They called it a republic some
  officials are chosen by the people
• Senate dominated the govt. Its members were
  patricians, or members of the landholding class.
• Plebeians Roman farmer, merchant, artisan, or
  trader. Gained political power such as the right
  to vote for their own officials called Tribunes.

5
Roman Society

• The family was the basic unit of Roman Society
• Both girls and boys learned to read and write
• Women gained greater freedom
• Gods and goddesses resembled those of Greeks and
  Etruscans

6
Expansion in Italy

• Romes expansion in Italy was successful because
• Skilled diplomacy
• Loyal well-trained army (legion basic unit of
  the Roman army)
• Treated defeated enemies fairly
• Gave rights to conquered people

7
Section 2

• From Republic to Empire

8
Winning an Empire

• Hannibal-leader of Carthaginian army who crossed
  the Alps to invade Italy
• After gaining control of the Italian peninsula,
  Rome began to build an empire around the
  Mediterranean Sea
• Romans followed the policy of imperialism
  establishing control over foreign lands and
  people.

9
Decline of the Republic

• After a century of civil wars fought over the
  question of who should hold power, the Roman
  Republic began to decline

10
From Republic to Empire

• Julius Caesar was a General who brought Gaul
  under Roman control. He forced the Roman senate
  to make him dictator. He was killed by enemies
  who feared that he planned to make himself the
  king of Rome
• Octavian defeats Mark Antony in a struggle for
  power.
• The Roman senate gives Octavian the title of
  Augustus, or exalted one.
• The 500-year republic comes to an end. The age
  of the Roman empire begins.

11
Roman Empire and Roman peace

• Augustus (first ruler of the Roman Empire) laid
  the foundation for a stable government. This
  period was called the Pax Romana.
• During the empire, the Roman legal system
  contributed to unity and stability

12
Section 3

• The Roman Achievement

13
Greco-Roman civilization

• The blending of Roman, Hellenistic, and Greek
  traditions produced Greco-Roman civilization.
• Trade and travel helped spread this new
  civilization during the Pax Romana

14
Roman advances in Literature, History, and
Philosophy

• In the fields of art and literature, Romans were
  greatly influenced by the culture of Greece
• Virgil praised Romes heroic past in the Aeneid.

15
Roman advances in Art and Science

• Built aqueducts bridge like stone structure that
  brought water from hills to cities
• Sculptors stressed realism
• Ptolemy proposed that Earth was the center of the
  universe
• In architecture, emphasized grandeur
• Developed the rounded dome

16
Roman Law

• The principles of law
• An accused person was presumed to be innocent
  until proven guilty
• The accused was permitted to face the accuser and
  offer a defense
• Guilt had to be established through evidence
• Judges were expected to interpret the laws and
  make fair decisions

17
Section 4

• The Rise of Christianity

18
Religious Diversity

• As long as people honored Roman gods and
  acknowledged the divine spirit of the emperor,
  they were allowed to worship other gods as they
  pleased.
• Rome mistrusted Christians because they refused
  to make sacrifices to the emperor or honor the
  Roman gods.
• Roman officials persecuted the Christians. Many
  Christians became martyrs, people who suffer or
  die for their beliefs.

19
The Teachings of Jesus

• Jesus central figure in Christianity
• Some of his teachings were rooted in Judaism
• Belief in one God
• Ten commandments
• Also taught new beliefs
• Called himself the Son of God
• Proclaimed that he brought salvation and eternal
  life to anyone who would believe in him
• Emphasized Gods love
• Messiah anointed king sent by God

20
Spread of Christianity

• Disciples began to preach in Jewish communities
  throughout the Roman world. Jews who accepted
  the beliefs of Jesus became the first Christians
• Paul (a Jewish convert) spread Christianity
  beyond the Jewish communities, to non-Jews

21
The Early Christian Church

• A bishop was responsible for all Christians in a
  particular area called a diocese.
• Some bishops became patriarchs, with authority
  over other bishops in their area
• Heresy a belief that is contrary to official
  church teachings

22
Section 5

• The Long Decline

23
The Empire in Crisis

• Pax Romana ended in AD 180 after the death of
  Marcus Aureulis
• With the end of the Pax Romana, political and
  economic turmoil rocked the Roman empire
• In one 50 year period, 26 emperors ruled, and
  only one died of natural causes

24
Two Reformers

• Diocletian and Constantine tried to restore order
  to the Roman Empire
• Diocletian tried to increase the prestige of the
  emperor
• Fixed prices
• Constantine
• Granted toleration to Christians
• Built a new empire at Constantinople, making the
  eastern part of the empire the center of power.

25
Foreign Invasions

• Rome was weakened and couldnt withstand the
  forces of Germanic invasions
• Odoacer German leader who ousted the emperor in
  Rome
• Huns conquered the Roman empire

26
The Decline and Fall of Rome

• Military causes Germanic invasions (mercenary-
  foreign soldier who serves for pay)
• Political causes corrupt officials, divided
  empire
• Social causes self-serving upper class, erosion
  of traditional values
• Economic causes heavy taxes, population decline