Latinium
Byzantium
Collapse
Republican
Empirical
In addition to thinking about each period, you’ll
need to think about each AP Theme.
Roman history is a narrative, with all the
elements of a dramatic story—view it that way!
Chronology and theme—both are important!
Comparison
to Greece?
IndoEuropean
Migrations
Geography
Dominated
by
neighbors
Need to
colonize?
Roman
Kingdom
Etruscan
dominion
Public
Works to
support
Early Pottery
and
manufacturing
Trade with
Etruscans
Etruscan
Religion
Tomb
paintings
Strict
patriarchy
Rape of
Lucretia
Lived in
cities
 Rejection of Monarchy-510 B.C.E
 Disinterest in Empire and conquest…initially
 Concept of Roman Citizenship
 Rome itself was ethnically diverse—need to
incorporate citizen groups.
 Expansion of citizenship to increase its pool of military
recruits
 The Hellenistic political value that emphasized the
virtue of improving human affairs through civic
involvement.
 Roman political ideology evolved in a manner that was
similar to Greece and China
 “mos maiorum”
 Uprightness
 Faithfulness
 Respect
 “virtue is to know the human relevance of each thing, to
know what is humanly right and useful and
honorable…and in addition virtue is putting the
country’s interest first, then our parents, with our
interests third and last”.
 Compare this ideal to China, Greece, or India
Need to
Colonize
Expansion
and
interaction
with Carthage
Expansion of
Republic
• Overthrowing
Etruscans
• Patricians v.
Plebians
• Senate
• Consulate
• “Tyrants”
Rape of
Lucretia
Establishment
of Republic
Struggle for
the Orders
Constitutional
Government
• Rule of law
• Twelve Tables
Latifundia
• Establishment of enormous plantations
• Need to provide for legions
• Tense relations between class
Mare Nostrum
• Emergence of vast trade networks in
Mediterranean
An unbalanced labor system
• Slave labor detracts from economic growth
• Spartacan Revolts
 10,000 statues
 500 fountains
 700 pools
 36 “monumental
buildings”
 Constructed by public
dollars
 Magnificent engineering
 Culture spread to other
areas
 Boiled ostrich
 Parrot-tongue pie
 Tree fungus in fish fat
 Jellyfish stew
 Garum
Rome adopted Greek
traditions via the
Etruscans.
Jupiter the supreme god
Pantheon of Gods
Changed as they
came into contact
with diverse
peoples in the
Republican phase
Some small
groups adopted
Zoroastrianism
and Mithraism
Mithraism
became popular
with warriors in
the Empirical
phase
Hellenistic
“mystery religions
extremely popular
Struggle of the
Orders
Pater Familias?
Gracchus
Brothers push for
economic
equality
12 Tables
Establishment of
Plebian
Assemblies
Caesar starts reform
Spent vast
sums on
games and
rebuilding
city
Consolidated
Assassination
Dictator and
power in
for usurping
master of
himself—cult
Senate
Roman State
of
Power: 44
46 BCE
personality
BCE
Brutus, the famed assassin of Julius
Caesar said after the murder… “I loved
Julius Caesar, but I loved Rome more”.
The mere idea of Rome and the virtue
of citizenship sponsored remarkable
devotion amongst the populace.
Last great naval battle of antiquity
Octavian defeats Mar Antony and Cleopatra
A monarch
disguised as
a republic.
Senate a
mere
puppet
Claimed
vast powers
and political
functions
The Aeneid
 The Augustian age
sponsored several
centuries of pece and
stability that was able to
overcome shockingly
poor emperors.
Revival of
Greek
Philosophy
Brilliant art
and
architecture
Impact of
Hellenistic
Culture
Great
Cultural
Flowering
Movement
away from
state religion
to religions
of salvation
Growth and
Spread of
Christianity
Spread of
new religions
Conflicts
with Jewish
cultures
 State cults were blasphemous
 Refused to worship Roman Emperors
 Judea suffered greatly economically and politically.
 Resistance and conflict were common: Jewish War
66-7.
 Essenes and other groups looked for a savior who
would deliver them from Roman rule.
 A “client king” or “puppet
king” of Judea.
 Hated by the Jews for his
taxes, harsh laws, and
religious interference.
 Promoted the “cult of
Roma”.
 Anti-Roman movements
emerge: Zealots
 Born in 4 C.E
 Arrived during a time of
tension between Jews and
their emperor.
 “Kingdom of god” in
direct contrast to the
Roman Empire.
 Political v. Religious
overtones
 His death in the early 30’s
C.E didn’t put an end to
the movement.
Revolt of the Jews
Jesus is crucified as a
common criminal
Jesus teachings gain
traction thanks to
missionaries like Paul
of Tarsus
Essenes (Messianic
Jews)
Jesus teachings
contradict state
religion and agitate
Roman Empire
Persecution of
Christians by Roman
Empire
Birth of Jesus (4 C.E.)
Jesus speaks on the
poor and oppressed
Constantine reverses
courses and embraces
Christianity to unify
Rome
Jesus challenges
conventional values
of the time
Miracle working and
ministry (3 year
period)
Establishment of
Roman Catholic
Church and spread
along Silk Roads
 Born in 4 C.E
 Arrived during a time of
tension between Jews and
their emperor.
 “Kingdom of god” in
direct contrast to the
Roman Empire.
 Political v. Religious
overtones
 His death in the early 30’s
C.E didn’t put an end to
the movement.
 Peter continued the teachings of Jesus. His
leadership in the Apostles led to the creation of
Bishoprics and the Papacy.
 Paul of Tarsus (purple pages) brought the church
outside of Judea through his missionary activities
and made it applicable to all peoples not just Jews.
 Martyr stories suggest that





the degree of hostility
towards them was savage.
Roman citizens
misunderstood Christianity.
Distrusted the exclusivity of
the faith.
Didn’t understand the rituals
and sacraments, thought of
them as atheists.
Emperor Constantine, in the
Edict of Milan removed
religious intolerance from
Roman law and granted
religious freedom.
Theodosius 391 CE made it
the official faith of Rome.