THE ROMAN EMPIRE URBAN PLANNING Rome is an

THE ROMAN EMPIRE URBAN PLANNING Rome is an urban based empire: • • Organized around large cities Upper classes lived in elegant town homes and country villas Poor lived in slums the lowlying parts of the city Provincial towns imitated Roman model

THE ROMAN EMPIRE URBAN DEVELOPMENT • Cities are developed to serve interests of elite: • • • Aristocracy dominated town and city meetings Wealthy helped build amenities • Baths • Theaters • Gardens • Temples • Public Works • Entertainment venues Controlled rural areas as absentee landlords (hired foremen)

THE ROMAN EMPIRE COMMERICIAL and CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT • Romanization of the Mediterranean occurs via trade networks: • Latin language, Roman clothing, and the Roman lifestyle were adopted by local people • Roman emperors gradually extended Roman citizenship to all free, male, adult inhabitants of the empire

THE ROMAN EMPIRE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY • Jesus lived in a society marked by resentment against Roman rule and inspired in the belief that a Messiah would arise to liberate the Jews and drive the Romans out. • When Jesus sought to reform Jewish religious practices, the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem turned him over to the Roman governor for execution.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY • After the execution, Jesus’ followers, the Apostles, continued to spread his teachings; they also spread their belief that Jesus had been resurrected. At this point, the target of their conversion efforts was their fellow Jews.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY Conversion efforts changed from Jews to non-Jews in the 40 s– 70 s C. E. : • First, Paul of Tarsus, an Anatolian Jew, discovered that non-Jews (gentiles) were much more receptive to the teachings of Jesus than Jews were. • Second, a Jewish revolt in Judaea (66 C. E. ) and the subsequent Roman reconquest destroyed the original Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem

THE ROMAN EMPIRE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY Christianity grew slowly but steadily, developing a hierarchy of priests and bishops and resisting the persecution of Roman officials. By the late third century, Christians were a sizeable minority in the Roman Empire.

SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY • Reasons for fast spread of Christianity • 1) Offers salvation to the poor, and eternal life. Suffer in this life, but live according to the golden rule and be rewarded. It gives a purpose and meaning to life. • 2) It seems familiar, similar to other religions, monotheistic, offers immortality as the result of savior’s sacrifice. • 3) Fills a need to belong, Christians form communities where they can express love by helping one another. The huge empire could never make them feel as if they belonged to a community. • Appeals to everyone, eternal life is promised regardless of class, (rich, poor) gender (men & women) slaves , race. The idea that everyone is created equal and in God’s image scares the Romans to further persecute, especially Diocletian (di oh cle tion) in the third century.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATIONS The Romans were expert military and civil engineers. Among their accomplishments were: • • • Bridge-building Siege weapons Elevated and underground aqueducts The use of arches and domes The invention of concrete

THE ROMAN EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATIONS Following Augustus’ death: • The army was organized primarily for defense – forts along The Rhine/Danube frontier, long walls on the frontiers of North Africa and Britain. • The state system works well until third-century crisis: • • • Frequent change of rulers Raids by German tribesmen Rise of regional power when Rome seemed unable to guarantee security.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATIONS ECONOMY WAS UNDERMINED BY: • • • The high cost of defense Debasement of the currency and consequent inflation A disruption of trade Reversion to a barter economy Disappearance of the municipal aristocracy of the provincial cities Movement of population out of the cities and back into the rural areas.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATIONS Diocletian (r. 284– 305 C. E. ) Saved the Roman state by instituting a series of reforms that included: • • Price controls Regulations that required certain people to stay in their professions; to train a son to succeed them. Side effects: • Flourishing black market • Growing feeling of resentment against the government

THE ROMAN EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATIONS Constantine (r. 306– 337 C. E. ) > Patronized the Christian church and converted to Christianity, contributing to the rise of Christianity in the empire. > Transferred the capital of the empire from Rome to the eastern city of Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople. • Issues the Edict of Milan which officially tolerates Christians in the Empire.

FALL OF ROME • After Constantine's move the Western Roman Empire starts to fall apart The Huns( from Asia) move east from Asia and force the Visigoths (Germanic) south and they SACK the city of Rome in 410 A. D. • Then in 455 the Vandals SACK the city again, Vandals are ruthless and feared , hence the modern word. • In 476 the Germanic head of the army overthrows Romulus Augustulus and the Roman empire falls, but East, Byzantine Empire lives on.

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE FALL OF ROME • 1) Christianity weakened Rome’s military –killing is Bad! • 2) Rome’s values declined as empire spread and non -Romans started taking positions of power. • 3) Lead poisoning starts making people cuckoo, leading to poor decision making. • 4) Slavery held the Romans back from advancing their technologies • 5) Rome’s politics didn’t work, Republic, Empire, and Dictatorship.