The Rise of Rome

Roman Religion

• Romans had a religion of their own, it was not based on any central belief, but on a mixture of fragmented rituals, taboos, superstitions, and traditions.
• They did't worship one god but multiple gods.

The Gods

• Jupiter, King of Gods
• Neptune, God of Sea
• Mars, God of War
• Venus, Goddess of Beauty
• Cupid, God of Love
• Apollo, God of Sun
• Pluto, God of Death

Practices

• They sacrificed animals such as bulls, sheep and pigs.
• Vestal virgins were six priestesses, representing the daughters of the royal house, who tended the state cult of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth.

Christianity in Rome

• 30 AD Jesus began teaching
• 33 AD Jesus is arrested and crucified, his followers begin preaching of his resurrection.
• 66 AD Jews rebel against Roman rule and they overpowered a small army in Jerusalem.
• 70 AD Romans retake Jerusalem and kill thousands of Jews. They were persecuted until the early 300s AD
• 392 AD Christianity was named offical relgion of Rome.

Julius Caesar

• Played a role in the transformation of Roman Republic to Roman Empire.
• Conquered Gaul
• Julius Caesar was a general, a statesman, a lawgiver, an orator, and historian
• Established the calender to have 365 days.
• He was also appointed ruler for life.

Julius Civil Wars

• Involved Julius Caesar, his political supporters, and his legions, against the Optimates
• After 5 years of fighting the Battle of Munda ended the war.
• The war resulted in the end of the Roman Republic and the begining of the Roman Empire.

Roman Government

• During the begining of the Roman Empire legislative, judicial, and electoral powers were all transferred from the Roman assemblies to the senate.
• The first legal text is the Law of the Twelve Tables.

The Society

• Women that were born free were conceidered citizens but couldnt vote
• Slaves were a important part of the society, under law they were property, and had no rights.
• In marriage the man had the power, men usually waited till their mid 20s to marry while women married in their teens.

Social Order

• Ruler
• Senate
• Commons
• Freedpeople
• Slaves