THE FATE OF ANCIENT ROME

CHAPTER 9

Daily Roman Life

To be a Citizen: Be male Live in Rome Register in the census (must claim

women, children, and slaves) Eventually citizenship spread outside the

city walls

Roman Social Classes

Wealthy- Lived in elegant homes in the city

Also had Villas Poor- lived in poorly built run down

housing Riots when food supply was low Colosseum or Circuses Gladiators

Family LIfe

Roman family life was important Govt. helped support families with

multiple kids. Even went as far as to give them land.

Single men/families with no children (got nothing

Paterfamilias (pay tur fuh mil ee us) Head of the household (dad,

grandpa, great grandpa)

Role of Women

Marry into a family and produce children

Wealthy women had some freedoms to do as they pleased

Poor women often took jobs a dress makers, shoe makers, dancers, entertainers, cooks

Slaves

1/3 of the population in Italy were slaves

House slaves Farm slaves Mine slaves Galdiators

Christianity in Rome

Christianity was a Religion founded by Jesus

Spread rapidly through the Roman Empire

Conquered people could follow their own religion but must respect the Roman gods and goddesses

Problems in Judaea

Jewish unrest Romans put Herod in charge Jesus is born during this time period Jesus’s disciples told stories about

his life 4 documents were written about him

based off of oral tradition Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and

John

The Fear of Christianity

Jesus taught that you must love God Romans feared these teachings Thought Jesus would lead a revolt

The Spread of Chirstianity

Greek word for messiah (christos) Jesus’s followers became known as

christians The Persecution of Christians:

Nero blamed the great fire of Rome on the Christians (Christians treated poorly for 250 years)

Romans began to admire Christians as Martyrs

The Fall of Rome

No one cause is agreed upon These are the parts:

Week corrupt rulers A mercenary army Size of the empire Serious economic issues Empire split in two

Constantine and Christianity

He declared freedom of religion Moved the roman cap. to Byzantium AKA Constantinople (eastern Rome) Western Rome falls to the Barbarians Constantinople becomes the capital

of the Byzantine empire

Constantinople