Ch. 1.3: Rome and the
Rise of Christianity
509BCE – 476CE
I. The Roman State
A.
1.
2.
While Greece is in decline,
Rome is developing power
Began as a monarchy, but by
509BCE overthrown by the
aristocracy, who created a
republic (power is held by
citizens who elect leaders to
make decisions –
representative democracy)
2 Groups competed for
power:
– Patricians: aristocratic
landowners, held the most
power
– Plebeians: farmers,
artisans, merchants;
sought (and eventually
gained) power
Senators
Patricians
Military Tunics
Plebs
A. Roman Government
1.
2.
3.
Roman gov. set up w/
separate branches
Executive: 2 consuls,
chosen annually,
headed army and ran
gov.
Legislative: Senate and
2 assemblies
–
–
Senate made up of 300
landowners
 Made foreign policy,
economic policy and
advised consuls
Assemblies – Council of
Plebs, created 471BCE to
protect plebeians
Tribunes were elected by & protected
the rights of the plebs.
Senators were chosen for life. They
protected the Treasury & made laws.
B. Roman Law
1.
2.
The Twelve Tables were hung in
the Roman Forum.
Twelve Tables, 451BCE:
First written code of laws
At first, civil laws only
applied to Roman citizens,
but as Rome expanded
and brought conquered
people under its rule had
to create a universal
system of laws, Law of
Nations
–
–
Based on reason and
justice, applied to all
peoples, protect citizens
and property
Principles:




all citizens have equal
protection under the law
Innocent until proven
guilty
The burden of proof
rests w/ the accuser
Unfair laws repealed
C. Code of Justinian
1.
By 528CE, Emperor Justinian compiled all
laws throughout the Empire into 4
books:
–
–
–
–
2.
The
The
The
The
Code (500 laws)
Digest (legal opinions)
Novellae (new laws added after 534CE)
Institutes (law textbook)
Created a government of laws, not of
men
Justinian I & Empress Theodora
Byzantine Rulers, 527-565CE
Mosaic, San Vitale
Cathedral, Ravenna, Italy,
ca. 547.
II. The Influence of the Roman Empire
A.
Roman republic lasted 5
centuries, but by 1st
Century became an
Empire
– Expansion of empire too
large for a republic to
control
1.
2.
Augustus (formerly
Caesar Octavian) began
the Roman Empire in
27BCE
Pax Romana, period of
peace and prosperity
beginning under
Augustus & lasting from
14-180CE.
Augustus, 1st C., Roman
marble copy of bronze
statue, Vatican Museum.
Roman language, law, architecture, and
engineering spread throughout Empire
Roman Empire ca. 116CE at its
largest extent
Roman Architecture: The Colosseum, 72 – 80CE
III. The Development of Christianity
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The birth & expansion of
Christianity occurred in the
Roman Empire.
Empire spread to Judaea
(Palestine) by 6CE
Jesus (ca. 6BCE-29CE), a
Jewish prophet, preached
simple message & told
followers he did not want to
destroy traditional religion
Transformation of inner person
most important, not strict
following of laws
Taught to love God and one
another
Ethical ideas: humility, charity,
brotherly love
Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio 1601,
The National Gallery, London.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Conservatives believed
he was undermining
respect for traditional
Judaism
Romans believed he
was a potential
revolutionary
Given up by opponents
to Pontius Pilate, the
Roman procurator, who
ordered death by
crucifixion
Loyal followers spread
story of his resurrection
and proclaimed him the
Messiah
Pilate,
Giotto,
1305,
fresco,
Arena
Chapel,
Padua.
Flagellation,
Caravaggio, 1607,
Naples.
The Passion in Western Art
Entry into
Jerusalem,
Duccio, 1311,
panel, Siena
(Early
Renaissance).
Christ Washing the Disciples Feet,
Tintoretto, 1547, Oil, Prado Museum,
Madrid (Renaissance).
The Denial of Peter,
The Last Supper, Dali, 1955,
Oil, National Gallery,
Washington, D.C. (Surrealism)
Rembrandt, 1660,
Oil, Rijksmuseum,
Amsterdam.
(Baroque)
The Taking of Christ,
Caravaggio, 1602, Oil, National
Gallery, Dublin (Baroque).
Christ Before Pilate,
Pontormo, 1525, fresco,
Florence.
The Flagellation, della
Francesca, 1460,
tempera, Urbino.
Deposition, Van der Weyden, 1440,
Prado Museum, Madrid.
Christ Carrying the
Cross, El Greco, 1580,
the Met, New York.
Pieta, Michelangelo,
1499, marble sculpture,
St. Peter’s Basilica,
Vatican City.
Lamentation, Giotto, 1305,
Arena Chapel, Padua.
Entombment, Raphael,
1507, Galleria Borghese,
Rome.
Resurrection,
Bellini, 1479, Berlin.
Ascension of
Christ, Perugino,
1498, Lyon.
The Incredulity of St.
Thomas, Caravaggio, 1602,
Potsdam.
B. Christian Persecution & Final Triumph


Early Christianity viewed
as small sect w/in
Judaism
Christians persecuted
under Emperor Nero (5468CE) after the “great
Roman fire” of 64CE
– Refused to honor Roman
gods & emperor

Grew slowly anyway &
spread widely by 3rd
Century
Crucifixion of St. Peter, Caravaggio, 1600,
Sta. Maria del Popolo, Rome.
C. Spread of Christianity
1.
Personal faith open
to all
– All social classes
welcome: women,
slaves, rich, poor had
“spiritual equality”
Promise of salvation
3. Familiar & easy to
understand (Christ
was human)
4. Formation of
communities, sense
of belonging
2.
5.
6.
7.
313CE Constantine became
1st Christian emperor &
proclaimed Edict of Milan,
official tolerance of
Christianity
Under Theodosius the
Great (378-395CE),
Christianity became official
religion of the Roman
Empire, all others illegal
Throughout Middle Ages,
Roman Catholic Church
dominated both religious
& political life
St. Ambrose forbids
Theodosius from
Entering the Church,
Van Dyck, 1619,
National Gallery,
London.
The Pantheon, 125 – 28CE
Arch of Constantine, 312-315CE