Monday- Video
Tuesday- The Roman Empire
Roman republic falls apart, Why?
Growing gap between rich and poor- income inequality
As Rome took over areas, it took 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
Not loyal 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 came to power this way
Julius Caesar 49-44 BC
Grew up into a patrician family
Father died when he was 16
Became high priest of Jupiter
Married his wife Cornelia in 84 BC
Civil War in Rome and the person Caesar backed lost
Due to this, Caesar joined military to hide from Sulla, the new dictator
Fought in Asia and Cilicia
After Sulla’s death, Caesar returned to Rome and went into politics
During his travels, was captured by pirates
Became governor of Spain
Wednesday-
Video
Thursday- 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
Friday-
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 Romans) 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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