1. A Crash Course in Roman History
Because in order to understand the Middle Ages,
you need to understand what came before.
2. The Major Points
Rome began as a city, grew into a kingdom, became a
1 republic, then expanded into an empire (autocratic).
3. The Roman Empire spanned most of Europe, North Africa
2 & the Middle East.
The Major Points
4. ideas about gov’t ideas about The Major
spread religion spread Points
REPUBLIC * SENATE CHRISTIANITY
ideas about art & arch SCULPTURE * PAINTING * MOSAIC
3 Vast area = Vast influence...
politically, intellectually, religiously, artistically,
technologically, economically
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWfh6sGyso
AQUEDUCTS *ARCHES *COLUMNS * COLISEUMS * BATHS
Roman ideas spread in general!
* MASS ENTERTAINMENT * HEATING * CALENDARS *
latin (language & alphabet) spreads, mixes with viva Roma!
others, makes new [ROMAN]CE languages j’aime
FRENCH * SPANISH * ITALIAN * PORTUGUESE Rome!
5. ideas spread through trade & the trade routes (ECONOMICS)
ROMAN ROAD SYSTEM
The Major
Points
3 Vast area = Vast influence...
politically, intellectually, religiously, artistically,
technologically, economically
7. The Major
Points
The Roman Empire is the
major reason Christianity
spread so far, so wide,
and so well. 5
8. The Roman Empire is the
major reason Christianity
spread so far, so wide,
and so well. 5
9. The Roman Empire had been expanding...
through the Punic Wars...
and after various campaigns...
10. JUDEA was one new acquisition...
• Roman power spread to
Judea, the home of the Jews,
in 63BCE.
• Rome added the kingdom to the
empire.
• The Jews, at this time, were
divided into two factions:
one group really wanted
the Romans out.
the other believed that the
Messiah was soon to
come.
12. • Yeshua, a man who is known to many as JESUS, was born in
Bethlehem around 6-4BCE.
• A Roman subject and a Jew, as a young man he became a
carpenter.
• At the age of 30, he began his public ministry.
His teachings included many ideas from the
Jewish tradition including monotheism.
FOCUSES:
- God’s personal relationship with people
- Good people go to HEAVEN
- COMPASSION
13. His popularity grew...
people were tired of corruption...
they were tired of being mistreated...
Jesus gained a following.
14. • Jewish officials said he was committing
blasphemy by preaching his message
• Roman officials said he was threatening the
empire and trying to take power
he was eventually sentenced to die for
these crimes.
Christ is a Greek word that means savior.
It is NOT Jesus’ last name.
17. Allowed for significant cultural diffusion.
1. The Road System
• Romans built road systems across the empire, increasing
them as they gained territory
• road system made it easy to travel!
18. 2. The Pax Romana
Augustus’ governmental reforms changed the economic,
political and social situation of Rome for the better. Mixing
the old and the new - A VERY Roman idea - Augustus was
able to please the majority.
His reforms made the Empire a peaceful environment
PAX ROMANA made it SAFE to travel!
proselytize: trying to convert someone to your belief
19. 3. Religious Syncretism
Roman religion was a mix of different religions, and as they expanded
they added gods of places they conquered.
Because of this, religion was pretty personal in Rome. Many beliefs
coexisted, and people in the same family didn’t even always worship
the same deities.
syncretism: the merging of different belief systems, cultures, schools of thought
22. 5. An Emperor makes Christianity the official religion of Rome
380 AD
23. 6 The Roman
Empire split
into two, and so
did the Church.
Towards the end,
the Roman Empire
was split into two
empires. One half
fell and the other
half was around
for another 1000
years.
The Major
Points
