ANCIENT ROME AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY
How was early Rome a multicultural society – three cultures from the outset: Latins, Greeks, and
Etruscans
What were the differences and similarities between Rome’s patricians and plebeians - both could vote,
but plebeians could not hold important government positions
What was the advantage to writing down the laws - everyone who was able to read could know what
the law said
Why do you think the Romans gave full citizenship to conquered people living close to Rome – to ensure
their loyalty to Rome
How did Scipio use Hannibal’s love for Carthage as a weapon – he forced Hannibal to choose between
defending his home and conquering Rome
How did limiting the size of Roman estates help the poor – It would enable small landowners to succeed
How did Augustus’ rule set the stage for the Pax Romana – His stable government system withstood
changes in leadership
What effect did the system of roads have on the Roman Empire – connected the vast empire, enabled
trade and military action
What factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic - economic inequality, military upheaval,
civil war, the rise of Caesar
What role did Julius Caesar play in the decline of the republic and the rise of the empire – Caesar helped
restore order, then seized power. His occupation of Rome and his rule as dictator effectively ended the
republic
How were Jesus’ teachings at odds with Roman values and religious ideas - taught love and acceptance
rather than strength and power; taught monotheism vs. worship of many gods
Why was Rome threatened by Jesus - he was popular; he preached to the poor and powerless
Why was the apostle Paul so important to the spread of Christianity - Paul traveled widely and
interpreted Jesus’ teachings in ways that distinguished them from Jewish law by eliminating some Jewish
practices, which made the religion more accessible to non-Jews
Why did Christian persecution rise as the Pax Romana crumbled – The worse Rome’s problems became,
the more leaders needed a scapegoat
Why do you think church leaders could not agree about the new religion - interpretations varied;
leaders wanted power
How did establishing a church structure help Christianity spread - people gained access to church
teachings more easily
What did Jesus emphasize in his early teachings - God’s personal relationship to each person;
importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and themselves; God would offer
eternal life to those who repented their sins
Why did the early Christians face persecution from the Romans – refusal to worship Roman gods; used
by some Roman rulers as scapegoats for political and economic troubles
What was the importance of the Nicene Creed – it defined the Church’s basic beliefs 77
Which is more important in the decline of the Roman Empire, the economy or the military – the
economy because it affected how soldiers were paid
Why did the empire continue to fail despite Diocletian’s reforms and effective rule - too much depended
on his iron-fisted rule; the empires problems had spread too widely
How does control of Byzantium offer trade and defensive advantage to cultures on the Black Sea – is the
only passage to the Mediterranean; can provide or deny sea access to cultures on the Black Sea
Why do you think the Western Empire was unable to field an army to stop the Germans from invading –
couldn’t pay mercenaries, citizens were indifferent, commanders were fighting among themselves
Why did so many Germanic tribes begin invading the Roman Empire – to flee from the invading Huns
Why did the eastern half of the empire survive after the split - it held the empire’s centers of trade and
wealth, and its capital was well protected
Name the three main parts of government under the Roman republic – consuls, senate, and assembly
Why did the Roman emperors persecute Christians - they disobeyed Roman authority by refusing to
worship Roman gods
How did the Western Roman Empire fail - Over many years, Germanic and other invaders overran the
western half, which had been weakened by internal problems
What aspects of Roman culture influenced future civilizations – European languages might sound
different; legal systems might not place as much emphasis on personal rights