Chapter 5: Rome and the Rise of Christianity, 600 B.C.-A.D
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Rome and the Rise of Christianity 600 B.C.–A.D. 500 Key Events As you read, look for the key events in the history of Rome and early Christianity. • Romans overthrew the last Etruscan king and established a republic. • Romans crushed Hannibal and won the Second Punic War. • Augustus became the first emperor, signifying the beginning of the Roman Empire. • Constantine proclaimed official tolerance of Christianity. • Germanic tribes defeated the Romans, and the empire fell. The Impact Today The events that occurred during this time period still impact our lives today. • Using their practical skills, the Romans made achievements in law, government, language, and engineering that became an important part of Western civilization. • In the last two hundred years of the Roman Empire, Christianity grew, along with its new ideals of spiritual equality and respect for human life. World History Video The Chapter 5 video, “The Roman World,” chronicles the emergence and expansion of the Roman Empire. Etruscan sculpture 650 B.C. 264 B.C. Etruscans Punic Wars rule Rome begin 600 B.C. 500 B.C. 400 B.C. 300 B.C. 200 B.C. 100 B.C. 509 B.C. 450 B.C. 312 B.C. Rome becomes The Twelve Appian a republic Tables is Way Rome’s first built code of laws Ruins of the Appian Way 146 The Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct in southern France HISTORY 44 B.C. Assassination of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar assassinated Chapter Overview Visit the Glencoe World History Web site at tx.wh.glencoe.com and click A.D. 1 A.D. 100 A.D. 200 A.D. 300 A.D. 400 A.D. 500 on Chapter 5–Chapter Overview to preview chapter information. A.D.33 A.D.79 A.D. 180 A.D. 476 Jesus dies Pompeii destroyed Pax Romana Fall of the in Jerusalem in eruption of ends Roman Mount Vesuvius Empire Bust from Pompeii 147 Horatius at the bridge over the Tiber River Horatius at the Bridge ne of the great heroes of early Rome was Horatius, Why It Matters whose bravery in battle made him a legend. As the Ostory goes, Roman farmers, threatened by attack from the Courage, duty, determination— neighboring Etruscans, abandoned their fields and moved these were common words to many into the city of Rome, protected by the city’s walls. One weak Romans, who believed that it was their mission to rule nations and point in the Roman defense was a wooden bridge over the peoples. Whereas the Greeks had Tiber River. On the day of the Etruscan attack, Horatius was excelled in philosophy and the arts, on guard at the bridge. the Romans were practical people. A surprise attack by the Etruscans caused many Roman They knew how to govern, make troops to throw down their weapons and run. Horatius acted laws, and build roads that took promptly, urging them to make a stand at the bridge in order them to the ends of the known to protect Rome. As a last resort, he challenged the Roman world. Even after the Roman Empire troops to destroy the bridge while he made a stand at the disappeared, those same gifts con- outer end to give them more time. tinued to play an important role in At first, the Etruscans held back, astonished at the sight of the civilizations that came after. a single defender. Soon, however, they threw their spears at History and You Horatius is the lone figure who barred their way. Horatius blocked the only one of the famous Romans you spears with his shield and held his ground as the Etruscans will meet in this chapter. To keep advanced on foot, ready to overwhelm him. track of the key people in Roman Meanwhile, the Roman soldiers used the extra time to history, create and maintain a com- bring down the bridge. When Horatius heard the sound of puterized database that shows the the bridge crashing into the river behind him, he dove, fully name, time lived, and notable armed, into the water and swam. Despite the arrows that fell accomplishments of each person around him, he safely reached the other side. Rome had been you study in this chapter. saved by the courageous act of Horatius, a Roman who knew his duty and was determined to carry it out. 148 The Rise of Rome Guide to Reading Main Ideas People to Identify Reading Strategy • The Romans conquered the plain of Latins, Etruscans, Livy, Hannibal Categorizing Information As you read Latium, the Italian peninsula, and then this section, complete a chart like the the entire Mediterranean world. Places to Locate one shown below listing the government • Their practical political skills allowed the Rome, Sicily, Carthage, Alps officials and the legislative bodies of the Romans to maintain control over their Preview Questions Roman Republic. conquered lands. 1. How did the Etruscans impact the Officials Legislative Bodies Key Terms development of Roman civilization? republic, patrician, plebeian, consul, 2. How did the Roman Republic gain praetor control of the lands of the Mediter- ranean? Preview of Events ✦700 B.C. ✦600 B.C. ✦500 B.C. ✦400 B.C. ✦300 B.C. ✦200 B.C. ✦100 B.C. 650 B.C. 509 B.C. 146 B.C. 129 B.C. Etruscans control Romans overthrow Rome destroys Rome obtains first Rome Etruscans Carthage province in Asia Voices from the Past Roman history is the story of the Romans’ conquest of the area around Rome, then of Italy, and finally of the entire Mediterranean world. Judas Maccabeus, a Jewish mili- tary leader, said of the Romans: They had defeated Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight against them“ with one hundred twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very large army. He was crushed by them. Yet for all this not one of the Romans has put on a crown, but they have built for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred senators constantly deliberate concerning the people, to govern them well.” —Western Civilization, Margaret L. King, 2000 The Romans were conquerors, but they also governed, using republican forms that have been passed down to us. Judas Maccabeus The Land and Peoples of Italy Italy is a peninsula extending about 750 miles (1,207 km) from north to south. It is not very wide, averaging about 120 miles (193 km) across. The Apennine (A•puh•NYN) mountain range forms a ridge from north to south down the middle of Italy that divides west from east. Italy has some fairly large fertile plains ideal for farming. Most important are the Po River valley in the north; the plain of Latium, on which the city of Rome is located; and the region of Campa- nia, to the south of Latium. CHAPTER 5 Rome and the Rise of Christianity 149 The Impact of Geography In the same way as the where the Tiber could be easily crossed. Thus, it other civilizations we have examined, geography became a natural crossing point for north-south traf- played an important role in the development of fic in western Italy. All in all, Rome had a good cen- Rome. The Apennines are less rugged than the moun- tral location in Italy from which to expand. tain ranges of Greece and did not divide the Italian The Italian peninsula juts into the Mediterranean, peninsula into many small, isolated communities. making it an important crossroads between the west- Italy also had more land for farming than did Greece, ern and eastern Mediterranean Sea. Once Rome had enabling it to support a large population. unified Italy, it easily became involved in Mediter- The location of the city of Rome was especially ranean affairs. After the Romans had established favorable to early settlers. Located about 18 miles (29 their Mediterranean empire, governing it was made km) inland on the Tiber River, Rome had a way to the easier by Italy’s central location. sea. However, it was far enough inland to be safe from pirates. Because it was built on seven hills, it The Peoples of Italy Indo-European peoples was easily defended. In addition, it was situated moved into Italy during the period from about 1500 to 1000 B.C. We know little about these peoples, but we do know that one such group was the Latins, who lived in the region of Latium. These people spoke Italy, 500 B.C. Latin, which, like Greek, is an Indo-European lan- guage. They were herders and farmers who lived in Carthaginians settlements consisting of huts on the tops of Rome’s Etruscans hills. After about 800 B.C., other people also began Greeks 0 100 miles settling in Italy—the two most notable being the Latins 0 100 kilometers Azimuthal Equidistant projection Greeks and the Etruscans. S The Greeks came to Italy in large numbers during A L P R. the age of Greek colonization (750–550 B.C.). They set- Po tled in southern Italy and then slowly moved around N 45°N the coast and up the peninsula. The eastern two- A W E d thirds of Sicily, an island south of the Italian penin- r S ETRURIA ia T t sula, was also occupied by the Greeks. The Greeks i i b c e S had much influence on Rome. They cultivated olives r e R a . A and grapes, passed on their alphabet, and gave the P Corsica E Romans artistic and cultural models through their N LATIUM N sculpture, architecture, and literature. Rome IN ES The early development of Rome, however, was influenced most by the Etruscans, who were located CA M B C Sardinia P north of Rome in Etruria.