The Ancient Roman World Greek and Roman Religion

The Ancient Roman World

Greek and Roman Religion �The Greeks and Romans practiced polytheistim • numerous gods and goddesses whose origins were established through traditional stories of mythology

Greek and Roman Religion �The Greeks and Romans shared many of the same religious concepts �Roman culture was influenced by Hellenistic diffusion

The Roman Republic �Roman Republic developed concepts of government by laws �Government – Major Positions • Consuls (2) �Head of government, government act as commanders-in-chief. Become senators at the end of term. • Senate (300) �Supervise government matters, especially military and foreign affairs. Serve for life • Tribunes (10) �Guard rights of plebeians can veto senators and other officials. Serve for one year.

Social Classes of the Roman Republic Patricians: wealthy landowners Plebeians: common farmers, artisans, and merchants (majority) � Barred by law from holding important government positions. � Eventually form tribunes: protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials

Punic Was: Rome vs. Carthage �Three wars stretching from 246 to 146 BCE �Carthage originated as a Phoenician colony �Rome emerges as the Mediterranean power.

Ending Carthage…Would you like salt on that?

The Roman Republic Crumbles � After Punic Wars; Wars republic becomes unstable � Economic Turmoil • Rich live on big estates (with lots of slaves) • Small farmers had difficulty competing � Civil War: Tribunes tried for reforms but made enemies with senators � Generals start to gain power (recruiting soldiers turned farmers—promising them land) and take over by force

The First Triumvirate �Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus rule as a triumvirate � 50 BCE Caesar undermines senate

Julius Caesar Takes Power • Caesar appointed lifelong dictator in 44 BCE • Reforms: • Extends Roman citizenship to provinces; • Expanded the senate • Built new public buildings

Caesar Killed by Senators March 15 th 44 BCE Started from the bottom, now I’m here! Is he holding a chair?

The Early Empire • • • More civil war Roman Republic destroyed 2 nd Triumvirate � Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus � Ruled for 10 years � Jealousy and violence � Lepidus retires, Octavian and Marc Antony rivals • Octavian rules; becomes Augustus Caesar • Pax Romana (207 years) – After Augustus death, empire remained stable

The Empire’s Territory

Christianity in the Roman World �Originally Christians are persecuted by the empire • Christianity threatened the Roman social structure • Christianity gradually came to be accepted, accepted then spread throughout the Roman world

Christianity becomes Rome’s religion � Peter and Paul spread Christianity on Roman roads. � The Emperor Constantine ended persecution of Christians. � The emperor Theodosius made Christianity the empire’s religion.

The Empire Splits

The Western Roman Empire Collapses � Factors for collapse � Economic Weakness • Inflation � Disruption of trade � Military Overextension • Too many places to protect and lack of loyalty � Invasions • Germanic Tribes (Goths, Ostrogoths, and Visigoths) • Huns � The Eastern Empire thrives, and becomes the Byzantine Empire.