Rome Part II Chapter 7 Sections 4-6

Building the Empire 2 strengths lead to growth: – Government Emperor made all decisions Provincial governors = very important Twelve Table adjusted as needed – Trade and Transportation Agriculture was most important job All goods went to Rome, then spread out ROADS - close to 60,000 miles – “all roads lead to Rome”

The Big Bad Army Citizens years of service Army posts along frontier Used force if necessary – Uprising in Britain in A.D. 60 destroyed by the army

Social Life HUGE gap between rich and poor – Most people were poor The Wealthy – Often had multiple homes – Running water and private baths – Recreation, leisure, banquets The Poor – Tenant farmers and laborers – Multistory, crowded apartments – Roman government provided grain

The Lowest of the Low Slavery was widespread – Several million when Augustus took power Brutality and harsh treatment – No regulations Could buy freedom

Men, Women, and Children Family was the heart of society, and the father was the head of the family Mother managed the household – Could own property and accept inheritances Education began at home Elementary - reading, writing, math, music Secondary - (only the wealthy) grammar, Greek, literature, composition, expressive speech

Roman Religions Sought harmony with gods Lares = ancestral spirits Vesta = spirit who guided fire and hearth State religion evolved – Promotes patriotism, loyalty, and unity Sought harmony with gods Lares = ancestral spirits Vesta = spirit who guided fire and hearth State religion evolved – Promotes patriotism, loyalty, and unity

“Bread and Circuses” Give people what they want to be superficially happy Political and social strategy Used games, theater and recreation as distractions and morale boosters

Recreation in the Empire Theater – Comedies and satires – Mimes, jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns Chariot Racing – Circus Maximus Gladiators – The Colosseum – Wild beasts – slave battles

Advancing the Arts Virgil = greatest Roman poet – Aeneid Horace – Odes, satires, and epistles about human emotion Tacitus = historian – Annals - history of Rome that criticizes social gap Plutarch – Compared Greeks and Romans

Architecture Aqueducts Concrete Arches and vaulted domes Great public buildings

Science and Language Ptolemy – Astronomer Galen – Summarized all medical knowledge Romans adapted Greek to create Latin – We use Latin alphabet, plus J,Y, and W

Christianity in Rome  Romans practiced pagan religions, with similar gods throughout the empire  Emperor = divine ruler ***What problems would this cause for a Jewish or Christian town/city? ***What other threats might Christianity pose?  Romans practiced pagan religions, with similar gods throughout the empire  Emperor = divine ruler ***What problems would this cause for a Jewish or Christian town/city? ***What other threats might Christianity pose?

We Didn’t Start the Fire  In 64 A.D., a great fire burned Rome  Rumors erupted that Nero himself started it  He blamed it on the Christians  Christians hid in catacombs  In 64 A.D., a great fire burned Rome  Rumors erupted that Nero himself started it  He blamed it on the Christians  Christians hid in catacombs

Constantine Saw the Sign  Emp. Constantine prays before battle in 312 A.D.  Has a vision of a cross  Puts crosses on shields and battle flags  Wins battle

Changes Across the Empire  Edict of Milan - Christianity is now legal  Constantine builds churches and declares Sunday as a holy day  Not baptized until his death bed  380 B.C. - Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion  Edict of Milan - Christianity is now legal  Constantine builds churches and declares Sunday as a holy day  Not baptized until his death bed  380 B.C. - Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion