Paul of Tarsus
-55 CE Roman guards transported prisoner from port of Caesarea of Palestine to city of Rome -Party boarded ship with grain and 276 passengers -Ship encountered severe storm -For 2 weeks crew and passengers worked to keep the ship afloat -Ship eventually reached the island of Malta where the storm waves destroyed the ship -Most of the people survived including Paul who spent 3 months on Malta before getting on another ship to Rome
Christianity
-Sect of Judaism accepted only by few people who believed Jesus of Nazareth was savior of the Jewish Community -mid first century CE Christianity attracted many converts throughout the Mediterranean basin -Paul was a devote Jew from Anatolia who accepted Christian teachings and became a missionary looking for converts from outside as well as inside the Jewish community -Crowd of Paul's enemies attacked him in Jerusalem when he promoted Christianity -Disturbance became so big that Roman imperial government authorities intervened to restore order
Roman Empire
-Established close links between other Mediterranean regions -As they conquered other lands the Romans enabled merchants, missionaries, and others to travel throughout the Mediterranean basin and parts of southwest Asia -The early Christians encountered harsh opposition and persecution from Roman officials -Eventually Christianity became official religion of the Roman empire
Kingdom to Republic
- Founded in 8th century BCE the city of Roman was originally a small state ruled by a single king -In the late 6th century BCE the city's aristocrats ended the monarchy and created a republic -The Roman republic survived for more than 500 years -Rome was dominant power in Mediterranean basin
Romulus and Remus
-Twins-Almost did not survive infancy because their evil uncle abandoned them by the flooded Tiber river expecting them to drown or die from exposure -She-wolf found them and nursed them to health -In 753 BCE Romulus founded Rome and established himself as the first king
Etruscans
-Italy underwent rapid political and economic development -dynamic people who dominated much of Italy between the 8th and 5th centuries BCE -Migrated to Italy from Anatolia -Built thriving cities and established political and economic alliances between their settlements -Manufactured high-quality bronze and iron goods and worked gold and silver into jewelry -Etruscan merchants drew a large volume of traffic to Rome
Establishment of Republic
-509 BCE Roman nobility got rid of the last Etruscan king -Replaced with aristocratic republic
Roman Forum
-Political and civic center filled with temples and public buildings where leading citizens tended to government business
Consuls
-Elected by an assembly dominated be hereditary aristocrats and wealthy classes (Patricians) -Senate advised the consuls and ratified all major decisions -Constant tension between the wealthy classes and the common people (Plebeians)
Conflicts between Patricians and Plebeians
-Relations between the classes became strained that the plebeians threatened to secede from Rome and establish a rival settlement -The patricians granted plebeians the right to elect officials (tribunes) who represented their interests in the Roman government -Originally plebeians chose 2 tribunes but then that changed to 10 -Problems continued to rise and eventually broadened to the base of political participation -In early 5th century Plebeians threatened to secede Plebeians were granted right to elect Tribunes -2-10 tribunes elected -Had power to intervene in politics -Given veto power
The legend
-Aeneas, a refugee from Troy, escapes during the Trojan War -Migrates to Italy - and Remus were left by the Tiber River to die -"Suckled" by a she-wolf -753 B.C.E. Romulus founded the city of Rome and became the first king
The real story
-Indo-European origins -Adopted agriculture -Tribal structure of society
The Etruscans
-Lived in Italy 8th-5th centuries B.C.E. -Probably from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) -Built cities -Declined -Greeks attacked at sea -Gauls attacked on land
Kingdom of Rome
-Influenced by Etruscans -Monarchy like Etruscans -Many of the first kings were Etruscans -Provided paved streets, public buildings, defensive walls -Rome was well-situated for trade -Easy access to Mediterranean via Tiber River -Protected because it was not on the coast
Roman Republic
-509 B.C.E. Etruscan king deposed -Aristocratic republic created -Built public Forum -Government -2 consuls (presidents) -Elected by Patricians -Served 1 year terms -Senate -All early leaders were wealthy Patricians
Roman Republic Expansion
-Established military colonies -Often exempted conquered peoples from taxation -Allowed self-rule in a lot of regions -Had right to trade / marry Roman citizens -Possibility of gaining citizenship -Had to provide soldier
Punic Wars
-264 - 146 B.C.E. -First Punic War 264-241 BCE -Fought over Sicily -Rome won -Second Punic War 218 BCE -General Hannibal attacked from North -Crossed Alps on elephants -Had to return to Carthage - Rome won -Third Punic War 149 - 146 BCE -Rome attacked/ Burned Carthage -Rome Won
Imperial Expansion and Domestic Problems
-Acquired lands fell to wealthy -Elites organized plantations known as LATIFUNDIAS -Enjoyed economies of scale (Think Wal-Mart) -Gracchi Brothers -Tiberius and Gaius -Worked to limit individual landholding -Both were assassinated
Civil War
-Generals recruited their own private armies from landless & urban poor -Men were intensely loyal to generals, who fed them -In 87 BCE Gaius Marius (who advocated redistribution of land) marched on Rome Sulla, an aristocrat, gained control after his death -Killed 10,000 people during his reign of terror -Conservative government weakened power of the poor
Julius Caeser
-Nephew of Marius -Liberal, favored social reform -Led Roman army in conquering Gaul (France) -In 46 B.C.E. he named himself Dictator for life -Centralized power -Redistributed land to his men and supporters -Large-scale building projects for employment -Extended Roman citizenship to imperial provinces -Was attacked and killed in 44 B.C.E. in the forum
Augustus
-13 years of civil unrest after Caesar's death -Octavian (Augustus) was the nephew/son of Caesar -Defeated Marc Antony & Cleopatra in 31 B.C.E. -Ruled for 45 years
Augustus' Government
-Monarchy disguised as a republic -Centralized political and military power -Kept traditional offices -Allowed elites to participate in government -Reorganized government -Standing army loyal to him -Appointed people loyal to him -Head of everything in government
Effects of Expansion
-Sparsely populated areas quickly grew w/ Roman soldiers, merchants, diplomats and governors -Stimulated local economies -Cities emerged -Paris -London -Toledo
Pax Romana
-Within Roman boundaries, long era of peace -1st century C.E. - middle of 3rd century C.E. -Facilitated trade and communication
Roman Roads
-Deep roads -Curbs -Drainage -Paved w/ stone -Large enough for 2 way traffic -Milestones -Stations for couriers
Roman Law
-Twelve Tables -450 B.C.E. -Argued: -Defendant innocent until proven guilty -Defendants could challenge accusers before a judge -Unfair laws should be repealed
Trade and Agriculture
-Greece -Olives and vines -Syria & Palestine -Fruits, nuts, wool -Gaul -Grain, copper, vines Italy -Pottery, glassware, bronze
Mediterranean Trade
-Roman military and naval power protected Mediterranean Sea -Called it "Mare nostrum" -"Our Sea"
City of Rome
-Statues, pools, monuments -Temples, bathhouses, public buildings -Aqueducts brought in fresh water -Underground sewers
Entertainment
-Circuses -Oval structures for chariot races -Circus Maximus sat 250,000 people -Colosseum -Gladiators -Humans & wild animals
Pater Families
-Patriarchal tradition of eldest male ruling family -Women had some power within the home, especially in wealthy families -Pater Familias had authority to: -Arrange marriages -Punish family members -Sell relatives into slavery -Execute family
"Bread and Circuses" 1st Century B.C.E.
-Many poor farmers moved into city -Often unemployed, they would riot or join personal armies -Imperial authorities tried to distract them with "Bread and Circuses" -Subsidized grain -Spectacular entertainment
Slavery in Roman Empire
-2nd Century C.E. 1/3 of population of Roman empire enslaved -Spartacus led the most famous slave rebellion in 73 B.C.E. -Chained together to work on Latifundia -Conditions better in the cities -House slaves -Tutors Some urban slaves manumitted at age 30
Roman Religions
-Influenced by the Greeks -Renamed Greek gods / goddesses -Stoicism -Cicero followed Stoic values -Individuals must live in accordance w/ nature and reason -Religions of Salvation -Sense of purpose and optimism for the future
Mithaism
-Zoroastrian mythical god -Identified w/ sun and light -Romans redeveloped Mithras as a god of strength, courage and discipline -Popular among military -Beliefs -Human life divine -Moral behavior -Rewarded w/ reunion w/ Mithras for believers
Cult of Isis
-Allowed both men and women followers -Most popular religion of salvation prior to Christianity -Egyptian goddess was benevolent and protective
Jews and the Empire
-From 10th century B.C.E. -Jews were first monotheistic religion -Only recognized Yahweh as divine -Refused to worship any other gods, emperors, etc.
The Essenes
-A sect of Judaism -Wrote the "Dead Sea Scrolls," discovered in 1947 -Strict moral code -Baptism by water -Community meals -Searched for a savior
Jesus of Nazarth
-A Jew -Peaceful, taught devotion to God and love for fellow man -Alarmed Romans because he taught "the kingdom of God is at hand" -Executed around 30 C.E. -Became more popular after death -"Christ" means "anointed one"
Christianity
-Paul of Tarsus was disciple of Jesus -Appealed his case -Traveled to spread the word of Jesus -Argued that faith must come before individual or family