Monday- watched videos
Tuesday- notes
Wednesday- notes and Julius Caesar video
Thursday- finished video and notes
Friday- watched Gladiator clip and notes
The 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 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
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
Veni. Vidi. Vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered
Grew in a patrician family (rich)
Father died when he was 16
Became the High Priest of Jupiter
Married Cornelia in 84 BC
Civil War in Rome and the person Caesar backed lost
Due to this, Caesar joined the Military to hide from Sulla, the new dictator
Fought in Asia and Cilicia
Julius Caesar’s Resume
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, a Pompey, a popular general
With her help, Caesar was elected consul in 59 BC
For the next 10 years, these three men dominated Rome as a Triumvirate, 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
By 46 BC, Pompey was dead and his troops defeated
Caesar returned to Rome with support from the people and the military and became dictator- 46 BC
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 the poor by creating jobs, especially through the construction of new public buildings
Stated colonies where people without land could own property
Increased pay for soldiers
Reformed the Roman calendar
Julius vs Gregorian Calendar
The Julian calendar was the calendar from 46 to 1582 when the Gregorian Calendar 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 of the year between Julian (365.25 days) and Gregorian (365.2425 days) is 0.002%n
Caesar’s Assassination- 44 BC
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
The Second Triumvirate- 43-33 BC
Civil War broke out after Caesar’s death
Roman Republic was now completely gone at this point
Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew/adopted son), Marc Antony (general), and Lepidus (politician) ruled Rome for 10 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 in 30 BC
Augustus and the Roman Empire- 27BC- 14AD
Octavian took the title “Augustus” which means “exalted one”
He would usher in the “Pax Romana” which means “Roman Peace”
Period of time where Rome was at its peak
Augustus’ Accomplishments
Stabilized the frontier
Glorified Rome with awesome public buildings
Created a system of government that survived for centuries
Set up civil service with Rome
Paid workers to manage the affairs of government
Roman Life
Discipline, strength, and loyalty were stressed in Rome
People had gravitas that had these characteristics
90% of people farmed throughout the empire
The rich lived by conspicuous consumption
Most people lived in poverty
High unemployment
Lived in cramped tenements- fires
Government provided grain every day
- Struggled for survival
Slavery
Slavery was a significant part of Roman life and economy
Romans made up more use of slaves than any previous civilization- ⅓ of the population
Most slaves were conquered people: included men, women, 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
Gladiator Contests
Gov’t put on to appease the poor
Provided free of charge during holidays (150/year by 250 AD)
Fought in Colosseum in Rome
Animal vs animal, man vs animal, man vs man
Roman Religion
Government and Religion were linked
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 on the life and teaching of Jesus as well as his death and resurrection
As Jesus traveled around preaching, many people started following him
Especially attracted the poor base 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 people’s 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 the 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 empire’s official religion
The Early Christian (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 the 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
Comments