Monday: The forum post leaders talked about their stories. Reviewed Rome notes. Watched videos on the Punic Wars.
Tuesday: Finished our videos on the Punic Wars.
Wednesday: Took some notes and watched a Caesar video.
Thursday: Finished Caesar video. Took more notes on Rome.
Friday: Took Rome notes.
Third Punic War-149-146 BC
Rome went on the offensive and laid siege to Carthage
The Romans burned the city and 50,000 people were sold into slavery
With Carthage out of the picture, Rome would continue its conquests in the upcoming decades
Chapter 5.2: 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 has 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 farmer to fight for them
Julius Caesar came to power this way
Julius Caesar-Ruled 49-44 BC
VENI.VIDI.VICI=I came, I saw, I conquered
Resume
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 back last (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 B.C., Julius Caesar joined forces with Crassus, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular general
With their help, Caesar was elected consul in 59 B.C.
For the next ten years, these three men dominated Rome as a triumvirate, a group of three rulers
Were known as the first triumvirate
After being Consul for one year, became Governor of Gaul (France and Belgium) from 58-50 B.C.
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 supported 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%
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 Longinus were the two that killed Caesar
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), Mary Atony (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 in the “Pax Romana” (27 BC-180 AD) which means “Roman Peace”
This was the period of time where Rome was at it’s 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 within Rome
Paid workers to manage the affairs of government
Roman Life
Discipline, strength, and loyalty were stressed in Rome
People has gravitas that has 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 common
Government provided grain every day
Struggled for survival
Slavery was a significant part of Roman life and economy
The Romans made more use of slaves than any previous civilization-1/3 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, ser free, or put to death
Some strong slaves became gladiators
Gladiator Contest
Government put on to appease the poor
Provided free of charge during holidays (150/ year by 250 AD)
Fought in the Colosseum in Rome
Animal VS animal, man Vs animas, man vs man
Roman Religion
Government and religion were linked
The 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 on the life and teachings of Jesus as well his death and resurrection
As Jesus traveled around preaching, many people started following him
Especially attracted the poor bases on his teaching
“Blessed are th 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 Reactions
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 Empire 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 has 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 ws 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, and John) as well s the Epistle of Paul among other documents
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 (161-180 AD) 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 conflicts
Separation of the Roman Empire into EAst and West
- Outside invasions
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