Greco-Roman Society

• Standard: Examine the political, philosophical, and cultural interaction of Classical Mediterranean societies from 700 BCE to 400 CE.

• Essential Question: How did Classical Mediterranean societies interact politically, philosophical, and culturally from 700 BCE to 400 CE?

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GreeceRome

Origins of Rome

• Element: Compare the origins and structure of the Greek polis, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.

• Vocabulary: Roman Republic

Geography

• located on the Italian Peninsula

• can sail all over the Mediterranean Sea

Geography

• fertile coastal plains• Good land for farming• able to trade by sea

Greek Origins

“In those days the countryside there was wild and empty. The story goes that when the waters receded, the basket in which the twins had been abandoned was left on dry land. A she-wolf, on her way from the hills round about to drink, came across the howling infants. She gave them her teats to suck, and was so gentle with them that the king’s shepherd found her licking them with her tongue”

Virgil’s “Aeneid”

• sponsored by Augustus • Aeneas, the refugee from Troy

– ancestor of the people who became Romans

• Augustus liked to trace his ancestry back to Iulus, son of Aeneas and supposed ancestor of the Iulii - the Julian family

Emergence

• Indo-European peoples• moved into Italy• about 1500 to 1000 B.C. • spoke Latin• lived as herders and farmers on Rome’s hills

Emergence

• after 800 B.C., other people, including the Greeks and Etruscans, settled in Italy

• early Rome was ruled by kings, some of whom were Etruscan

Greek Influence

• Government• Architecture • religion

Etruscan Rule

• Established a monarchy

• Ruled over early Romans

• Cruel to the Romans

Early Etruscan Home

The Repbulic

Describe:•509 B.C. overthrew the last Etruscan king•established a republic

– the leader is not a king– certain citizens have the right to vote

The Republic

The Threat:•Enemies surrounded Rome•long period of continuous warfare•267 B.C. controlled almost all of Italy•defeated the Greeks and remaining Etruscan states

The Republic

Roman Confederation:•some people had full Roman citizenship•other groups were allies who controlled their local affairs but gave soldiers to Rome•could become Roman citizens

The Republic

Impact:•many of the conquered peoples felt invested in Rome’s success

The Republic’s Military• divided into smaller

groups called legions• Soldiers called

legionaries• Because of the strength

of the military, Rome began to expand

Mediterranean Dominance

Carthage:•a strong power in the Mediterranean •founded around 800 B.C. •coast of North Africa•large trading empire in the western Mediterranean

Mediterranean Dominance

Hannibal:•Carthage’s greatest general•Almost destroyed Rome during the Second Punic War

Punic Wars

Description:•three wars fought between Rome and Carthage•the victories of Hannibal during second Punic War almost destroyed Rome• Rome created new armies and a navy

Punic Wars

Result:•Rome defeated Hannibal’s forces•Spain became a Roman province•Rome controlled the western Mediterranean•completely destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.

Roman Expansion

• second century B.C. conquered Macedonia and Greece

• 133 B.C. Pergamum became Rome’s first province in Asia

• Rome gained and maintained control of the Mediterranean Sea

Structure of RomeView of Kings:•distrusted kingship because of their experience with Etruscan kings•built a different form of government•early Rome divided into two groups, the patricians and the plebeians

Structure of Rome

Patricians:•large landowners•formed Rome’s ruling class•citizens and could vote•could be elected to public office

Structure of Rome

DictatorDictatorCould rule up Could rule up to 6 months in to 6 months in times of wartimes of war

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

Structure of Rome

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

ConsulsConsuls Preside over Preside over senate, senate, generals, 1 yr generals, 1 yr termterm

Structure of Rome

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

SenateSenateServed for Served for life, most life, most powerful powerful bodybody

Structure of Rome

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

SenateSenate

PatriciansPatricians

DictatorDictatorConsulsConsuls

The Senate1. Rome’s law-making body2. Patricians only3. three hundred4. served for life

Centuriate Assembly

• most important people’s assembly• elected the consuls• passed laws• organized by classes based on wealth• wealthiest citizens were the majority

Plebeians• common people• the less wealthy landholders, craftspeople,

merchants, and small farmers• gained some political power• considered citizens and could vote• included the right to elect their own officials,

called tribunes• tribunes could veto, or block, laws that they felt

harmed plebeians

Structure of Rome

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

TribunesTribunesRepresentatives Representatives for the for the plebeiansplebeians

Structure of Rome

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

TribunesTribunes

PlebeiansPlebeians

Structure of Rome

300 men300 men

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Majority of Majority of PopulationPopulation

TribunesTribunes

PlebeiansPlebeians

SlavesSlavesNo No powerpower

Structure of Rome

Impact:•By 287 B.C., all male Roman citizens were supposedly equal under the law•few wealthy patrician and plebeian families formed a new senatorial ruling class•dominated political office

Julius Caesar

• Description:• Civil War breaks out in

the Republic• First Triumvirate

formed in 60 BC• Government run by

three men who shared power

• Julius Caesar, Crassus & Pompay

Julius CaesarDescription:•Julius Caesar is elected consul in 59 BC

– grants himself governor of Gaul from 58 – 50 BC

– wins decisive battles securing Roman borders in the North

– Caesar seen as a military hero– “Veni, vidi, vici…” = I came, I

saw, I conquered

Civil War

• As Caesar became more powerful the Triumvirate falls apart

• Senate demands that Caesar return to Rome w/out his army

• under the influence of a competitive Pompay

Civil War

• Civil war ensues– Caesar marched to Rome in 49 BC and Pompay fled– civil war will last a few years– Caesar wins

• Caesar hailed as dictator for life in 45 B.C.

Ides of March

• many feared Caesar would assume title of king & set up a dynasty

• 60 members of Senate plot to kill him• Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius• March 15, 44 BC Caesar is stabbed 23 times that

result in death in the senate chamber• Rome plunges into another civil war

Julius Caesar

Impact:•Caesar’s Reformation:

– Granted citizenship to people of provinces– Expanded Senate– Aided poor by creating jobs (public works)– Started colonies for people without land

Augustus Caesar

• Description:• Real name Octavian• Grand Nephew of Julius Caesar• the Second Triumvirate formed 43 BC

– Caesar’s supporters banded together to eliminate assassins

– Octavian, Mark Antony & Lepidus– took back control of Republic

Civil War

• Octavian forced Lepidus into retirement• Octavian and Mark Antony then become rivals

Civil War• Mark Antony meets Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

while leading troop’s in a campaign in Anatolia– Followed her back to Egypt– Octavian accuses Antony of trying to rule Rome

out of Egypt

• Another civil war breaks out

Civil War• Battle of Actium 31 BC• Octavian defeats the combined forces of Antony and

Cleopatra at this naval battle• Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide

Austus Caesar

Impact:•Octavian becomes unchallenged ruler•500-year old republic comes to an end•Octavian changes his name to Augustus (exalted one) and becomes Rome’s first emperor in 31 BC•Augustus laid the foundation for the period called the “Pax Romana”

Augustus Caesar

“Pax Romana”

• 200 years of Roman peace and prosperity• Established by efficient government

– Stabilized frontier– Development of splendid governmental buildings– Civil Service (plebeians and former slaves)

Roman Culture

• Element: Analyze the contributions of Hellenistic and Roman culture; include law, gender, and science.

• Vocabulary: Roman culture

Roman Culture

• Impact:• Most important contribution to society

Twelve Tables• 451 B.C.• Ancient Rome’s law

code• written down and

placed in public• everyone would

know the law

The Law of the Twelve Tables

Roman Law

the Law of Nations:•code of law developed later•considered as natural law, or universal law based on reason

Basic Principles:

1. People equal under law

2. right to a trial3. innocent until

proven guilty

Slavery

Description:•relied on slavery•large numbers of war captives were brought to Italy as slaves•Greeks were prized as tutors, musicians, doctors, and artists

Slavery

Expectations of Slaves:•work in shops, made crafts, and performed household tasks (cleaning and gardening)•built roads and public buildings•farmed large estates of the wealthy

Slavery

Conditions for slaves:•pitiful•it was cheaper to work slaves to death and replace them than to care for them

Slavery

Slave Revolt:•the gladiator Spartacus•73 B.C. Seventy thousand slaves joined Spartacus•defeated several Roman armies before being defeated in 71 B.C.•Spartacus was killed and thousands of his followers were crucified

Daily Life in the city of Rome

Description:•the largest population of any city in the empire•overcrowded and noisy•wagons and carts were banned from the streets during the day to ease the congestion

Daily Life in the city of Rome

Gap between rich and poor•rich lived in comfortable villas•poor lived in apartment blocks called insulae

Daily Life in the city of RomeInsulae:•six stories tall•poorly constructed and often collapsed•fires were a constant threat•high rents forced entire families to live in one room•did not have any plumbing or central heating•uncomfortable conditions caused many Romans to spend most of their time outdoors in the street

Daily Life in the city of Rome

Entertainment:•poor received free grain from the emperor•Grand public spectacles entertained the people•part of religious festivals•featured horse and chariot races at the Circus Maximus•dramatic performances in theaters•very popular gladiatorial shows

Roman Culture

Literature:•most distinguished poet of the Augustan Age was Virgil•wrote his epic poem the Aeneid in honor of Augustus•character Aeneas displays the virtues of the ideal Roman—duty, piety, and loyalty•Aeneas started the city on its divine mission to rule the world

Roman Culture

Art:•enjoyed Greek art•Greek statues adorned their cities and homes•Reproductions became popular•Roman sculptors added realistic, even unpleasant, features to the idealized Greek forms

Roman Culture

Architecture:•excelled in architecture•continued to use Greek styles (colonnades and rectangular buildings)•created forms based on curved lines: the dome, arch, and vault•first people to use concrete on a massive scale

Roman Culture

Engineering:•first-class engineers•built enduring roads, bridges, and aqueducts•built 50,000 miles of roads throughout the empire•many aqueducts supplied one million people with water

Christianity

• Element: Describe polytheism in the Greek and Roman world and the origins and diffusion of Christianity in the Roman world.

• Vocabulary: polytheism, christianity

Origins

Judaea:•A.D. 6 •covered the lands of the ancient kingdom of Judah•a Roman province•under direction of a procurator•Unrest was common even among factions of Jews

Jesus

Description:•a Jew•began to preach in the midst of the conflict

Jesus

Teachings:•inner transformation was more important than adhering to laws or rituals•Individuals should follow the Golden Rule and treat others as they would like to be treated•People should love God and love each other, treating all as neighbors

JesusEvents:•Judaean authorities turned Jesus over to the Romans•feared he might cause people to revolt against Rome•the procurator, Pontius Pilate, ordered Jesus crucified•followers of Jesus believed he overcame death•believed Jesus was the Messiah, the long-expected savior of Israel

Jesus

Impact:•virtues that became the basis of medieval Western civilization: humility, charity, and love of others

Key Figures

Simon Peter:•a prominent figure in early Christianity

Key Figures

Simon Peter:•Peter and the other disciples taught

– Jesus was the Savior and Son of God – Jesus come to Earth to save all people– Jesus’ death had made up for people’s sins and

made salvation possible– Individuals had only to accept Christ (“the

anointed one”) as their Savior to be saved

Key Figures

Paul of Tarsus:•followed Jesus’ command to preach the gospel to both Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles)•founded many Christian communities in Asia Minor and along the Aegean Sea

Key Figures

Impact:•word spread that Jesus had overcome death•result: people converted•example: 60 days after Jesus’ crucifixion, Jerusalem alone had ten thousand converts

Diffusion

Teachings:•teachings were passed down orally•some were preserved in writing by Jesus’ disciples and followers•Between A.D. 40 and 100, these writings became the basis of the written Gospels (“the good news”)

Diffusion

Gospels:•tell of Jesus’ life and teachings•form the basis of the New Testament•the second part of the Christian Bible•A.D. 100 Christian churches throughout empire

Diffusion

View of Christianity in the Beginning:•Christianity seen as harmful to the public order•act of treason = Christians would not worship the Roman gods•believed in one God only and would not worship false gods or the emperors for fear of endangering their salvation

Diffusion

Nero:•Roman persecution of Christians•began A.D. 54–68•blamed Christians for the fire that destroyed much of Rome•subjected Christians to cruel deaths

Impact

Structure:•strengthened by Roman persecution •forced it to become organized•control of bishops over Christian communities•the clergy (church leaders) were distinct from the laity (everyday church members)

Impact

Structure (continued):•attracted many followers•more personal than the Roman religion•offered eternal life and salvation•gave people a sense of belonging to a community•appealed to every class and especially the poor and powerless

Impact

Roman Reformers:•Christianity prospered in the fourth centuryConstantine:•first Christian emperor•AD 313 Edict of Milan proclaimed official toleration of ChristianityTheodosius the Great:•Rome adopted Christianity as their official religion

Collapse of the Roman Empire

• Element: Analyze the factors that led to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

• Vocabulary: Collapse of the Western Roman Empire

The Decline

Factors:•A.D. 180 the death of Marcus Aurelius•long period of civil wars•political disorder•economic decline

The Decline

Late Roman Empire:•end of the third and the beginning of the fourth centuries•emperors Diocletian and Constantine•a new governmental structure•a rigid economic and social system•a new religion, Christianity

The Decline

Diocletian:•ruled from 284 to 305•believed empire was too large•divided the empire into four sections, each with its own ruler•Diocletian’s military power gave him ultimate authority over the other three rulers

The DeclineConstantine:•ruled from 306 to 337•extended many of Diocletian’s policies•by 324 was the sole ruler •built a new capital city in the east on the site of Byzantium on the shores of the Bosporus•Constantinople: became the center of the Eastern Roman Empire and one of the world’s greatest cities•filled his “New Rome” with a forum, large palaces, and an amphitheater

Impact (1)

• expanded bureaucracy, more money needed• enlarged the army to five hundred thousand

troops• expansion of the civil service and the military

drained the treasury• the lack of population growth meant that the

tax base could not be increased

Impact (2)

• emperors issued edicts forcing people to stay in their assigned jobs

• policies based on control and coercion• Empire continued for another hundred plus

years

Common Causes for the Collapse

1. Barbarian Invasion2. Decline in Morals and Values3. Environmental and Public Health Problems4. Excessive Military Spending to Defend the

Empire5. Inferior Technology

Common Causes for the Collapse

6. Inflation7. Political Corruption8. Rise in Christianity9. Unemployment10.Urban Decay

Fall of Western Rome (1)• divided into two parts• had two capitals, Rome in the west and

Constantinople in the east• second half of the fourth century, Huns from Asia

moved into eastern Europe and put pressure on the German Visigoths

• Visigoths moved south, crossing the Danube River into Roman territory

• Initially Roman allies, the Visigoths revolted and defeated a Roman army in 378

Fall of Western Rome (2)• More Germans crossed into Roman lands• 410 the Visigoths sacked the city of Rome• 455 another group called the Vandals also sacked

the city• 476 the western emperor, Romulus Augustus, was

deposed by the Germanic head of the army• the end of the Western Roman Empire• Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire,

continued to thrive

Roman Empire

• Western Rome: collapses and begins the “Dark Ages” of Europe

• Eastern Rome: will continue on and will be known as the Byzantine Empire