Chapter 6 – Rome and Early Christianity

Chapter 6 – Rome and Early Christianity

Section 1 – The Foundations of Rome

A she-wolf suckles Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome

Reading Focus

• Where and how did Roman civilization develop?

• What led to Rome’s becoming a republic?

• What were the major events in Rome’s expansion?

Main Idea

From a small town on the banks of an Italian river, Rome grew to control the entire Mediterranean

region.

Section 1 – The Foundations of Rome

I. Roman Civilization Develops

The Seven Hills of Rome

A. Italy’s Geography

Italian Peninsula – situated in center of Med Sea. Rich soil, mild climate; Protected by mountains and sea

B. The Founding of Rome

1000s BC - Latins settled along Tiber River

753 BC - united to form Rome; prospered through trade

C. The Etruscans700s B.C. – Etruscans from northern Italy ruledRome

509 BC – Romans overthrew the Etruscans, established a republic

Tarquin the Proud was the last king of Rome. The story of the Rape of Lucretia was a popular tale which explained the downfall of Tarquin and Etruscans. Overcome with desire, Tarquin's son, Sextus, raped Lucretia. She told her husband what had happened and urged him to avenge her. She then took her own life, sparking a rebellion that brought about the end of Etruscan rule and the beginning of the Roman Republic.

II. Rome Becomes a Republic

Tarquin and Lucretia by Titian (1571)

A. Patricians and Plebeians

Patricians - aristocrats who controlled societyPlebeians - common people

A. Patricians and Plebeians

494 BC - Invaders threatened, plebeians refused to fight; Patricians forced to expand plebeian rights

The Plebian struggle to win more rights became known as the “Conflict of the Orders”

A. Patricians and Plebeians

New Plebeian rights:- elect officials (tribunes)- right to veto laws- Law of the Twelve Tables

The Twelve Tables on

display in the Roman Forum

B. Republican Government

Romans created an unwritten constitution and a three-part government

1. Senate300 members, advised officials, controlled finances, handled foreign relations

2. Assemblies

Citizens who voted on laws and elected officials

3. MagistratesIncluded consuls, censors, and praetors

Consuls PraetorCensor

a. Consuls

Elected for one year: chief executives and army commanders

b. Censors

Recorded people’s wealth and residence; filled Senate vacancies

c. Praetors

Judges and acting consuls; became military commanders or governors after term ended

B. Republican Government

System of checks and balances prevented any part from becoming too powerful

C. Life in the Republic

The Forum was Rome’s political center; also shopping and social center

C. Life in the Republic

Forum was between Palatine (where wealthy lived) and Capitoline hills (had grandest temples)

C. Life in the Republic

Proud of agrarian roots; farming and landownership noblest ways to make money

C. Life in the RepublicLegend of Cincinnatus – called from farm, made dictator, saved Rome, and returned to his fields

III. The Republic Expands

As population grew, Rome fought wars to expand territory

A. Military MightAll land-owning male citizens aged 17 to 46 required to serve in army during times of war

A. Military Might

Army was a disciplined, well-trained force, organized into legions

Roman Legion: 4500 to 6000 men

A. Military MightBackbone of legion were the centurions, officers who commanded 100 men

B. The Conquest of ItalyBy mid-200s BC, Rome controlled all theItalian Peninsula south of the Rubicon

B. The Conquest of ItalyRome aided allies in Sicily, causing conflictwith Carthage

C. The Punic WarsStruggle for dominance resulted in three conflicts lasting 80 years – the Punic Wars

C. The Punic WarsFirst Punic War began in 264 BC; lasted 23 years

C. The Punic Wars

Rome built a navy, used land warfare tactics at sea – rammed and boarded Carthaginian ships

C. The Punic WarsAfter 23 years, Carthage sued for peace; were forced to pay reparations and give up Sicily

C. The Punic Wars218 BC - Second Punic War began; Hannibal assembled an army of infantry,cavalry, and elephants

C. The Punic WarsMarched across Alps into Italy; spent 15 years raiding Italian countryside

C. The Punic WarsRome invaded Africa and threatened Carthage; Hannibal ordered home to defend the city

C. The Punic Wars202 BC - Scipio defeated Hannibal at the battleof Zama; Carthage lost its power

Victory of the Roman Scipio Africanus over the Carthaginian Hannibal. It was the

last and decisive battle of the Second Punic War

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus

(236 - 184 BC)

C. The Punic Wars149 -146 BC: Third Punic War - Rome declared war against, besieged, and then destroyed Carthage

"The Sack of Carthage"

D. The Conquest of GreeceMacedonia, Persia, and Egypt fought constantly; Greeks became Rome’s ally

D. The Conquest of GreeceMacedonia, Persia defeated, made Roman provinces; Romans then annexed Greece

Rome added Spain, Carthage, Macedonia and Greece, after the Punic and Macedonian Wars

D. The Conquest of GreeceRomans adopted elements of Greek culture, especially art, architecture, and religion

Discus Thrower (Discobolus), Roman copy of Greek bronze by Myron

(c. 485 - 425 BC)

D. The Conquest of GreeceBy 133 BC, Rome was the supreme power inthe Mediterranean world

D. The Conquest of GreeceConquered peoples became subjects of Rome,not citizens or allies