Brief history of Rome

1. Journal 2.1Journal 2.1

2. Ancient Rome & theAncient Rome & the
Rise of ChristianityRise of Christianity
(509 BC – 476 AD)(509 BC – 476 AD)

3. Parallel EventsParallel Events
(Greece vs. Rome)(Greece vs. Rome)
 Ancient Greek EventsAncient Greek Events
 490-479 BCE: Persian490-479 BCE: Persian
WarsWars
 460 BCE: Age of460 BCE: Age of
Pericles in AthensPericles in Athens
 431 BCE: Peloponnesian431 BCE: Peloponnesian
WarsWars
 331 BCE: Alexander the331 BCE: Alexander the
Great conquers PersianGreat conquers Persian
Empire: Hellenistic AgeEmpire: Hellenistic Age
 133 BCE: end of Greek133 BCE: end of Greek
dominance in Med. worlddominance in Med. world
 Ancient Rome EventsAncient Rome Events
 509 BCE: Rome sets up509 BCE: Rome sets up
a Republica Republic
 450 BCE: 12 Tables of450 BCE: 12 Tables of
LawLaw
 270 BCE: Rome controls270 BCE: Rome controls
most of Italian peninsulamost of Italian peninsula
 264-146 BCE: Punic264-146 BCE: Punic
Wars vs. CarthageWars vs. Carthage
 133 BCE: Roman power133 BCE: Roman power
extends from Spain toextends from Spain to
EgyptEgypt

4. Section 1: The Roman WorldSection 1: The Roman World
Takes ShapeTakes Shape
 Rome began as a smallRome began as a small city-statecity-state (Palatine(Palatine
hill) located in the center of the Italian peninsulahill) located in the center of the Italian peninsula
 Apennine mountains run the length of ItalyApennine mountains run the length of Italy
 Less rugged than Greek mountainsLess rugged than Greek mountains
 Italy much easier to unify --- no isolated city-Italy much easier to unify --- no isolated city-
statesstates
 Most Romans settled in the westMost Romans settled in the west
 Fertile plains in the north below the AlpsFertile plains in the north below the Alps

6. Rome Takes ShapeRome Takes Shape
 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/

7. Early Roman PeopleEarly Roman People
 LatinsLatins: ancestors of the Romans: ancestors of the Romans
 Herders and farmers: settled along the TiberHerders and farmers: settled along the Tiber
River along the 7 hillsRiver along the 7 hills
 EtruscansEtruscans: ruled central and northern Italy: ruled central and northern Italy
 Came from Asia Minor (Eastern Mediterranean)Came from Asia Minor (Eastern Mediterranean)
 Romans borrowed Etruscan alphabet, arch andRomans borrowed Etruscan alphabet, arch and
worshipped similar gods/goddessesworshipped similar gods/goddesses
 GreeksGreeks: settled in southern Italy/Sicily: settled in southern Italy/Sicily

8. The Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic
 Romans drove outRomans drove out
Etruscan rulers aroundEtruscan rulers around
509 BC509 BC
 Set up aSet up a RepublicRepublic
(govt. of the people)(govt. of the people)
 SenateSenate: most powerful: most powerful
governing body madegoverning body made
up of 300up of 300 patricianspatricians
((landholding upperlandholding upper
class): served for lifeclass): served for life
Flash Video on Roman Republic:
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/romanrepublic/

10. SPQRSPQR
 SSenatusenatus PPopulusopulusqqueue RRomanusomanus
 ("The Senate and People of Rome")("The Senate and People of Rome")

11. Roman Senate continued!Roman Senate continued!
 22 consulsconsuls elected from the patrician classelected from the patrician class
 Job was to consult with the Senate,Job was to consult with the Senate,
supervise business of the govt. andsupervise business of the govt. and
command the armiescommand the armies
 Consuls served 1 year termConsuls served 1 year term
 In times of war: Senate chose aIn times of war: Senate chose a dictatordictator
to rule for 6 monthsto rule for 6 months
– Why do you think they did this?Why do you think they did this?

12. Plebeians Demand EqualityPlebeians Demand Equality
 PlebeiansPlebeians (commoners): farmers, merchants,(commoners): farmers, merchants,
artisans, tradersartisans, traders
 Made efforts to gain powerMade efforts to gain power
 450 BCE:450 BCE: 12 Tables of Law12 Tables of Law set up in theset up in the
Forum --- made it possible for plebeians toForum --- made it possible for plebeians to
appeal decision of a judgeappeal decision of a judge
 Later gained right to electLater gained right to elect tribunestribunes to protectto protect
their intereststheir interests
 Tribunes couldTribunes could vetoveto (block) laws that weren’t in(block) laws that weren’t in
the interest of the common peoplethe interest of the common people

13. The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome
 The ChristiansThe Christians
– Not initially persecuted, but…Not initially persecuted, but…
– Became more and more distinct from JudaismBecame more and more distinct from Judaism
 Why persecuteWhy persecute themthem??
– Seen as a “novelty,” to which Romans were opposedSeen as a “novelty,” to which Romans were opposed
– Christians met “secretly”Christians met “secretly”
– They obstinately refused to worship the emperorThey obstinately refused to worship the emperor
– Persecuted intermittently from the reign ofPersecuted intermittently from the reign of NeroNero (r.(r.
54-68 CE) until54-68 CE) until DiocletianDiocletian (r. 284-305 CE);(r. 284-305 CE);
thereafter granted toleration bythereafter granted toleration by ConstantineConstantine thethe
Great (r. 306-37 CE)Great (r. 306-37 CE)
– Extra Credit – choose a Roman Emperor and write aExtra Credit – choose a Roman Emperor and write a
brief biography (p. 164 for ideas) details on wiki…brief biography (p. 164 for ideas) details on wiki…

15. Roman SocietyRoman Society
 FamilyFamily: basic unit of: basic unit of
societysociety
 Male head ofMale head of
household (usuallyhousehold (usually
father) had absolutefather) had absolute
powerpower
 Enforced disciplineEnforced discipline
 Demanded respectDemanded respect
 WomenWomen: played larger: played larger
role than Greek womenrole than Greek women
 Could run businesses,Could run businesses,
attend baths, theater andattend baths, theater and
public entertainment –public entertainment –
supported arts and publicsupported arts and public
festivalsfestivals
 Most worked at home,Most worked at home,
however!however!

16. EducationEducation
 Girls and boys learned to read and writeGirls and boys learned to read and write
 Wealthy Romans hired private tutors (fromWealthy Romans hired private tutors (from
Greece) to supervise education of childrenGreece) to supervise education of children
 Rhetoric was important subject for boysRhetoric was important subject for boys
who wanted to pursue political successwho wanted to pursue political success
 Rhetoric = the art of using language toRhetoric = the art of using language to
communicate effectively and persuasivelycommunicate effectively and persuasively

17. ReligionReligion
 Gods/goddesses resembled Greek andGods/goddesses resembled Greek and
Etruscan deitiesEtruscan deities
 Statues and temples built throughoutStatues and temples built throughout
RomeRome
 Festivals honored the deitiesFestivals honored the deities
 http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/
 http://www.messagenet.com/myths/nameshttp://www.messagenet.com/myths/names
.html.html