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.