Monday - Watched videos
Tuesday -
Roman Republic Falls apart
- Growing gap between rich and poor, income inequality
As Rome took over areas, it took in slaves as well
By 100 BC, slaves made up 33% of Rom's population
Small farmers couldn't compete with the rich landowners and had to sell land leacing them homeless
Two tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius, were murdered, after pushing for giving land to the poor
- Unloyal Military
As the Roman Empire grew in size and the Roman Republic grew unstable, Roman generals started seizing power and hired landless farmers to fight for them
Julius Caesar - Ruled 49-44 BC
Grew up in a patrician family
Father died when he was 16
Became the High Priest of Jupiter
Married Cornelia in 84 BC
Civil War in Rome and person Caesar backed lost
Due to this, Caesar joined the military to hide from Sulla, the new dictator
After Sulla's death, Caesar returned to Rome and went into politics
During his travels, was captured by pirates
Became Governor of Spain, a Roman province in 61-60 BC
In 60 BC Julius Caesar joined forces with Crassus, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular general
With their help, caesar was elected Consul in 59 BC
For the next ten years, these men dominated Rome as the first known triumvirate, a group of three rulers
After being Consul for a year, he became Governor of Gaul (France and Belgium)
Crassus was killed in battle and Pompey became jealous of Caesar's power and popularity so the Senate ordered Caesar to disband military and return to Rome
Caesar refused and instead crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BC and attacked Pompey's troops
Triumvirate falls apart as Pompey is dead and his troops are defeated
Caesar returned to Rome with support from the people and military and became dictator - 46 BC
In 44 BC, Caesar was named dictator for life
While dictator he - extended citizenship to the common people, made senate bigger, tried to pack the senate with friends and supporters from Italy, he helped the poor by creating jobs especially through the construction of new public buildings
Started colonies where people without land could own property
Increased pay for soldiers
Served just a year before he was assassinated
Friday -
Gladiator Contests
- Gov't put on to appease the poor
- Provided free of charge during holidays (150/yr by 250 AD)
- Fought in the Colosseum in Rome
- Animal vs animal, man vs animal, man vs man
Roman Religion
- Gov't and religion were linked
- Among the most important Roman gods and goddesses
Rise of Christianity
- Roman gods were very impersonal and practiced with very little emotion
- Rome took over the Jewish land of Israel around 63 BC
- Christianity taught that people could have a personal relationship with God which attracted many people
- Christianity broke off from Judaism and was based in the life and teachings of jesus as well as his death and resurrection
- As Jesus traveled around preaching many started following him
- Especially attracted the poor based on his teachings
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
- Paul an apostle stressed that Jesus was the son of God who died for peoples sins
- he also declared that Christianity should welcome all converts Jew or Gentile (non Jew)
Reasons why Christianity spread
- Embraced all people- men and women, enslaved persons, the poor and nobles
- Gave hope to powerless
- Appealed to those who were repelled by the extravagances of imperial Rome
- Offered a personal relationship with a loving God
- promised eternal life after death
Romes reaction
- Rome persecuted Christians as they did not worship the roman gods
- Many were crucified, burned or killed by wild animals in the circus arenas
- Roman emperor Constantine named Christianity one of the Roman Empires religions in 313 AD after winning a battle where he believed the Christian GOd intervened
- In 380 AD Roman Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the empires official religion
The Early Catholic Church
- a priest led each small group of Christians in each church
- A bishop, who was also a priest, supervised several local churches
- eventually every major city had its own bishop
- the apostle peter became first bishop of Rome
- According to tradition, Jesus referred to Peter as the "rock" on which the Christian church would be built
- as a result all priests and bishops traced their authority to him
- These bishops said that Peter was the first pope the father or head of the christian church
- whoever was bishop of Rome was also the leader of the whole church
Early Christian issues
- As time went on, there were growing disagreements between Christians in regards to beliefs
- the new testament was added to the Hebrew Old Testament to make the christian bible which helped unify Christians
- included the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) as well as the epistles of Paul
The Nicene Creed
- in 325 AD, Constantine further unified the teachings of Christianity
- In Nicaea (in turkey today) church leaders wrote the Nicene Creed, which defined the basic beliefs of the Church
The fall of the Roman Empire
- Historians generally agree that the end of the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius marked the end of two centuries of peace and prosperity (pax Romana) and the Roman empire
three main causes for the fall of Rome
- Internal problems and conflict
- Separation of the Roman Empire into East and West
- Outside invasions
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