Nov 14-18

Monday: we watched videos the whole class period

Tuesday:

Continuing Rome 5-2

The Roman Republic Falls Apart

Why
- 1. 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 Rome's population
  - Small farmers couldn't compete with the rich landowners and had to sell land leaving them homeless
  - Two tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius, were murdered, after pushing for giving land to the poor
- 2. 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

Background

Grew up in a patrician family
father died when he was 16
became high priest of Jupiter
married Cornelia in 84 BC
Civil war in Rome and the person Caesar backed lost (discuss issue with marriage)
Due to this, Caesar joined the military to hide from Sulla, the new dictator
fought in Asia and Cilicia
After Sullas 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 three men dominated Rome as a Triumvirate, a group of three rulers
Was known as the first Triumvirate
After being Consul for one year, became Governor of Gaul (France and Belgium) from 58-50 BC
Caesar's power and popularity concerned Crassus and Pompey back in Rome

First Triumvirate Falls apart

Crassus was killed in a battle in Syria so he was out of the picture
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
46 BC Pompey was dead and his troops defeated
Caesar returned to Rome with support from the People and the military and became dictator
Civil war- war within the country between 2 opposing groups
in 44 BC Caesar was named dictator for life

Caesar as Dictator

Served just a year before he was assassinated
Granted Roman citizenship to many people in the provinces
Expanded the senate, adding friends and supporters from Italy and other regions
Helped 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
Reformed the roman calendar

Julian vs Gregorian Calender

The Julian calendar was the calendar from 46 BC 1582 when the Gregorian Claender took its place
The Gregorian Calendar was introduced and named after Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and is still used today
The difference in the average length

Wednesday: Watched a big video

Caesars assassination

Due to helping the middle and lower class, Caesar made enemies with the wealthy class including many in the Senate
Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus were the two that killed Caesar

Thursday:

The second Triumvirate- 43 BC- 33 BC

Civil war broke out after Caesar's death
The Roman Republic was now completely gone at this point
Octavian (Caesar's grandnephew/adopted son), Mark Antony (a general), and Lepidus (a politician) ruled Rome for ten years
Fell apart eventually due to jealousy and violence
- Octavian forced Lepidus to retire
- Octavian went to war against Marc Antony (With Queen Cleopatra from Egypt)
- Octavian defeated Antony/Cleopatra in a naval battle of Actium in 31 BC
- Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide afterwards

Augustus and the Roman Empire- 27 BC- 14 AD

Octavian took the title "Augustus" which means exalted one
He would usher in the "Pax Romana" which means roman peace
- This was a period of time where Rome was at its peak

Augustus Accomplishments

Stabilized the frontier
Glorified Rome with awesome public buildings
Created a system of Gov't that survived for centuries
set up civil service within Rome
- Paid workers to manage the affairs of Gov't

Roman life

Discipline, strength, and loyalty were stressed in Rome
People have Gravitas that had these characteristics
90% of the people farmed throughout the empire
The rich lived by Conspicuous consumption- let people know I'm rich, I'm cool, I have the biggest house, tried to show off your wealth
most people lived in poverty
- High unemployment
- Lived in cramped tenements- fire common
- Gov't provided grain every day
- struggled for survival
Slavery was 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 peoples and included men, women, and children
Children born to slaves also became slaves
Slaves could be bought and sold as they were seen as property
they could be punished, rewarded, set free, or put to death
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 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

Blogs

Nov 14-18

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