Chapter 6 Review
Ancient Rome and The Rise of
Christianity
Section 1
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Geography and Peoples of Itlay
Rome began as a small city-state in
Italy and ended up ruling the entire
Mediterranean world. Because of its
geography Italy was much easier to
unify then Greece.
Italy has the advantage of broad fertile
plains, both in the north under the
shadow of the alps and in the west.
The Etruscans ruled much of central
Italy including Rome itself. Roman
learned a lot form their civilization:
alphabet, learned to use the arch in
building, and engineering techniques.
The Roman Republic
The Romans drove out their Etruscans
ruler in 509 B.C. known as the
founding of the roman state.
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The Romans set up a new government
where officials were chosen by the
people called a republic. They thought
it would keep any individual from
gaining too much power.
The senate was the most powerful
governing body each year the senators
elected two consuls. In the event of a
war the senate might choose a dictator
Cincinnatus organized an army that led
the Romans to victory over the
attacking enemy
The laws of the twelve tables made it
possible for the first time for plebeians
to appeal a judgment handed down by
a patrician judge
Plebeians forced the senate to choose
plebeian as consuls, appoint plebeians
to other high offices and finally to open
the senate itself to plebeians.
Continuation of Section 1
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Roman society
The male head had absolute power, the
women has to do what he said. She
was loving, dutiful, dignified and
strong.
In later Roman times many women
worked in businesses but most worked
at home raising their families. Over
centuries they began to gain male
powers.
Girls and boys learned to read and
write
Romans preyed to Neptune, god of the
sea
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Expansion in italy
Armies expanded roman power across
Italy they conquered the Etruscans and
then the Greek city-states in the south
270 B.C. tom controlled most of the
Italian peninsula
Roman commanders mixed rewards
with harsh punishments.
Conquered peoples had to
acknowledge roman leadership pay
taxes and supply the soldiers for the
roman army.
Slowly Italy began to unite under
roman rule
Section 2
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From Republic to Empire-Winning an Empire
Rome's conquest of the Italian peninsula brought it into contact with carthage, a city
state in the northern coast of Africa.
Between 264 B.C. and 146 B.C. Rome fought three wars against carthage, Punic wars.
Rome defeated carthage in the first war and won Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia.
Carthinians came back winning battle after battle for 15 years but wasn’t able to
capture Rome itself. Romans came back.
In the third Punic war Rome completely destroyed carthage. They were now masters
of the western Mediterranean.
One by one Macedonia Greece and parts of Asia minor surrendered and became
Roman provinces.
Conquests and control of busy trade routes brought incredible riches into Rome.
As the Romans conquered more and more lands, they forced people captured in war
to work as slaves on the latifundia.
Many farmers fell into debt and had to sell their land because of the slaves.
As the gap between rich and poor widened, angry mobs began to riot.
Continuation of Section 2
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Two young patricians brothers named Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus were among the
first to attempt reform.
Tiberius elected tribune in 133 B.C. called on the state to distribute land to poor
farmers
Gaius elected tribune 10 years later, sought a wider range of reforms including the
use of public funds to buy grain to feed the poor.
They were killed in waves of street violence set off by senators and their hired thugs.
Decline of the republic
Unable to resolve its problems peacefully Rome was plunged into a serious of civil
wars.
The turmoil sparked slave uprisings and revolts among Rome's allies.
Out of this chaos emerged Julius Caesar an ambitious military commander. For a
time Caesar dominated roman politics with Pompey.
Secretly Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River into northern Italy and then
headed toward Rome. Once again civil war erupted across the roman world.
Caesar crushed Pompey and his supporters. He then swept around the
Mediterranean suppressing rebellions.
He launched a program of public works to employ the jobless and gave public land to
the poor. He also reorganized the government of the provinces and granted roman
citizenship to more people. The most important reform was the introduction of a
new calendar based on Egyptian knowledge.
Continuation of Section 2
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In march 44 B.C. Caesars enemies feared that he wanted to become king and ruin the
republic, they stabbed him to death.
The death of Julius Caesar plunged Rome into a new round of civil wars.
Roman Empire and Roman Peace
The senate gave the triumphant Octavian the title of Augustus and declared him
princeps. Augustus exercised absolute power but didn’t call himself king. Under
Augustus the 500 year old republic came to an end. A new age had dawned the age of
the roman empire
Augustus undertook economic reforms too. The government that Augustus organized
functioned well for 200 years.
Two early emperors Caligua and neo were downright evil and perhaps insane. Caligua
appointed his favorite hoarse as consul. Nero viciously persecuted Christians and was
blamed for setting a great fire that destroyed much of Rome.
The 200 year span that began with Augustus and ended with Marcus Aurelius is knows
as the Pax Romana. During that time roman rile brought peace order unity and
prosperity to lands stretching from the Euphrates river in east to Britain in the west
Throughout the empire rich and poor alike loved spectacular entertainments. Circus
Maximus, gladiator contests.
Section 3-The Roman Achievement
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Greco roman civilization
In its early days Rome absorbed ideas from Greek
colonists in southern Italy and it continued to
borrow heavily from Greek culture after it
conquered Greece.
The blending of Greek, Hellenistic and roman
traditions produced what is know as Greco
Roman civilization.
Literature Philosophy and History
Many Romans spoke Greek and imitated Greek
styles in prose and poetry.
Art and Architecture
Roman art and architecture were based on Greek
and Etruscan models.
Technology and Science
The Romans excelled in engineering. Roman
engineers built roads bridges and harbors
throughout the empires. They also built many
immense aqueducts.
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Astronomer mathematician Ptolemy proposed a
theory that the earth was the center of the
universe a mistake idea that was excepted in the
western world for nearly 1,500 years.
The Greek doctor Galen advanced the frontiers of
medical science by insisting on experiments to
prove a conclusion. Galen complied a medical
encyclopedia summarizing what was know at the
time.
Pliny the elder a roman scientist complied volumes
on geography zoology botany and other topics all
based on other peoples works.
Roman Law
During the republic tome developed a system of
law know as the civil law that applied to its citizens
Gradually a second system of law know as the law
of nations emerged.
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Section 4-The Rise of
Christianity
Religious diversity
Within the culturally diverse roman empire a variety of religious ballets and practices coexisted
Mystery Religions
One of the most popular was the cult of Isis which originated in Egypt and offered women equal
status with men.
Others worshiped the Persian god Mithras, who championed good over evil and offered life after
death.
Religious Toleration
As long as citizens showed loyalty by honoring roman gods and acknowledging the divine spirit
of the emperor, they were allowed to worship other gods as they pleased.
Divisions in Judea
By 63 B.C. the Romans conquered Judea where most Jews lived. To avoid violating the Jewish
belief in one god the Romans excused Jews from worshiping roman gods.
Concerned about the weakening of their religion Jewish conservatives rejected the influences of
the Greek customs and ideas, and called for strict obedience to Jewish laws and traditions.
Jewish Revolt
In A.D. 66 discontent flared into rebellion. Roman forces crushed the rebels, captured Jerusalem
and destroyed the Jewish temple.
Continuation of Section 4
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Thousands of Jews were killed in the fighting when it happened for a second time and many
were enslaved and transported to various parts of the empire.
Jesus and His Message
As turmoil engulfed the Jews in Palestine a new religion, Christianity, rose among them. Its
founder was a Jew named Jesus.
Life of Jesus
Jesus was born about 4 B.C. in Bethlehem near Jerusalem.
Growing up in a small town of Nazareth, Jesus worshiped god and followed Jewish law.
Large crowds gathered to hear Jesus teachings especially when word spread that he had
performed miracles of healing.
The Message
Jesus believed in one god and excepted the ten commandment. He preached obedience to the
laws of Moses and defended the teachings of the Jewish prophets.
Jesus proclaimed the his mission was to bring spiritual salvation and eternal life to anyone who
would believe in him.
Death On The Cross
Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples. Arrested by the Romans, he was tried and condemned
to be crucified.
Continuation of Section 4
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Spread of Christianity
Following Jesus death the apostles and other disciples spread Jesus message and helped establish
Christian communities. Gradually disciples of Jesus began to preach in Jewish communities
throughout the roman world. It was Paul a Jew from Asia minor who played the most influential
role in the spread of Christianity.
Work of Paul
Paul made an important decision. He would spread the teachings of Jesus beyond Jewish
communities to gentiles, or non-Jews. Paul's missionary work set Christianity on the road to
becoming a world religion.
Persecution
Rome's tolerant attitude towards religion did not extend to Christianity. In times of trouble
persecution increased. Roman rulers like Nero used Christians as scapegoats, blaming them for
social or economic ills. Over the centuries, thousands of Christians became martyrs.
Reasons for Christianity's Appeal
People found comfort in Jesus message of love. Equality, human dignity, and the promises of a
better life beyond the grave were very attractive teachings.
Early Christian documents were usually written in Greek or Latin, languages that many people in
the empire understood
Continuation of Section 4
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Triumph
The persecution of Christians finally ended in A.D. 313 when the emperor Constantine issued the
edict of Milan. Some 80 years later the emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official
religion of the roman empire.
Early Christian Church
Early Christian communities shared a common faith in the teachings of Jesus and a common way
of worship.
Patterns of Life and Worship
A person fully joined the Christian community by renouncing evil in the rite of baptism. Each
Sunday Christians gathered for a ceremony of thanksgiving to god.
Role of Women
Women often led the way to Christianity in early Christian communities, women served as
teachers and administrators.
Structure of The Church
Each Christian community had its own priest only men were allowed to become members of the
Christian clergy.
Gradually the bishops of the most important cities in roman empire gained greater authority
Divisions in The Church
As the rituals and structure of the church became more defined, divisions began to rise.
Continuation of Section 4
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A major divisive force was rivalry among the patriarchs. The patriarchs felt that the five patriarchs
should share spiritual authority as equals
Another source of this disunity was the emergence of heresies. To end disputes over questions
of faith, councils of church leaders met to decide official Christian teaching.
Theology and Scholarship
Early Christians produced and abundance of works on Judeo-Christian theology.
Two leading scholars of the early Christian church were clement and Origen. They both wrote in
Greek. Origen was most respected for his intellectual achievements.
Augustine: perhaps the greatest of the early church scholars combined Greco-roman learning.
Especially the philosophy of Plato with Christian doctrine
Section 5-The Long Decline
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Crisis and Reforms
After the death of the emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180, the golden age of the Pax Romana
ended.
Struggles for power
Emperors were overthrown by political intriguers or ambitious generals who seized power with
the support of their troops.
Those who rose the Imperial throne in this way ruled for just a few months or years until they
were overthrown or assassinated.
Economic and Social Problems
High taxes to support the army and bureaucracy placed heavy burdens on business people and
small farmers. Many poor farmers left their land and sought protection from wealthy landowners
Emperor Diocletian
In 284 the emperor Diocletian set out to restore order. To make the empire easier to govern, he
divided into 2 parts.
Diocletian tried to increase the prestige of the Emperor by surrounding himself with elaborate
ceremonies.
Diocletian also took steps to end the Empire’s economic decay. These rules were meant to ensure
steady production of food and other goods.
Emperor Constantine
As emperor Constantine continued Diocletian's reforms. Constantine granted toleration to
Christians. He built a new Capital, Constantinople on the Bosporus.
Continuation of Section 5
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By making his Capital there, Constantine made the Eastern portion of the Empire the center of
power.
Foreign Invasions
For centuries Rome had faced attacks from the Germanic peoples who lived East of the Rhine
and North of the Danube Rivers.
As early as A.D. 200 wars in East Asia set off a chain of events that would eventually overwhelm
Rome, thousands of miles West. Those wars sent the Huns, a Nomadic people, migrating across
central Asia
Men armed with spears moved in vans along with women and children, Carts and Herds, hoping
to settle on Roman land. It was only a matter of time before foreign innovators marched into
Italy and took over Rome itself.
In 378 when a Roman army tried to turn back, the Visigoths at Adrianople, It suffered a stunning
defeat Roman power was fading.
Starting in 434, the Hun leader Attila embarked on a savage campaign of conquest across much
of Europe.
Finally in 476, Odoacer a Germanic leader ousted the emperor in Rome. Later the historian
referred to that event as the Fall of Rome.
Causes of the Fall of Rome
Perhaps the most obvious cause of Rome’s Fall was the Germanic invasions.
Political problems also contributed to Rome’s decline. As the government became more
oppressive it lost the support of the people.
Continuation of Section 5
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Economic problems were widespread in the empire. Heavier and heavier taxes were required to
support the vast government bureaucracy and huge military establishment. The population itself
declined as war and epidemic deceases swept the Empire.
For centuries, worried Romans pointed to the decline in value such as Patriotism, Discipline, and
Devotion to Duty in which the Empire was built. The need to replace citizen soldiers with
mercenaries testified to the decline of Patriotism.
The Roman Empire did not disappear from the map in 476. An emperor still ruled the eastern
Roman empire, which later became known as the Byzantine Empire and lasted for another 1000
years.
Vocabulary of Chapter 6
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Section 1
Republic- officials that were chosen by the people
Patricians- members of the land holding upper class
Consuls- people who supervised the business of government and command the armies
Dictator- ruler who has complete control over a government
Plebeians- farmers, merchants, artisans and traders who made up the bulk of the population
Tribunes- when the Plebeians gained the right to elect their own officials
Veto- to block
Legion- basic military unit
Section 2
Imperialism- establishing control over foreign lands and peoples
Provinces- lands under Roman rule
Latifundia- wealthy families bought up huge estates
Census- population count
Section 3
Satirize- make fun of
Mosaic- a picture made from chips of colored stone or glass
Engineering- the application of Science and Mathematics to develop useful structures and machines
Aqueducts- bridge like stone structures that brought water from the hills into Roman cities
Vocabulary Chapter 6
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Section 4
Messiah- anointed king sent by God
Apostles- from the Greek word meaning a person sent forth
Martyrs- people who suffer or die for their beliefs
Bishop- a church official who was responsible for all Christians in the area called Diocese
Patriarch- Constantinople gained the honorary title of Patriarch
Popes- bishops of Rome
Heresies- beliefs set to be contrary to official church teachings
Section 5
Inflation- the rapid rise of prices
Mercenaries- foreign soldiers serving for pay
Regents questions
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1. • Developed a tribute system
• Reestablished trade along the Silk Roads
• Created an empire from Eastern Europe to
the Pacific coast of Asia
Which group was responsible for the results
described above?
(1) Huns (3) Koreans
(2) Japanese (4) Mongols..anwer