- Based on Greek polytheistic religion

- Used to explain natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events

Father of the Gods

God of Thunder and Lightening

God of the Sun

Goddess of the Hunt and Wild

Sits on Tiber River on Italian Peninsula; centrally located in Mediterranean (offers protection and access to trade); Alps Mountains offer protection to the north

- Patricians = wealthy nobles; upper-class; minority of population

- Plebeians = common man; lower-class; majority of population

- Slavery was common (not based on race)

- Wealthy upper-class

- Rich land-owners

- Minority

- Common man (farmers, merchants, soldiers)

- Lower class

- Majority

- Representative democracy

- Assemblies

- Senate

- Consuls

- Laws of Rome = Twelve Tables

- Mediterranean Basin: Africa,  Asia, Europe, and the Hellenistic world of the Eastern Med)

- Western Europe: Gaul (France), British Isles (England)

1. Spread of slavery into the farming system
2. Migration of small farmers into cities - unemployment
3. Civil war over the power of Julius Caesar
4. Devaluation of Roman currency - inflation

- Roman general

- Member of 1st Triumvirate

- Defeated Pompey - "Dictator for Life"

- Assassinated by Senate (afraid of his power)

- Julius Caesar's adopted son (nephew)

- Member of 2nd Triumvirate

- Defeated Marc Anthony/Cleopatra

- First Emperor of Roman Empire = Augustus Caesar

With imperial and military authority

Roman Peace

- 200 years of peace and prosperity under imperial rule

- Began with Augustus

- Expansion and solidification of Roman Empire

1. Established uniform currency (system of money) - expanded trade
2. Guaranteed safe travel and trade on Roman roads
3. Promoted prosperity and stability

1. Returned stability to the social classes
2. Increased emphasis on the family

1. Created a civil service - jobs for the unemployed
2. Developed a uniform system of law

• Had its roots in Judaism
• Led by Jesus of Nazareth - the Messiah
• Conflicted with Roman polytheistic beliefs

• Christianity = monotheistic, butRome = polytheistic
• Christians refused to participate in Roman religious traditions, including worshipping the emperor as a god

• Monotheistic
• Jesus = son and incarnation of God
• Life after death (Heaven & Hell)
• Holy Book = Holy Bible (Old Testament = Jewish holy book; New Testament = life and teachings of Jesus and early Christians

What impact did Christianity have on the late Roman Empire?

• Church became an example of moral authority
• Loyalty to the Church became more important than loyalty to the Emperor
• Church became the unifying force in Western Europe

• First Christian emperor of Roman Empire
• Legalized Christianity in Roman Empire
• Moved capital of Roman Empire to Byzantinum - renamed Constantinople

• Realism (made art look more realistic)
• Arches and domes
• Pantheon - temple for Roman gods
• Colosseum - stadium
• Forum - central market/meeting place

Colosseum - Roman stadium (gladiator fighting, executions, naval battles, animal fights, etc.)

• Roads
• Aqueducts
• Arches

Emphasis on public health

• Public baths
• Public water system
• Medical schools

• Roman mythology
• Christianity

• Economy: cost of defense too high; devaluation of Roman currency
• Military: hiring foreigners resulted in decline of discipline and training
• Moral decay: people's loss of faith in Rome and the family
• Political problems: civil conflict and weak administration
• Invasion: attacks on all borders by Germanic tribes
  

• The extensive empire was becoming to expensive and difficult to govern
• Not enough Roman soldiers to guard extensive border - had to rely on foreigners

• Better economy
• Farther away from Germanic invasions in the west
• Easier to defend

Patrician and Plebeian men

Selected foreigners