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Imperial Rome Flashcards

The Evolution of the Roman Empire

  • Internal pressures and external conflicts led to prioritizing stability over shared power.

  • Romans ceded rights for protection, and being Roman became synonymous with being Christian.

  • Shift from republic values to emperor and Christianity.

  • Decentralization and a shift in duty from Rome to Christianity occurred.

Main Points

  • Late Roman Republic's end.

  • Pax Romana.

  • Augustus as the first emperor.

  • Early Christianity's rise.

  • Discord and reform.

  • Constantine and Christianity as the state religion.

The Late Roman Republic and Its End
Struggling Orders

  • Conflict between patricians and plebeians.

Politicians

  • Optimates (elites) and Populares (populists).

The Gracchi Brothers

  • Pushed for rights but were murdered.

Marius

  • Recruited landless men, leading to army loyalty to commanders.

The Social War

  • Italian peoples sought full citizenship.

Conflict Between Sulla and Marius

  • Political instability; Sulla seized power with the army.

Pompey

  • General who behaved dictatorially.

The First Triumvirate

  • Alliance: Pompey, Crassus, Julius Caesar.

Tensions Between Caesar and Pompey

  • Caesar's popularity led to conflict; he crossed the Rubicon and became dictator.

Caesar as Dictator

  • Expanded citizenship but was assassinated.

Pax Romana

  • 200 years of peace after turmoil.

Octavian (Augustus)

  • Formed Second Triumvirate; defeated Caesar's assassins.

Conflict Between Octavian and Mark Antony

  • Tensions led to the Battle of Actium; Octavian won.

End of the Republic

  • Octavian became Emperor Augustus.

Augustus's Rule

  • Implemented reforms, expanded the empire, and established Pax Romana.

Legacy of Augustus

  • Pax Romana: peace, prosperity, stability.

The Five Good Emperors

  • Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius - chose successors based on talent.

Early Christianity

  • Emerged within Judaism and the Roman Empire.

Jesus of Nazareth

  • Preached, gained followers, and was executed.

Formation of Christianity

  • Followers believed Jesus was the Messiah.

Paul of Tarsus

  • Formalized Christian beliefs.

Early Christianity Within the Roman State

  • Emphasized community but faced suspicion.

Christianity: Martyrdom & Community

  • Christians were targeted for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods.

Disorder and Reform in the Roman Political System

  • Leadership declined after Marcus Aurelius.

Challenges to Leadership

  • Rome was too big with lacking infrastructure.

Commodus

  • Ineffective leader, assassinated.

Severus

  • Ruled through the army, promoted decentralization.

The Third Century Crisis

  • Constant wars, high taxes, and plague weakened the empire.

Diocletian

  • Divided Rome, created a tetrarchy.

Constantine and Christianity

  • Constantine rose to power and adopted Christian symbols.

Edict of Milan

  • Freedom of Religion within the Roman Empire.

Council of Nicaea

  • Established the Nicene Creed.

Christian Primacy

  • Christianity became the state religion; the church had its own courts.

  • Wealthy people retreated to villas.

  • Fragmentation of the western half of the empire due to internal decline and external invasions.

  • The Visigoths rebelled, leading to a major crisis for Rome.

  • Invasions by Vandals and others weakened the frontiers.

  • Rome was sacked in 410, hastening the downfall.

  • The Western half ended in 476.

The Religious Question

  • Religious leaders gained power, with the church above the state.

  • Religion offered salvation during instability.

  • Augustine's writings influenced Christianity.

Monasticism

  • Christians dropped out of society for religious communities.