The document summarizes key aspects of Roman civilization and the rise of Christianity. It describes how the Romans absorbed ideas from Greek culture and made advances in areas like law, literature, engineering and architecture. It also explains how Christianity emerged in the Roman Empire, with Jesus spreading a message of spiritual salvation, and how the religion grew despite periods of persecution, before becoming the official religion under Constantine. Finally, it outlines factors in the decline of the Western Roman Empire, including invasions and economic and political problems.

1. The Roman
Achievement
Section 3
Main Idea: Romans absorbed ideas from
other cultures and made great advances
in law, literature, engineering, and other
areas.

2. Greco-Roman Civilization
 In its early days, Rome absorbed ideas
from Greek colonists and continued to
borrow heavily from Greek culture after it
conquered Greece.
 To the Romans, Greek art, literature,
philosophy, and scientific genius
represented the height of cultural
achievement.

3. Greco-Roman Civilization
 The Romans adapted Greek and Hellenistic
achievements.
 The blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and
Roman traditions produced what is known
as “Greco-Roman” civilization.

4. Roman Poetry
 Virgil wrote the Aeneid showing that
Rome’s past was as heroic as that of
Greece. He hoped it would arouse
patriotism and help unite Rome after years
of civil war.
 Other poets satirized, or made fun of,
Roman society.

5. Roman History and Philosophy
 Roman historians pursed the theme of the
rise and fall of Roman power.
 Romans borrowed much of their philosophy
from the Greeks.

6. Roman Art and Architecture
 Art – Romans stressed “realism” and for the first
time, revealed a person’s character with facial
expressions.
 A mosaic is a picture made from chips of colored
stone or glass.
 Roman architecture emphasized “grandeur” with
immense palaces, temples, and stadiums which
signified Roman power and dignity.
 The Romans used concrete as a building
material.

7. Roman Technology and Science
 The Romans excelled in engineering – they built
roads, bridges, and harbors throughout the
empire.
 They also built immense aqueducts, bridgelike
stone structures that brought water from the hills
into Roman cities.
 Ptolemy proposed his theory that the Earth was
the center of universe.
 The Romans did little original scientific research.

8. The Rise of
Christianity
Section 4
Main Idea: A new religion, Christianity,
emerged in the Roman Empire. It
gradually spread and became the official
religion of the empire.

9. Religious Diversity in the Early
Empire
 As long as citizens showed loyalty to
honoring Roman gods and acknowledging
the divine spirit of the emperor, they were
allowed to worship other gods as they
pleased.
 To avoid violating the Jewish belief in one
god, the Romans excused Jews from
worshiping Roman gods.

10. Jewish Revolt
 Most Jews were reluctantly willing to live under
Roman rule, others called Zealots, were not.
 They called on a revolt against Rome and
reestablish an independent Jewish state.
 Some believed that a messiah, or anointed king
sent by God, would soon appear to lead the
Jewish people to freedom.
 In A.D. 66, rebellion broke out and Roman forces
crushed the rebels, captured Jerusalem, and
destroyed the Jewish temple.

11. Jesus and His Message
 Christianity emerged among this turmoil in
Palestine.
 Almost all we know about the life of Jesus
comes from the Gospels – the first 4 books
of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John.
 These 4 men were also followers of Jesus.

12. Life of Jesus
 Born about 4 B.C. in Bethlehem and was a
descendant of King David of Israel.
 An angel, told Jesus’ mother, Mary, that she
would give birth to the messiah. “He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High God.”
 Jesus grew up in Nazareth and may have worked
as a carpenter.
 At the age of 30, he began preaching to villagers
near the Sea of Galilee.
 He recruited 12 close followers, known as the
apostles – chief among these was called Peter.

13. Life of Jesus
 Large crowds gathered to hear his
teachings, especially when word spread
that he had performed miracles of healing.
 Jesus often used parables, or short stories
with simple moral lessons to communicate
his ideas.
 After three years, he and his disciples went
to Jerusalem to spread his message.

14. His Message
 Jesus believed in one God and accepted the 10
Commandments.
 He preached obedience to the laws of Moses and
defended the teachings of Jewish prophets.
 Jesus taught new beliefs and called himself the
Son of God – many believed he was the messiah.
 Jesus proclaimed that his mission was to bring
spiritual salvation and eternal life to anyone who
would believe in him.

15. His Message
 Jesus emphasized God’s love and taught the
need for justice, morality, and service to others.
 To the Romans, Jesus was a revolutionary who
might lead the Jews in a rebellion against Roman
rule.
 Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples, Judas
and was arrested by the Romans.
 He was tried and condemned to be crucified.
 In crucifixion, a person was nailed to or hung on a
cross and left to die.

16. His Message
 His disciples were thrown into confusion but
rumors spread that Jesus was not dead.
 His disciples, the Gospels say, saw and talked to
Jesus who had risen from the dead.
 They say Jesus commanded them to spread his
teachings, and then he ascended to heaven.

17. Spread of Christianity
 Peter established Christianity in the city of Rome.
 Paul, after a vision in which Jesus spoke to him,
and he decided to spread Jesus’ message to the
Gentiles, or non-Jews.
 Paul spread Christianity all over the
Mediterranean and promised that those who
believed Jesus was the son of God and followed
his teachings would achieve eternal salvation, or
eternal life.

18. Persecution of Christians
 Rome’s tolerant attitude toward religion did not
extend to Christianity.
 In times of trouble, persecution increased and
rulers like Nero used Christians as scapegoats for
social and economic problems.
 Thousands of Christians became martyrs, people
who suffer or die for their beliefs – Peter and Paul
were martyred during Nero’s rule.

19. Reasons for Christianity’s Appeal
 Jesus had welcomed all people, especially the humble, poor,
and oppressed.
 Equality, human dignity, and the promise of a better life
beyond the grave were very attractive.
 Educated Romans liked the religion b/c it incorporated Greek
philosophy.
 Missionaries were able to travel along the well-constructed
Roman roads.
 Many documents were in Greek and Latin.
 People were impressed by the strength of Christians’ beliefs
b/c they were willing to die for their religion.

20. The Long Decline
Section 5
Main Idea: Foreign invasions, along with
political, social, and economic problems,
led to the fall of the Roman Empire.

21. Crisis and Reforms
 After the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius
in AD 180, the Pax Romana ended.
 In one 50-year period, at least 26 emperors
reigned and only one died of natural
causes.
 High taxes to support the army and
government placed heavy burdens on
business people and small farmers.

22. Diocletian
 To make the empire easier to govern, he
divided it into two parts – Eastern and
Western Roman Empire.
 He ruled the wealthier eastern empire and
appointed a co-emperor to rule the western.
 Diocletian retained absolute power and the
co-emperor was responsible to him.

23. Constantine
 Gained the throne in AD 312 and continued
Diocletian’s reforms.
 Constantine granted toleration to Christians
which encouraged the rapid growth of
Christianity and guaranteed its future
success.
 He also built a new capital, Constantinople.

24. The Fall of Rome
 Reasons…
 Germanic invasions from the north and
mercenaries in the army.
 Government became more corrupt, oppressive,
and authoritarian and lost the support of its
people.
 High taxes a burden on middle class.
 Lack of patriotism, discipline, and devotion to
Rome.

25. The Fall of Rome
 The Roman Empire did not disappear from
the map in 476.
 An emperor still ruled the eastern empire
which became known as the Byzantine
Empire.
 The phrase “fall of Rome” was a long, slow
change from one way of life to another.