Upload
cmonafu
View
846
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Chapter 5 Roman Empire Bob Jones University World History
Citation preview
ROMAN EMPIRE
Ch. 5
Pax Romana
Roman Empire at its peak Jesus born during this time
Augustus
1st Citizen of Rome Shared power with Senate Also known as
Augustus (title of divinity, honor, majesty) Caesar Emperor
Augustus and Pax Romana
Economic prosperity &
Stable currency
Farming and trade
flourished
Ease of communication• Everyone used
Roman and Greek languages
Safe travel• Got rid of piracy
Regulate taxation:
Census every 14 yrs.
Social reforms to revive: duty,
discipline, hard work
Roman Culture & Achievement
Law
System of justice Protected individual rights Many European adopted these principles
into their current law
Literature
Influenced by Greeks Virgil (70-19BC)
Greatest roman poet Glorified Rome “Rome was destined to rule the world”
Horace Friend of Virgil Warned of danger of luxury and ease Praised virtues of morality, justice, moderation and
courage Ovid
Wrote about mythology and love Popular among upper class Rome
After Augustus death, mood of writers changed…
Juvenal• Satires about loose morals and
social problems
Tacitus• Favored old republic to new
empire• Wrote about Germanic peoples
Latin language remains main used language throughout Medieval times
Greek Influence
Plutarch Wrote about influential Greeks and Romans
Galen Advances in medical knowledge Wrote medical encyclopedia
Ptolemy Theory that earth is center of universe
(geocentric)
Art and Architecture
Art Generals brought back from conquests Copied Greek statues
Romans excelled at busts Statues realistic (scars and all) Excelled at relief art
Architecture Aqueducts Bridges Road system Buildings were: large, durable, and practical
Religious Beliefs
nature gods mythology philosophy Epicureans (Lucretius)
Free your mind from fear and pain Seek happiness for yourself
Stoics (Seneca) Goal of romans to seek “good behavior”
Courage Dignity Duty service
Eastern Influence
Mystery religions Polytheistic and mythological Tolerated by Romans as long as
acknowledged emperor as a god too Pontifex maximus – worship of emperor
Christians persecuted because they would not participate in this
Introduction of Christianity
A World Made Ready
God prepared world for birth of Christ Romans
Made travel safe Political stability
Greeks Main language understood in all empire
Jews Temple destroyed Jews built synagogues as places of worship Translated OT into Greek so all could read
(Septuagint) Jews and Gentiles
Turning Point in History
God sent Jesus to redeem sinful man Born in Roman Province – Judea Most Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah
They wanted freedom from Roman oppression He offended Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees)
They plotted His death Brought Him before Pontius Pilate
Charge Him wanted to overthrow Roman rule Pontius Pilate gave in to keep peace in province
Jesus death and resurrection brought HOPE to world Jesus changed history
Spread of Gospel
Jesus charged disciples to spread gospel in all world
Conditions were favorable for spread of Gospel
Jerusalem became center of early Church Disciples preached and converted thousands in
Jerusalem Persecution of Christians in Jerusalem
Lead to spread of Christianity throughout Judea and Samaria Even further because of:
Conversion of Paul Destruction of Jerusalem
Paul
Born into prosperous Jew family Tarsus (Turkey) Well educated Persecuted Christians until conversion on
Damascus Road Wrote epistles in NT Planted churches in:
Asia Minor Macedonia Greece Rome
Destruction of Jerusalem
586 BC – 70 AD – Jerusalem under foreign rule Chaldeans Persians Alexander the Great Ptolemies Seleucids Romans
Jews grew restless under Roman rule 66 AD- Rebellion 70 AD- Roman legions arrive and destroy city
Looted temple Jews scatter throughout world
Church Organizational Development
First Christians met in homes or synagogues Early leaders apostles chosen by Jesus
Christ Pastor and Elders were equal at first
Later Elders took care of business Pastor concentrated in studying scripture
As churches grew in size power and prestige of pastor/bishop grew
Problems facing early church: Rapidly increasing membership Persecution Heretical attacks
Persecution to Acceptance
Nero Diocletian 54 AD 305 AD
Nevertheless, Christianity grew and flourished
313 AD – Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine Made Christianity legal Dramatically changed history of church Rome changes from persecutor of
Christianity to its protector and patron
Constantine
Arius Heretic who challenged deity of Christ Constantine called general assembly of
church leaders Council of Nicea 325 AD
Affirmed Christ deity and Trinity Emperor involved in church business
Brought power and prosperity to church
Theodosius I Made Christianity official and exclusive
religion in Roman state
Church
Grows in number and prosperity Decline in purity
People join just because it’s “the thing to do” Pagan practices leak in:
Monasticism – live separate from society Influence from Eastern religions DOES NOT HAVE ANY BIBLICAL BASE!
Organization changes Hierarchy similar to political system instead of
based on Biblical teachings
Patriarchates & Patriarch
In time, Roman patriarch grew
in power
Pope main power in
Catholic church
* Worldliness and paganism
influences church and it departs from Biblical truths
Collapse of Roman Empire
1. Political Reasons2. Economic Reasons
1. Cost to maintain
3. Moral Reasons
Political • Internal weakness• No strong
leadership• Assassinations,
civil war, and inner turmoil
• Army controlled state to satisfy its greed
Economic• Cost to maintain
large empire• Raise taxes• Value of coins
decrease• Prices increase
Moral• Discipline, duty
and loyalty not valued anymore
• Greed increases• People anted free
food and entertainment
• Family life disintegrated
Reasons for Collapse of Roman Empire
Reform and Reorganization Attempts
Diocletian and Constantine Strong leaders who delayed fall of Rome for
200 years Diocletian realized empire too large!
Appointed a co-emperor to rule west “Augustus” Augustus appointed a helper = Caesar
Divided empire into 4 parts (prefectures) Brought stability back to empire New coins and tax system
Reform and Reorganization Attempts
Constantine won civil war after Diocletian Moved capital east to Byzantium
(Constantinople)
Barbarian Invasions
• Courageous
• Restless• Drinkers• Gamblers• Skilled
fighters• Romans
allowed barbarians in army
• 410 AD – Visigoths ransack Rome
• 476 AD – Official fall of Western Roman Empire