Chapter 11: Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase

Vocabulary

• Etruscans: A people who dominated the majority of Italy between the eight and fifth centuries (B.C.E.). Manufactured high-quality iron and bronze goods. Their society declined when Greek fleets defeated them at sea while the Celtic people also attacked them from modern day France. 

• Roman Republic: Described as an “aristocratic republic”. Had many government buildings near the center of it. Was a democracy in which most people served one-year terms. 

• Punic Wars: Wars in which the constant was Rome and the defeated peoples were the Carthaginians, Macedonians, Anatolians, Antigonidians, and Seleucidians. Rome was the victor of all and became the clear power throughout the Mediterranean. 

• Gracchi Brothers: Chief proponents of social reform in the Roman republic. The two brothers were named Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. These two brothers worked to limit the amount of land one person could own, so as to make people more equal. They were both eventually assassinated because people feared what they were doing. 

• Julius Caesar: A nephew of a famous general and a leader in Rome. He was the major component in the transition from Rome’s republican constitution to a centralized imperialistic form of government. He favored liberal policies and social reform. He named himself dictator of Rome when other political leaders tried to force him out. 

• Augustus Caesar: The nephew and protégé of Julius Caesar, who took over for Julius thirteen years after he died. He was also Julius’ adopted son. Augustus ruled for forty-five years, virtually unopposed. The form of government he ran was a monarchy disguised as a republic by keeping all the republican offices, but leaving all the important governmental function decisions to himself. 

• Pax Romana: An era in the Mediterranean that literally translates to “Roman Peace”. This came from Augustus Caesar’s rule, which quieted down civil riots and similar such things all around the Mediterranean. 

• Circus Maximus: A large circus that provided for entertainment of urban masses. Was an oval structure with tracks for chariot races; also had gladiator fights, and many other events that we would now consider to be cruel. This particular circus could accommodate approximately 250,000 spectators. 

• Pater Familias: Literally translates to “Father of the Family”. Normally the oldest male in the household held this position, and would be the head of the family. Roman law gave these heads of family almost complete authority over everyone else in the family, even as far as selling them into slavery or punishment by death. 

• Cicero: His full name was Marcus Tullius Cicero, lived from 106-43 (B.C.E.). He adopted stoicism and became well acquainted with both classical and Hellenistic schools of thought. He was a moral philosopher and helped establish stoicism as the most prominent school of moral philosophy in Rome. 

• Mithraism: A more popular religion of salvation that was dedicated to the Persian deity Mithras. Mithras was closely identified with the sun and light. Mithraism was considered a cult. 

• Paul of Tarsus: A Jewish man from Anatolia who seeked new converts for the new religion of salvation, Christianity. Spread Christianity throughout the Hellenistic world and the Roman Empire for the first time. 

Focus Question #1

            The Roman Empire covered an immense area. What enabled the Romans to maintain control over their far-flung provinces and what sources of tension existed?

            The Romans were able to control such a large region because it was primarily a democracy which allowed each general area to govern them while in the big picture being governed by the central government that functioned like a well-oiled machine because of it’s stable infrastructure. Other factors contributing to this being possible included; unifying religions, Roman law, complex trade networks, the Pax Romana, and the transportation/road networks.

            Unifying religions and cults brought people of differing regions to peace with one another. Religions such as the like of Christianity and Judaism, and cults such as Mithraism and the Cult of Isis are some examples. These were diffused across larges areas by relocation diffusion. One of the most important people involved with the diffusion of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean was Paul of Tarsus, who was the first to bring Christianity to the large region.

            The road networks were arguably the most important piece of the puzzle holding the Roman Empire together. These allowed for the complex trade networks to develop and the diffusion of ideas, religions, and laws to move quickly throughout the empire. The Pax Romana was also an important time because it was a time of peace throughout the entire empire, brought about by Augustus Caesar.

Focus Question #2

            Christianity had its beginnings in the eastern Roman Empire. Explain its appeal and how it spread.

            The most integral person in the spreading of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire was a man known as Paul of Tarsus, who took his religion and spoke it to populaces all over the empire.

            Christianity evolved from Judaism, and the earliest forms of it were practiced by Jews who recognized Jesus as the messiah, while when practicing Judaism, Jesus was just a prophet. Jews recognized the god, Yahweh, as their one true god, and considered other state cults, such as Mithraism, to be blasphemy. The Jews rebelled against this cult-centered government and were decisively defeated in the Jewish War, from 66 to 70 (C.E.).

            Jesus was born into the Roman Empire and began to preach Christianity. He was executed by the Roman government in the early 30s (C.E.). Afterwards, Paul of Tarsus, took upon himself a great task of spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. He travelled for many years teaching Christianity to Romans until he too was executed by the Roman government.

            Christianity appealed to so many people because a large part of it was that you could be forgiven and that if you lived faithfully you would “experience eternal life in the spiritual kingdom of God.”. Another reason it was so appealing was because it answered many questions about the world— how it came to be, important historical events, etc etc.