Monday
Watched Videos on the Punic Wars
Tuesday
Watched Videos on the Punic Wars
The Roman Empire
The Roman Republic Falls apart
Why
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 came to power this way
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 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 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 10 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 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, he was named dictator for life
Caesar of 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
Started Colonies where people without land could own property
Increased pay for soldiers
Reformed the Roman calendar
Julian vs Gregorian Calendar
The Julian calendar was the calendar from 46 BC 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%
Wednesday
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
Watched Video
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), Marc 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 in 30 BC
Augustus and the Roman Empire 27 BC 14 AD
Octavian took the title “Augustus” which means “exalted one”
He would usher the “Pax Romana” (27 BC- 180 AD) which means “roman peace”
This is the period of time where Rome was at it’s peak
Augustus’ Accomplishments
Stabilized the frontier
Glorified Rome with awesome public buildings
Created system of government that survived for centuries
Set up civil service within 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 characters
90% of people farmed throughout the empire
The rich lived by conspicuous consumption
If you’re rich you’re going to make sure everyone knows you’re rich
Most people lived in poverty
Very high unemployment
Lived in cramped tenements- fires common
Government provided grain everyday
Struggled for survival
Slavery was a significant part of Roman life and economy
The Romans made more use of slaves than any previous civilization - ⅓ of the population
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
Government put on to appease the poor
provided free of charge during holidays 150 per year by 250 AD
fought in the Colosseum
Animals vs. animal, man vs. animals, man vs. man
Roman Religion
Government and religion were linked
Among the most important Roman gods and goddesses were:
Jupiter, father of the gods
Juno, Jupiter’s wife, who watched over women
The rise of Christianity
Roman gods were very impersonal and practiced with very litte 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
Broke off from Judaism and was based on the life and teachings of Jesus as well as his death and resurrection
as Jesus traveled around preaching, many people starting following him
Especially attracted the poor based on his teaching
Paul an apostle, stressed that Jesus was the son of God who died for people's sin
He alo declared that Christianity should welcome all converts, Jew or Gentile
Reasons why It spread
embraced all people- men, women, enslaved, 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 persectued Christian as they did not worship the ROman gods
many were crucified, burned, or killed by wild animals in the circus areanas
Roman Emperor Constantines named Chiristianity one of the Roman Empires religions in 313 AD after winning battle where he belived the Christian God interviened
In 380 AD, Roman Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the empire's official religion
The Early Christian(catholic) CHurch
The Early Christian(catholic) CHurch
A preist led each small group of Christians in each church
a bishop, who was aslo 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
Early Christian Issues
As time went on there were growing disagreements between christians in regards to belief
the New Testament was added to the Hebrew Old Testament to make the Christians bible which helped unify Christians
iNcluded the four Gospels as well as the Epistles of Paul among other documents
The Niece Creed
In 325 AD Constantine furthered unified the teachings of Christianity
In Nicaea church leaders wrote the Nience Creed, which defined the basic beliefs f the Church
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Historians generally agree that the end of the regien of the emperor Marcus Aurelius(161-180 AD) marked the end of the two centuries of peoce and prosperity and the Roman Empire
Three Main Causes for the Fall of Rome
Internal problems and conflicts
seperation of the Roman Empire into East and West
outside invasions
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