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Chapter 9: Ancient Romans Vocabulary: confederation - governments working together for a common cause republic - a governing system in which a country's people elect representatives to make laws consul - one of the two leaders elected to lead the Roman republic veto - to reject dictator - a ruler with absolute authority Senate - the most powerfull assembly of lawmakers in Rome patrician - a wealthy descendant of one of Romes founding families plebeian - a nonpatriciacian citizen of Rome (everyone from farmers to craftsmen to soldiers to merchants) province - a self-governing region within the Roman lands triumvirate - a group of three rulers who share power census - a count of the people in a country basilica - a large Roman government building forum - a market, a meeting place, and a place for recreation gladiator - a slave or prisoner who fights for the entertainment of others aqueduct - a system of canals and bridges to bring water into a city patriotism - love of country Christianity - the religion of the followers of Jesus messiah - a person sent by a god to bring justice to the world resurrection - when a person rises from the dead persecute - to seek out and punish martyr - one who dies for his or her beliefs pope - the leader of the Christian (Catholic) religion polytheistic - a religion with more than one deity (god or goddess) monotheistic - a religion with one deity (god or goddess) L1: Early People of Italy (1000 - 300 BCE) Founding of Rome Geography • Built on 7 hilltops - good spots for defence from enemies • Built near the Tiber River - provided water, fertile soil, transportation to/from the sea • The sea nearby provided easy access to fish and salt. - salt was a very valuable resource &$149; Lots of building materials: wood and stone Founding Legend • 573 BCE - After getting the rightful king back on the throne (their grandfather), the twins Romulus and Remus decide to start a new settlement. • The twins fight over which hill to start building on. Remus is killed. • Romulus names the new settlement Rome, after himself. The Etruscan Civilization • Non-Latin people that ruled much of Italian Peninsula. • Took on parts of Greek culture (alphabet, art styles) • Each city-state was ruled by an elected king. • The city-states worked together as a confederation. - formed a large, powerful army since they weren't fighting each other • Conquered a large area of the Italian Peninsula • Ruled Rome for about 100 years. The Roman Republic • 509 BCE - Rome rebels against the Etruscans and become independant • Deciding against having a king, Rome forms a republic (form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make laws in an assemby) • the Republic is led by 2 consuls (elected leaders, in charge of Rome), each with veto (reject) power over the other's actions - no 1 person would have total control and become king • In times of emergency (war, disaster), the assembly could elect a dictator (a leader with absolute authority) for up to 6 months • The Senate () controlled most government operations, from passing laws to forming alliances to declaring war to making treaties Social Classes • patricians - the upper class, wealthy descendants of Rome's founding families (also known as "the old rich families") - controlled the Senate, most consuls were from patrician families • plebeians - all other citizens, from farmers to merchants to craftspeople to soldiers (aka "commoners") • slaves - mostly prisoners of war forced to work for free for wealthy Romans - could gain freedom if owner wanted it that way, or by buying freedom with money - could become citizens once they were freed L2: The Path of Roman Conquest (500 - 1 BCE) The Punic Wars • Three wars fought from 264 BCE to 146 BCE • Fought between Rome and Carthage (a city-state in northern Africa) over control of trade on the Mediterranean Sea • Hannibal - a general from Carthage that invaded the Italian Peninsula, but turned back when Rome attacked the city of Carthage • 146 BCE - Rome finally destroys Carthage and enslaved the people • More lands led to more taxes and slaves for Rome • More slaves led to fewer jobs for plebeians and to conflict between rich and poor in Rome. The Civil Wars • 60 BCE - Julius Caesar is elected consul. • Caesar forms an army and leads them to take over Gaul (an area that is mostly France today). This makes Julius popular with both soldiers and common people. • 46 BCE - the Senate tells Caesar not to bring his army back into the Italian Peninsula...he does not obey. • Within 60 days he conquers the entire peninsula • Caesar "convinces" the Senate to elect him as dictator for 10 years (20 times the normal 6-month term). • Caesar becomes even more popular by: - improving the Senate so it better represents the people - issued decrees that helped the poor - created new jobs - gave citizenship to more people, even from the provinces • A group of senators thought Caesar was becoming too powerful and wanted to reclaim some of their previous influence • 44 BCE (March 15, the "Ides of March") - Julius Caesar is stabbed by several senators at once (he dies) The End of the Republic • After Caesar dies, his friend Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), a general, comes to power. • The senate wants Caesar's great-nephew Octavian (who Julius adopted) to lead. • Lepidus, another general, also tries to take control. • These three men form a triumvirate (a group of 3 rulers that share power). • Soon, Octavian and Antony team up to force out Lepidus. • Antony and Octavian then turn on each other, no willing to share power. • Antony and Cleopatra (the queen of Egypt) team up (form an alliance) against Octavian. • 30 BCE - Octavian's forces finally defeat those of Antony and Cleopatra (they both die within days). • 27 BCE - the Senate gives Octavian Caesar the title Augustus (which means "respected one" or "holy one"). - Octavian Augustus is often called Augustus or Augustus Caesar. - He was the first Roman emperor, but didn't use that title (Rome had now changed from a republic to an empire) L3: The Roman Empire (100 BCE - 200 CE) Governing the Empire • Augustus made more people in the provinces citizens, so they would feel they had a voice in the Senate and they would gain protections under the laws. • The Romans held the first census (a count of the people in a country) so that they could be sure the government was getting all the taxes and military services the people owed. • 300,000 - the number of soldiers in the Roman military • 50,000 miles of roads were built in the empire to make travel and transport of people and goods easier - led to the spread (diffusion) of Roman culture and language across the lands The Splendor of Rome • Augustus ordered the construction of many new buildings within the city of Rome (government offices, libraries, public baths, temples). • Had many basilicas (large government buildings) made within Rome • The Forum was a large area made for meeting, buying and selling, and entertainment (it was an ancient mall) • The Colosseum was a massive sporting arena, largely for battles and recreations of battles - mostly used by gladiators (slaves and prisoners who fought for the entertainment of others) - could hold up to 50,000 spectators • The buildings used large amounts of expensive marble, showing the wealth of Rome • Aqueducts were bridges and canals used to bring water into the city of more than 4 million people from mountain sources Rome's Cultural Life • The Romans admired the Greeks and copied their styles of architecture, writing, art, and philosophy. • Many wealthy Romans hired Greek teachers to tutor their children • Roman artists and writers promoted patriotism (love of country) in their works (which made it easier to recruit for the army and get people to follow the laws) • The Latin language spread across the empire, as it was the language written and spoken by the Roman soldiers L4: Beginnings of Christianity (500 BCE - 400 CE) NOTE: As I teach history, not religion, the information given here and in class refers to Jesus the historical figure, rather than Jesus the religious figure. Any questions about the religious beliefs of students are to be asked of parents and clergy, not the teacher. Any questions about the religious beliefs held by myself will not be answered (I am a public school teacher, I will not willingly influence the religious beliefs of students in any way). Religion and the Romans • 500 BCE - the Romans begin to worship the Greek gods as well as their own (but under Roman names) - Zeus = Jupiter - Hera = Juno - Hermes = Mercury - Aphrodite = Venus - Ares = Mars - Poseidon = Neptune - Hades = Pluto • As the Romans gain more lands, they often adapt the religious beliefs of the people they conquer to their own - They eventually worship as many as 100 different gods and goddesses (deities) • By 100 CE, some Romans begin following a new religion from their eastern provinces (Judea, Galilee) Jesus and his teachings • 4 BCE - Jesus is born (according to historians) • Jesus was a Jewish teacher - taught about a more forgiving, loving god than in previous Jewish tradition - taught the "golden rule" • Some believed he was the messiah (a person fortold in Judaism that would be sent by Yahweh (aka God) to bring justice to the world) • Some did not believe he was the messiah • His teachings and the messiah/not messiah issue caused conflict and debate between the people of Judea • The Roman governor of Judea, Pontious Pilate, did not want conflict within the lands he ruled - he feared that anger would shift onto the people in charge (the Romans) and lead to rebellion • 30 CE - Jesus is executed to try to stop the conflict • Jesus' followers reported that 3 days after his death he reappeared to them (he was resurrected, or raised from the dead) The Spread of Christianity • The followers of Jesus spread the story through the lands of the Roman Empire • Jesus gains the name Jesus Christos (christos is Greek for "messiah"). This eventually becomes Jesus Christ. • The promise of reward after death leads many to become Christian • Romans persecute (seek out and punish) early Christians, since they refused to worship the Roman gods in addition to their own (Roman law allowed those in the empire to have other religious beliefs, so long as they also worhshipped the Roman gods). • Many Christians died for their beliefs, becoming martyrs and powerful examples of Christian faith. • Early Christian writings also helped to spread the religion, especially after the assembly and copying of the Christian Bible allowed others to have a written record of the teachings of the Jews (Old Testament) and Christians (New Testament). The Spread of Christianity • 313 CE - Roman persecution of Christians stops after emperor Constantine becomes Christian - makes Christianity an accepted religion with the empire • 392 CE - Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire - all other religions are outlawed |