chapter 5 rome and the rise of christianity. the land and peoples of italy italy is a thin...
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Chapter 5Rome and the Rise of Christianity
The Land and Peoples of Italy
Italy is a thin peninsula- only 120 miles across
Apennine mountain range form a ridge north to south- dividing west from east Not as rugged as Greece so did not isolate communities
Some large fertile plains ideal for farming More farms supported a large population
Rome’s location on the Tiber River ideal- good central location to expand Gave route to the sea but far enough inland to be safe from pirates Built on seven hills so easy to defend
The Land and Peoples of Italy
Peninsula juts into Mediterranean Sea- important crossroads between east and west
Indo-Europeans moved into Italy from about 1500 BC-1000 BC Little is know about them but the group called Latins lived in region of
Latium & spoke Greek
Latins were headers and farmers who lived in settlements on the tops of Rome’s hills
After 800 BC other people also began settling in Italy- the Greeks and Etruscans
The Land and Peoples of Italy
Greeks came to Italy in large numbers during age of Greek colonization Started in south and migrated up the peninsula Also occupied Sicily
Greeks had influence on the people of Rome Cultivated olives and grapes, passed on alphabet and gave the Romans artistic
and cultural models though their sculpture, architecture and literature
Etruscans most influenced the early development of Rome Located in the north of Rome in Etruria Came to control Rome and most of Latium after 650 BC
Etruscans found Rome a village and turned it into a city Romans adopted their dress- toga
First Punic War Phoenicians founded Carthage around 800 BC on coast of N. Africa
By 3rd ce had enormous trading empire in Western Mediterranean- largest and richest state in the area
Rome’s first war with Carthage in 264 BC
Presence of Carthaginians in Sicily made Romans fearful Romans and Carthaginians sent armies to Sicily- both determined to
control Sicily
Because Romans a land power realized could not win war without navy Built a large fleet
First Punic War After long struggle Roman fleet defeat Carthaginian navy and
war ended Rome gained control over many sea trade routes
241 BC Carthage gave up all rights to Sicily & paid a fine to Romans Sicily became first Roman province
Carthage vowed revenge and added new lands in Spain to make up for loss of Sicily
Second Punic War Hannibal- greatest Carthaginian general
Hannibal brought war to Rome Entered Spain and moved east across Alps 46,000 men, horses and 37 battle elephants
Alps took a toll on troops-many elephants did not survive
216 BC Romans made mistake of meeting Hannibal head-on at Cannae Romans lost an army of almost 40,000 men but refused to surrender
Second Punic War Rome recovered but Hannibal roamed Italy BUT did not have men
nor equipment to attack the major cities Rome began to reconquer cities taken by Hannibal
Sent troops to Spain and by 206 BC pushed Carthaginians out of Spain
Rome invaded Carthage rather than fighting Hannibal in Italy Forced Hannibal to return
Battle of Zama (202 BC) Romans crushed Hannibal’s forces and war was over Spain became Roman province
Third Punic War 50 years later Romans fought 3rd and final battle with Carthage
For years many important Romans called for the destruction of Carthage
146 BC Carthage destroyed Roman soldiers burned and demolished city Inhabitants sold into slavery and became Roman province called Africa
During struggle with Carthage Rome also battled Hellenistic states By 129 BC Macedonia, Greece and Pergamum under Roman control
End of the Roman Republic
Roman Senate and Growing Unrest
Senate had become the real governing body of the Roman state Members mostly from landed aristocracy Remained senators for life and held chief offices
Senate directed wars, took control of foreign and domestic policy and dealt with financial affairs
Controlled by small circle of wealthy and powerful families
BUT backbone of state and army was always the farmers Over time many farmers unable to compete with large wealthy
landowners and lost their land
Roman Senate and Growing Unrest
By taking over state-owned land and buying out small peasant owners, landed aristocracy developed large estates that used slave labor
As a result- many small farmers drifted to cities to form large class of landless poor
Aristocrats like Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus urged council of plebs to pass land-reform bills that called for gov’t to take back public land held by large landowners and give it to landless Romans Many senators furious and not willing to give up personal land
133 BC group on senators killed Tiberius and his brother Gaius Attempts by the brothers to bring reforms actually opened the door to more
instability and violence
New Role for the Army 107 BC Marius became consul and began to recruit armies in a new
way
Recruited volunteers from urban and rural poor that owned no land Recruited by promising them land
Volunteers swore oath to general NOT Roman state because Marius created army not under gov’t control
Generals forced into politics to get laws passed that would provide the land needed for their veterans
New Role for the Army Marius left a powerful legacy: new system of military recruitment
that placed power in the hands of individual generals
Lucius Cornelius Sulla was next general to take advantage of new military system Senate gave him control of war in Asia Minor
Council of plebs tried to give command back to Marius and civil war broke out Sulla won, seized Rome in 82 BC and began reign of terror to wipe
out all opposition Restored power to hands of Senate and eliminated most of the
powers of popular assemblies
Sulla hoped to create a firm foundation to restore traditional Roman republic governed by a powerful Senate
First Triumvirate For next 50 years Roman history was characterized by civil wars as
people competed for power.
Triumvirate: government by three people with equal power 60 BC 3 men joined together to form first triumvirate
3 men emerged as victors of the civil war & combined wealth and power allowed them to dominate the political scene Crassus: known as richest man in Rome Pompey: military hero when he returned from a successful command in
Spain Julius Caesar: also had military command in Spain
First Triumvirate Pompey commanded Spain, Crassus commanded Syria, Caesar
commanded Gaul (France)
Crassus killed in battle in 53 BC- left only 2 men in power Fearing Caesar’s popularity Senators decided he should step down and let
Pompey rule
Caesar refused to step down- chose to keep his army and enter Italy illegally by crossing the Rubicon River
Began to march to Rome- created civil war between Pompey and Caesar Caesar defeated Pompey and gained complete control
First Triumvirate 45 BC- Caesar officially made a dictator (temporary position only
used in emergencies)
Realized need for reform so began making changes Gave land to the poor Made the Senate larger by filling with his supporters (but made weaker) Granted citizenship to his supporters in the provinces Introduced solar calendar
Caesar also had plans for building projects and military campaigns
Many Senators thought he had plans to continue as dictator so in 44 BC they assassinated him
Second Triumvirate New power struggle followed Caesar’s death
3 men joined forces to form Second Triumvirate Octavian: Caesar’s heir and grandnephew (Mark) Antony: Caesar’ ally and assistant Lepidus: commander of Caesar’s cavalry
Within a few years Roman empire divided in 2- thought they could work together but eventually came into conflict Octavian took West & Antony took East
Second Triumvirate Antony allied himself with Egyptian queen Cleopatra IV
At Battle of Actium in Greece (31 BC) Octavian’s forces destroyed Antony and Cleopatra’s Both fled to Egypt where they committed suicide a year later
Octavian, at age 32, stood supreme over the roman world.
Period from 31 BC to 14 AD came to be know as ‘Age of Augustus’
Religion in the Roman Empire
Augustus brought back traditional festivals and ceremonies to revive the Roman state religion
Official state religion focused on worship of a variety of gods and goddesses (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Mars)
Beginning with Augustus emperors were made gods by the Roman Senate Created support for the emperors
Roman Religion Romans believed that observing proper rituals by state
priests brought them into a good relationship with gods Guaranteed peace and prosperity
Also believed that creating an empire meant that they earned the favor of the gods
Romans were tolerant of other religions Allowed the worship of native gods and goddesses throughout
their provinces
Judaism in the Empire 6 A.D- Judea was made a Roman province placed under the
direction of an official called a procurator
Unrest was widespread in Judea but Jews differed among themselves about Roman rule Priest named Sadducees favored cooperating with Rome while the
scholar Pharisees believed that religious observation would protect them from Roman influence
The Essenes waited for God to save Israel from oppression while the Zealots called for a violent overthrow of Roman rule
Jewish revolt began in 66 AD but were crushed by the Romans 4 years later & Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed
Problems and Upheavals
Marcus Aurelius, last of 5 good emperors, died in 180 AD and a period of conflict, confusion and civil wars followed
A military government under Severan rulers restored order After the Severan rulers more disorder
For almost 50 years the throne was occupied by whoever had military strength to seize it During this period there were 22 emperors- most died violently
At same time empire was troubled by series of invasions Sassanid Persians in the east and Germanic tribe poured into Balkans, Gaul,
Spain
Problems and Upheavals
Invasions, civil wars and plagues almost caused an economic collapse in the 3rd century
Labor shortage caused by the plague affected both military recruiting and the economy
Decline in: Trade and small industry Farm crop ravaged by invaders
Armies were needed more than ever but financial strains made it difficult to enlist and pay more soldiers
By mid 3rd ce state had to hire Germans to fight Did not understand Roman traditions and had little loyalty to empire
or emperors
Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine
End of 3rd and beginning of 4th centuries Roman Empire gained a new lease on life through Diocletian and Constantine
New state formed: Late Roman Empire which had new gov’t structure, rigid economic and social system and new religion of Christianity
Diocletian believed the empire had grown too large for a single ruler so he divided it into four units each with their own ruler
His military power enabled him to hold ultimate authority
Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine
Constantine continued and expanded policies of Diocletian
His biggest project was the construction of a new capital city in the east called Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey)
Constantinople developed for defensive reasons Its strategic location provided protection of the eastern frontier Became center of Eastern Roman Empire
Both emperors reforms enlarged army and civil service- drained public funds Population not growing so tax could not pay for the bureaucracy and army Roman money began to lose value
Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine
To fight inflation Diocletian issued a price edict in 301 that set wage and price controls for the empire- it failed
Emperors issued edicts forcing workers to remain in their vocation to ensure the tax base and keep empire going despite the labor shortage Certain jobs became hereditary
Overall economic and social policies of Diocletian and Constantine were based on control or coercion Temporarily successful but in long run they stifled the vitality need
to revive the poor economy
Germanic Tribes Constantinople remained capital of Eastern Roman Empire but
Western Roman Empire came under increasing pressure from Germanic tribes
Huns from Asia put pressure on Germanic Visgoths- Visgoths then moved south and west crossing the Danube River into Roman territory Settled as Roman allies until they revolted at Adrianople in 378
In 410 Visgoths sacked Rome
Vandals poured into southern Spain and Africa- crossed into Italy from Africa and sacked Rome in 455
476 Western Roman Empire fell but Eastern Roman Empire continued to thrive
Germanic Tribes Constantinople remained capital of Eastern Roman Empire but
Western Roman Empire came under increasing pressure from Germanic tribes
Huns from Asia put pressure on Germanic Visgoths- Visgoths then moved south and west crossing the Danube River into Roman territory Settled as Roman allies until they revolted at Adrianople in 378
In 410 Visgoths sacked Rome
Vandals poured into southern Spain and Africa- crossed into Italy from Africa and sacked Rome in 455
476 Western Roman Empire fell but Eastern Roman Empire continued to thrive
Theories Theories have been proposed to explain the decline and fall of
the Roman empire: Christianity’s emphasis on a spiritual kingdom weakened Roman
military virtues Traditional Roman values declined as non-Italians gained prominence
in the empire Lead poisoning through leaden water pipes and cups caused a mental
decline in the population Plague wiped out one-tenth of the population Rome failed to advance technologically due to slavery Rome could not create a workable political system
May be elements of truth in each theory but no single explanation can explain the fall of a great empire
Facts about Gladiators Word gladiator originally meant ‘swordsman’ and comes from Latin word
for sword.
First gladiators performed at funerals.
Games were fought to the death because the belief was that the dead man should have armed fighters accompany him into the afterlife
Emperor Titus inaugurated the Coliseum in A.D. 800 with 100 days of games.
Fight between men but also between animals
Criminals, including women, were sometimes sent into the arena to be killed by wild animals
Gladiatorial games and other forms of public entertainment fulfilled political need by keeping minds of the idle masses off any political unrest