Rome and the Rise of Christianity The Rise of Rome

Land and Peoples of Italy


Land




Peninsula 750 miles long north to south Apennine Mountains run down the middle Three fertile plains – extensive farmland supported a large population






Po River plains Plain of Latium (where Rome is located) Plain of Campania

Land and Peoples of Italy


Rome (the city) 18 miles inland on the Tiber River
Easy access to the sea; safe from pirates
Built on 7 hills; easy to defend
Located on north-south traffic route


Land and Peoples of Italy


People Indo-Europeans moved into Italy 1500-1000 B.C.
Latins settled in Latium


Herders & farmers
Spoke Latin


Land and Peoples of Italy


Greeks 800 B.C.
Settled in southern Italy
Gave Romans alphabet & artistic models for sculpture, architecture, & literature


Land and Peoples of Italy


Etruscans More important in developing Roman culture than Greeks
After 650 B.C. controlled most of Rome and Latium


Land and Peoples of Italy


Etruscans Turned Rome from a village to a city
Gave mode of dress – toga & short cloak
Developed army organization


Roman Republic


Early Rome ruled by kings, some Etruscans 509 B.C. Romans overthrew last Etruscan king
Established a republic (a form of government in which the leader is not a monarch and certain citizens have the right to vote)


Roman Republic


Enemies surround Rome Long periods of continuous warfare
By 264 B.C. Rome had defeated Latium, the central Apennines, the Greeks in the south, & the Etruscans in the north


Roman Republic


Roman Confederation Latins had full Roman citizenship
Allies who controlled local affairs, but gave soldiers to Rome could become Roman citizens


Roman Republic


Roman believed their success was due to three virtues 1. Duty 2. Courage 3. Discipline

Roman Republic


Roman Success 1. Good diplomats 2. Extending Roman citizenship 3. Allow states to run internal affairs 4. Skill, persistent soldiers & brilliant strategists 5. Practical in law & politics 6. Created institutions that responded effectively to problems

Roman State


Romans distrusted kings




Divided into 2 groups of citizens who could vote 1. Patricians – great landowners 2. Plebeians – less wealthy landowners, craftspeople, merchants, & small farmers

Roman State Gov’t officials Only patricians eligible CEOs Consuls – 2 per year ran the gov’t & led the army
Praetors – in charge of civil law


Roman State


Senate – 300 patricians served for life Initially only an advisory body
By 3rd century B.C. their decisions had the force of law


Roman State Centuriate Assembly – elected chief officials Most important people’s assembly Organization based on wealth Passed laws Council of the Plebs Plebeians only Result of class struggle

Roman Law


12 Tables – 450 B.C. Rome’s 1st code of law
Applied to Roman citizens only





Law of Nations Established standards of justice applied to all people
Principles include:


Innocent until proven guilty
Defended before a judge


Rome Conquers the Mediterranean


1st Punic War Begins in 264 B.C.
Rome sent an army to Sicily
Rome created a navy
241 B.C. Carthage gave up all rights to Sicily
Sicily pays a fine to Rome
Carthage vowed revenge


Carthage added lands in Spain to its empire
Romans encouraged a Spanish revolt against Carthage


Rome Conquers the Mediterranean


2nd Punic War








Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, crossed the Alps into Rome Rome attacked & lost an army of 40,000 men Rome raised another army & recovered lost land Hannibal roams the country Rome sends troops to Spain & pushes Carthage out of Spain Rome attacks Carthage: Hannibal called home Rome crushes Hannibal at the battle of Zama

Rome Conquers the Mediterranean


3rd Punic War 146 B.C. Carthage destroyed
50,000 men, women, & children sold into slavery
Carthage became a Roman province called Africa


Rome Conquers the Mediterranean


Rome also battling Hellenistic states (Eastern Greece & Macedonia) Macedonia made a Roman province in 148 B.C.
Greece made a Roman province in 126 B.C.