Chapter 6 The Roman Empire

The Age of Augustus (31 B.C. – A. D. 14) The New Order Princeps Senate Army 28 Legions – 150,000 men Auxiliaries – 130,000 men Praetorian Guard Imperator Provincial Government Attempts to Conquer Germany Battle of Teutoburg Forest (9 A.D.)

Augustan Society Social Stratification Moral Legislation Senators Own property worth 1 million sesterces Equestrians Own property worth 400,000 sesterces Lower Class Little political power Moral Legislation

The Early Empire (14 – 180) Julio Claudian Dynasty (14 – 68) Abuses and Corruption Nero (54 – 68) Civil War – Year of the Four Emperors (69) The Five Good Emperors (96 – 180) Period of Peace and Prosperity Power of Emperor increased at expense of the Senate Trajan (98 – 117) Hadrian (117 – 138)

The Roman Empire from 14 to 117 (Augustus to Trajan) ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

The Roman Empire at its Height: Frontiers and Provinces Retrenchment Empire at its Height 3.5 million square miles 50 million people Universal Citizenship Romanization Cities and Towns as Administrative and Cultural Centers Municipal Administration

Roman Aqueduct – Constantinople

Prosperity in the Early Empire Trade Manufacturing Agriculture Latifundias Gulf between Rich and Poor

Mosaic Floor in a Roman Villa – Nora, Sardinia

Trade Routes and Products in the Roman Empire, c. 200 ©2003 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Roman Culture and Society in the Early Empire The Golden Age of Latin Literature Virgil (70 – 19 B.C.) Aeneid Horace (65 – 8 B.C.) Satires Ovid (43 B.C. – A.D. 18) Amores The Art of Love Livy (59 B.C. – A.D. 17) History of Rome The Silver Age of Latin Literature Seneca (4 B.C. – A.D. 65) Stoicism Tacitus (56 – 120) Annals Histories Germania

Roman Law The “Classical Age of Roman Law” Natural Rights Basis for laws of present-day Western civilization

The Upper-Class Roman Family Paterfamilias Roles of women Considerable freedom Separate female sections Influenced politics through their husbands

Imperial Rome 1 million people Overcrowded and Noisy City Insulae – Apartment Blocks Dangers – Fire and Building Collapse Public Buildings Temples, Forums, Markets, Baths, Theaters, Govt. Buildings and Amphitheaters Food for the Poor Entertainment Bread and Circuses

Roman Bath with Heating Unit Underneath Nora, Sardinia

Gladiatorial Shows First in 29 B.C. The Colosseum Gladiatorial Wild Beasts Fulfilled a political and social need

Roman Amphitheater with Animal Pit in the Middle Syracuse

Crisis and the Third Century The Terrible Third Century Septimius Severus (193 – 211) Severan Rulers (193 – 235) Military Monarchy Military Anarchy (235 – 284) Civil Wars 22 Emperors in five decades Germanic and Persian Invasions Decline in Trade and Agriculture Financial Weakness

Transformation of the Roman World: The Development of Christianity The Religious World of the Roman Empire State Religion focused on gods and goddesses Cult of the Emperors Mystery Religions Mithraism

The Jewish Background Judaea Jewish Groups Made Roman Province in 6 A.D. Jewish Groups Sadducees Pharisees Essenes Zealots

The Origins of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth (c. 6 B.C. – A.D. 29) Preached humility, charity and brotherly love Messiah Paul of Tarsus (c. 5 – c. 67) Second Founder of Christianity Spread of Christianity Pauline Epistles Early Christians mostly Jews Increasing number of non-Jews converted in the second century Romans Criticize Christians Romans Persecute Christians Sporadic and Local

The Growth of Christianity Centralized Organization Bishops Reasons for Growth Message of Salvation Familiarity Universality – Open to men and women Fulfilled human need to belong Women and Christianity Systematic Persecutions in the Third Century Constantine Edict of Milan grants toleration (313)

Discussion Questions How was Augustus able to consolidate his power after becoming princeps? How important was the emperor in the governing of the Roman Empire? What were the major themes of Roman Golden and Silver Age literature? What place did the lower classes occupy in Imperial Roman society? What were some of the reasons for the success of Early Christianity?

Web Links Illustrated History of the Roman Empire Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors The Perseus Digital Library The Roman Gladiator Roman Britain The Jewish Roman World of Jesus The Early Church