Monday:
Rome wouldn't help out it's ally because they were at war
Hannibal knew that North Africa was lost cause and so was Iberia so he went to Northern Italy
They ran into some scouts and they got away then reported to their general
Hannibal lost 72,000 men crossing the Alps
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
Wednesday:
Julius Caesar Video
Thursday:
Finish Julius Caesar Video
Second Triumvirate (Octavion, Caesar's adopted son; Marc Antony, a general; and Lepidus, a politician)
Octavion forced Lepidus to retire
Octavian went to war against Marc Antony and Cleopatra
Octavian defeated Antony/Cleopatra in a naval battle of Actium in 31 BC
Antony/Cleopatra committed suicide a year later
Octavian took the title "Augustus" which means "exalted one"
He would usher the "Pax Romana" (27 BC-180 AD) which means Roman Peace
this was the period of time where Rome was at it's peak
Glorified Rome with public buildings
Set up civil service within Rome
Gravitas- be discipline, have strength, and be loyal
90% of people farmed throughout the empire
Conspicuous Consumption- showing off that you are rich
Most people lived in poverty
Government provided grain every day to the poor
Slavery was a significant part of Roman life and economy
The Romans made more use of slaves than any previous civilization- 1/3 of the population
Most slaves were conquered people
Children born into slaves also became slaves
Some strong slaves became gladiators
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
Roman gods were very impersonal and practiced with very little
Rome took over the Jewish land of Israel around 63
Christianity taught that people could have a personal relationship with God which attracted many
Christianity broke off from Judaism and was based in the life and teachings of Jesus as well as his death and
As Jesus traveled around preaching many started following
Especially attracted the poor based on his
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
Rome's 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 These bishops said that Peter was the first pope the father or head of the christian church
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
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
Comments