Chapter 1 Section 3: Rome and Rise of Christianity
Terms
• patricians- large landowners, Rome’s ruling class
• plebeians- small landowners, craftspeople, merchants, & farmers
• republic- form of govt. in which people elect representatives to exercise power for them
• Senate- highest council of ancient Roman Republic & Empire
Rome
Romans distrusted kingship & built a republic by 509 B.C.E.
Rome divided into 2 groups, patricians & plebeians; Both were citizens & could vote but only patricians were elected to public office
Executive officers of Roman Republic were 2 consuls (ran govt. & led army) & 2 praetors (laws)
Senate was made up of 300 patricians who served for life; by 3rd century B.C.E. Senate passed laws
Centuriate assembly elected consuls & praetors, & passed laws as well; organized by classes based on wealth
471 B.C.E., a popular assembly called council of the plebs was created to protect plebeians
By 287 B.C.E., all male Roman citizens were “equal” under law
In reality: few wealthy patricians and plebeian families in the Senate were the ruling class.
Unlike Athens assembly, Roman citizens chose reps from their same wealthy class making it a wealthy club.
Roman’s contributed a system of law; Twelve Tables, was adopted in 450 B.C.E.
This code was inadequate for later Roman needs and served only simple farming society.
As Rome expanded, it developed Law of Nations which included universal laws for both citizens & non-citizens
Based on reason and applied to all!
The Roman Republic lasted five centuries but became a Empire by the 1st century C.E. after a series of civil wars.
By 1st century C.E. Rome controlled Mediterranean Sea; Augustus Caesar created Roman Empire
Pax Romana lasted 14 -180 C.E.; Trade flourished & govt. was orderly, but a huge gap grew between the rich & the poor
Rome extended citizenship to those they conquered
Latin became language of educated citizens in empire
Roman achievements in language, law, architecture, & engineering spread through Western world
Christianity
Birth & spread of Christianity during Empire
After C.E. 200, Empire began to decline
Jesus, a Jewish prophet, preached during Rome’s Empire throughout Judaea and Galilee.
Jesus taught humility, charity, & love of others: he taught that what was important was not strict adherence to the letter of the law but the transformation of the inner person
“Love God and one another”
Jesus seen as a revolutionary threat to Roman authority and many saw him leading a revolt against Rome.
Roman official, Pontius Pilate, was informed of this and ordered Jesus crucified.
After his death, his followers proclaimed he had risen and he was the Messiah who would save Israel.
At first, Romans saw Christianity as just another sect of Judaism.
Eventually, Romans saw Christianity as harmful to public order; Christians believed in 1 God & would not worship Roman gods/emperors
They refuse to take part in ceremonies honoring Roman gods.
Christians persecuted under Emperor Nero (C.E. 54-68) → subjected to cruel deaths
Christianity attracted many followers despite the persecution (3x):
1.Christian message was personal and offered everyone an eternal life of happiness and bliss.
2.Christanity contained elements familiar from other popular religions, making it easy to understand. (Immortality through sacrificial death & communal sharing of wine)
3. Community
Constantine, 1st Christian Roman emperor; 313 C.E., Edict of Milan proclaimed official toleration of Christianity & just decades later Theodosius made Christianity Rome’s only official religion
Catholic Church (Roman-like institution) dominated Europe at end of Roman Empire (476 C.E.)
The Catholic Church became an institution that was an avenue between the individual and God.
Show individuals how to be saved
Conflict within the Church: emphasis on individual conscience and emphasis on the public community/state.
Christians make good subjects but if the state violated conscience, Christians must resist the state.
Martin Luther in 1519.
Many other traditions link Christianity and Rome.
Duty and Virtue
Jesus taught Christians to treat all like they would be treated but ultimately Christians wanted to convert everyone.
Crusades