The Roman Empire Pax Romana Roman Peace Time

The Roman Empire

Pax Romana: “Roman Peace” • Time of peace & prosperity • Lasted 270 years in Rome (27 B. C. - 180 A. D. ) • Started with the reign of Augustus • Stabilized the frontier • glorified Rome

Pax Romana – Economy base on agriculture and trade • 90% of people farmed • Traded w/ Persia, China, India etc. – Empire: Spain to Middle East& from North Africa to Britain. – Non-citizen allowed in the military.

Life in Rome • Boys were favored over girls – girls were given the feminine form of their father’s name • Slavery was important part of Roman life – conquered people and could be bought or sold – strong slaves were forced to be gladiators • the rich lived extravagantly • the poor barely survived – most unemployed – government gave out daily rations – games in the Coliseum was used to distract the poor.

The Emperors of Rome (Disturbing) • Julian Emperors – Tiberius – paranoid about everything, hated thunder, never liked being in politics, mother never liked him, only became emperor b/c other brothers died, – Caligula – mentally ill, bald, but hairy everywhere else on body, made it a crime to talk about goats in his presence, committed incest with sisters, appointed his horse as consul – Claudius – lack of social skills, mentally-ill, tried to run & hide when Caligula died, dominated by his wife, “puppet emperor, ” – Nero – probably insane, executed many, committed suicide, abused young boys, had mother/sister killed, persecuted Christians after the great fire in Rome

The Five Good Emperors – Nerva – appointed by the senate and backed by the army – Trajan – expanded the empire – Hadrian – fortified the borders – Antonius Pius – maintained prosperity – Marcus Aurelius – the philosopher emperor • His death marks the end of the Pax Romana and empire’s decline

Circus Maximus—chariot races

Coliseum—home of gladiator fights

Roman Forum • Central area of Rome • Business Center – Commerce, business, religion, justice, politics

Rise of Christianity

Christianity �Judaism in Rome: living in Judea, persecuted by Rome �Jesus: born Jewish � Began teaching at 30 years old: love for God, neighbors, enemies and one’s self, & salvation � Said was incarnation of God coming to save humanity from sins � Romans worried plotting overthrow of Empire � Had him executed via crucifixion �Apostles Peter & Paul spread through Roman Empire

Christianity �Persecuted at first (think: Nero) �Emperor Constantine � Converts to Christianity � Stops persecution & makes it legal �Emperor Theodosius � official religion Rome

Christianity �Bible inspired by God �Jewish teachings, life of Jesus & disciples, epistles (letters) of early missionaries �Jesus is God in flesh �Path to salvation is Christ �All mankind is sinful, nothing you can do to save self �Believing in Jesus & following him gets you to heaven �Christianity spread during the Pax Romana �Embraced all people �gave hope to the powerless �offered a personal relationship with a loving God �promised eternal life

Christianity Assignment �From the perspective of a Roman Christian, choose one of the following assignments to describe your life in Rome: �Short Story �Letter �Comic Strip

Key Events in Christianity

Event A: Birth of Jesus And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 4 -7)

Event B: Jesus’ Teachings Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened him mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ” (Matthew 5: 1 -3)

Event C: The Crucifixion and Resurrection So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of the skulls, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. ” (John 19: 17 -19)

Event D: Missionary Work of Paul And he lived there two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered (Acts 28: 30 -31)

Event E: Persecution of Christians Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. (1

Conversion of Constantine

JOURNAL EXPANSION: GOOD OR BAD? Is expansion a good or bad thing or both? What are some problems that an empire or country might have by being stretched out too far?

THE DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

THE ROMAN EMPIRE AT PAX ROMANA Pax Romana (time of peace/prosperity) � Empire covered most of Europe, North Africa, and some of Asia � 180 AD: Marcus Aurelius dies—end of P. R. �

POLITICAL PROBLEMS Poor leaders weakened the government � Fights for power � Many bribes � Talented people don’t serve �

SOCIAL PROBLEMS � Taxes too high � Many people stopped paying 1/3 pop is slaves � Plague spread in Rome, killing 1 in 10 � Famine � “Bread and Circuses” � Extravagant lifestyles � No longer care about important issues �

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS � Farmers lost land � Lose jobs � Famine � People bought fewer goods, shops closed � Inflation occurred: � Rapidly rising prices � Money lost value � No money = no taxes

MILITARY PROBLEMS � Mercenaries hired only in it for money � No loyalty � No money to pay military = weak military � Border invasions by Germanic tribes � � Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Saxons

DIOCLETIAN DIVIDING THE EMPIRE � 284 CE, Diocletian became emperor � � Tried reforms (political changes) Divides Empire � � � Thought this could save empire Western and Eastern Empires Western Empire: Europe/ North Africa and city of Rome Eastern Empire: Turkey/ Asia and city of Byzantium Two emperors

CONSTANTINOPLE � Diocletian retires, Constantine takes over First Christian emperor � Attempted reforms � � Moves the capital from Rome to city of Byzantium � Changes name to Constantinople (today is Istanbul)

CURRENT DAY

VANDALS � Vandals & Visigoths Sack Rome for 12 days (vandalism) � More Germans follow � � Defeats emperor Romulus Augustulus in 476 CE (14 years old, little Augustus) � � Often dated as “Fall of Rome” Western Empire divided Small kingdoms � Keep customs of Rome �

ODOACER

EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper for 1, 000 more years � Became known as the Byzantine Empire �

THE END! …or is it?