Ancient Rome Part 1

I. Geography of Rome

A. Rome is located in the current country of Italy.

B. It is located on a narrow peninsula, land covered on three sides by water.

1. Enemies had a difficult time invading on such a narrow piece of land.

C. Mountains

1. The Alps Mountains provided protection from the north.

2. The Apennines runs down the center of Italy.

D. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south.

1. It protected Rome from invasion from other lands.

2. Allowed Rome to develop a large trade network with other nations onthe Mediterranean Sea.

3. Rome eventually conquered the lands along the Mediterranean Sea.

II. Latins (753 BC)

A. The original settlers of Rome were the Latins.

B. The language of the Latins became the language of the Romans called Latin.

C. Latin is the basis of the Romance Languages - Languages of Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.

1. The languages are classified as Romance because of similarities in structure and vocabulary.

D. English came from Germanic languages. We use many Latin terms in our vocabulary.

1. In Medicine - orthodontics, infection, rigor mortis (stiffness of the body at death)

2. In Law - in loco parentis (in place of the parent); veto (the power of a president or governor to prevent a law)

3. In Science - Homo Sapien (scientific name for humans), Canis lupus familiari (scientific name for dog)

4. Teen Literature - Panem (bread in Latin), name of the country from The Hunger Games series.

5. Others - et cetera (etc.), curriculum (courses offered by a school), circus

III. Etruscans (600 BC) A. The Etruscans were from the north of Rome and conquered the city.

B. Under the Etruscans, Rome grew in power and importance.

C. The Etruscans built large temples for the gods and publics works including a large sewer called the Cloaca Maxima, still in use today.

D. Due to trade, Rome became the wealthiest city in all of Italy.

IV. Etruscan Monarchy

A. The Etruscans were ruled by a family of monarchs called the Tarquins. (Monarch - A government ruled by a king or queen.)

B. The last of the Tarquin monarchs ruled as a tyranny. Absolute power of one ruler that is often cruel.

C. The Romans did not like being ruled by a tyrant so they overthrew the monarchy.

D. They set up their own government called a republic - A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws and the head of the state is not a monarch.

E. NO ROMAN OR ITALIAN USED THE TITLE KING OR QUEEN AGAIN!!!

Part 2

I. Republic - Form of representative democracy and type of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and to make laws and the head of the state is not a monarch.

A. To serve in Rome's Republic you had to be a citizen and male.

B. Roman Society was divided into two groups:

1. Plebeians - Common People - Peasants, craftspeople, traders, and other workers.

a. Majority of the population

b. At first, not allowed to participate in the government but eventually got the right.

2. Patricians - Nobles - Wealthy and powerful citizens

a. Small minority of the population

b. At first, controlled all the government but eventually had to allow the Plebeians.

C. Tripartite - A Government of Three Parts OR 3 branches (similar to U.S. Government) - THIS WAS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE PERSON HAD ABSOLUTE POWER OVER THE GOVERNMENT!! 1. Branch One of the Government

a. Magistrates - The elected representatives to Rome's Government.

b. Consuls - Two most powerful magistrates.

c. Elected to one year terms. One ran the city of Rome. The other ran the army.

d. Two instead of one so no one could become too powerful. CONSULS WERE THE MOST POWERFUL MEN IN ALL OF ROME!!!

e. Other Magistrates held other government positions for 1 year terms.

2. Branch Two of the Government

a. Roman Senate - Council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders.

b. Met to advise the consuls and magistrates.

c. Held office for life.

3. Branch Three of the Government

a. Two Branches of Part Three of the government.

b. First Branch - Assemblies - All Patrician and Plebeian males took part in Assemblies

c. Second Branch - Tribune - Elected officials elected by Plebeians. Could veto and held office for 1 year.

D. Dictator - A ruler who has complete and absolute power over a country.

1. During a time of emergency or crisis (ex. war), a dictator could be appointed to run the Roman Republic.

E. Checks and Balances - Keep any one part of a government from becoming stronger or more influential than the others.

1. Term limits of one year.

2. One consul could block the actions of another- veto.

3. Laws proposed by the Senate had to be approved by magistrates and ratified (approved) by assemblies

II. Rule of Law

A. Rome's laws were written down in a code; a collection of rules and laws. B. First code was written on 12 bronze tables, or tablets; Law of the Twelve Tables

C. Tables were displayed in the Forum - Rome's public meeting place.

III. Power of the Roman Republic

A. Rome became more powerful due to trade along the Mediterranean Sea and by conquest (to conquer or takeover).

B. Trade - Romans became very wealthy from trade.

C. Conquest

1. Forced Greece, Spain, Macedonia, Asia Minor (Turkey today), and the island of Sicily to become part of Rome.

2. Punic Wars - Wars between Rome and Carthage. Rome won and became the most dominant power in the Mediterranean Sea.

a. Scipio Africanus - Roman general who defeated Hannibal of Carthage

IV. Rome's Achievements

A. Architecture and Engineering

1. Arch-Being a rounded shape, arches can support more weight than other shapes.

2. Vault- a continuous arrangement of arches, usually forming a ceiling or roof.

3. Coliseum- The most famous example in Roman engineering

4. Aqueduct- Raised channel used to carry water from mountains to cities.

5. Dome- a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular base

6. Roads- Built in layers; each layer was a different material. Road were very durable and lasted for centuries.

7. Cement- mixed a mineral called lime with volcanic rock and ash. Cement is very hard and watertight.

Part 3

I. The Roman Republic

A. The Roman Republic lasted more than 500 years with an elected government.

B. However, in a time of crisis such as war, the government would appoint a dictator to run the country.

III. Expansion of Rome A. Rome defeated neighboring cities taking their lands such as in the Punic Wars.

1. Punic Wars - A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage.

2. Cause – Both Carthage and Rome wanted to control trade on the Mediterranean Sea.

3. Result - Rome won and destroyed Carthage. Rome became the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.

B. Organization of the Military

1. Legions - Total of 6,000 soldiers, each legion was divided into centuries, groups of 100 men.

III. Julius Caesar

A. 59 BC - Julius Caesar was named one of the two consuls, and ruled Rome for one year.

B. After being Consul he was named governor of Gaul. Caesar was a successful general and conquered Gaul (France today).

C. First Triumvirate - An alliance between Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. Together the 3 men ruled the Roman Republic for 10 years.

1. Eventually Crassus was killed in battle, and Julius Caesar and Pompey had a civil war and Julius Caesar won.

D. Julius Caesar eventually made himself dictator for life.

E. JULIUS CAESAR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING THE END OF THE REPUBLIC.

F. Senators were concerned he was getting too much power, so a group of Senators attacked him, and stabbed him to death.

1. He was killed on March 15th, 44 BC on the floor of the Roman Senate, The Ides of March.

IV. Caesar Augustus

A. Octavian - Caesar's kin - Later called himself Caesar Augustus.

B. Second Triumvirate - An alliance between Marc Antony, Octavian, and Marcus Lepidus to rule Rome after the death of Julius Caesar

C. First goal was to catch Julius Caesar's killers. They caught them, defeated them in battle, and the killers committed suicide. D. Octavian and Marc Antony had a civil war after Marc Antony married Octavian's sister, then married the Egyptian Cleopatra without divorcing Octavian's sister first.

E. Octavian wins the civil war and becomes Rome's first Emperor. He took the name Caesar Augustus (Augustus means exalted or sacred one).

1. WITH CAESAR AUGUSTUS DEFEAT OF MARC ANTONY, IT OFFICIALLY ENDED THE ROMAN REPUBLIC, AND IT BECAME AN EMPIRE.

a. empire - a group of states or territories controlled by one ruler

b. emperor - Absolute ruler of an empire.

2. Under Caesar Augustus, Rome increased the size of the empire due to trading and military conquest.

3. Goods traded from lands under Roman control to the city of Rome included raw materials such as metals, cloth, and food.

4. Goods traded from the city of Rome to lands under Roman control included goods made by artisans such as jewelry, glass, and clothing.

F. Currency - Money - Roman coins of silver and gold were used for trading.

G. Pax Romana - "Roman Peace" long time period of peace and safety in the Roman Empire.

1. During this time Rome was at peace for 200 years and prospered.

2. Roman literature spread and Rome had responsible honest leaders.

3. Roman citizenship was given to all free men in the empire.

V. Decline and Collapse of the Roman Empire

A. Reason #1 – TOO LARGE TO CONTROL

1. Economic Cost of an Empire so large

2. Economics - Part of society that creates wealth. Wealth comes from the production of goods and services, which people buy with money.

3. It cost a lot of money to keep an army. The army protected people and trade routes.

4. Government programs to take care of citizens cost money.

5. Government raised money by increasing taxes.

B. Reason #2 – POOR MORALS AND VALUES

1. Decline of traditional Roman values 2. As Rome grew stronger and richer, moral values declined.

3. Corruption grew also. Corruption - Decay of people's values.

4. Example - Corrupt government officials took bribes and used threats to achieve goals such as political power.

C. Reason #3 – INVASIONS FROM OUTSIDERS

1. Threats from Outside the Empire

2. Groups such as the Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Huns, and Visigoths attacked and invaded parts of the Roman Empire making it weaker.

D. Reason #4 – DIVISION OF THE EMPIRE

1. Division into Eastern and Western Empire

2. Emperor Diocletian thought the empire was too large for one person to rule and split it into two parts.

3. Eastern Part became known as the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople became its capital.

Part 4

I. The Byzantine Empire

A. The Roman Empire was divided into two parts; Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire.

1. The Western Roman Empire lasted till AD 400.

2. The Eastern Half, the Byzantine Empire lasted until 1450 AD.

II. Location of the Byzantine Empire

A. Constantinople was the capital of the empire.

B. Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire here from Rome. He is considered by many to be the "Last Roman" emperor.

1. This city was located on the continents of Asia and Europe.

2. It is located on the Bosporus Strait connecting the Aegean Sea (Mediterranean) and Black Sea.

3. It became important for international trade.

4. It was easily defended. 5. It became the greatest city in the west.

6. Today the city is known as Istanbul.

III. Preservation of Greek and Roman Culture

A. Scholars preserved the literature of the Greeks and the Romans.

IV. Government and Law

A. Emperor Justinian created the Justinian Code.

1. He made a code or collection of laws, like Hammurabi did in Babylon and the Roman law of the Twelve Tables.

2. The code made it easier for the average citizen to know the laws.

B. Justinian wife's name was Theodora. She influenced the Byzantine Empire.

V. Culture

A. The empire had government officials and teachers educated.

B. Artists created mosaics. These are designs made of small bits of colored stone, marble, or glass.

C. They decorated Christian Churches throughout the empire.

Part 5

I. Greek/Roman Mythology

A. Mythology - traditional stories dealing with the gods and heroes of a particular people

B. Greek and Roman mythology was polytheistic - believing in more than one god or goddesses.

C. Greek/Roman gods lived in the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.

D. People of Greece and Rome believe that their gods controlled all aspects of their lives.

E. Roman mythology was adopted from Greek mythology.

1. Greek god = Zeus; Roman god = Jupiter

2. Greek god = Poseidon; Roman god = Neptune

3. Greek god = Aphrodite; Roman god = Venus

F. People built temples, made sacrifices, and prayed for assistance in their lives. G. Both believed in the afterlife but gave more attention to this life.

H. Mythology in the Roman Empire.

1. Conquered people by the Roman could continue to practice their religion as long as it was not see as a threat to Roman rule.

2. Christianity was seen as a threat to the power of the emperor’s rule.

II. Christianity - Origins

A. Judaism is the basis of Christianity. Christianity grew and is related to this religion.

B. Monotheism - Christians believe in one God.

C. Originally Christianity was seen as a threat to the polytheism beliefs of the Roman Empire and to the power of the emperor.

III. Christianity-Founder

A. Jews are waiting for a savior known as a Messiah.

B. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah.

C. Jesus is considered the founder of Christianity

IV. Christianity – Foundational Beliefs

A. Jesus had followers or 12 disciples (apostles) who helped Jesus spread his teachings.

B. Jesus was considered a healer and prophet

C. He was considered the Son of God.

D. Jesus taught a message of love and devotion to God and all human beings.

E. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice to provide a way to forgive mankind.

F. Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead so mankind could be forgiven of their sins and have a relationship with God.

V. Christianity – Holy Book

A. The Bible contains the sacred writings of Christianity

VI. Christianity – Spread of (Diffusion) Religion

A. Christianity was first spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea as Christians moved to other areas to being persecuted for their beliefs by the Romans. 1. For a period of time, it was illegal to practice Christianity in the Roman Empire and if caught could face punishment.

B. It spread throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean world due to the teaching and preaching of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the John the Apostle.

C. Christianity eventually became the official religion of the Roman Empire under the emperor Constantine.

1. Christianity then spread to all parts of the empire.

2. It affected western culture and western civilization.

D. Today Christianity is predominately found on 3 continents: North America, South America, and Europe

E. Today there are Christians found in most countries.