I. General Information
Greece and Rome greatly influenced the western world US Constitution Architecture
Rome helped spread Christianity (indirectly)Rome was greatly influenced by Greek
history
I. General Information
Rome Vs. Greece Rome
Mighty Empire Mastery of Engineering
Greece City-states Scientific Thought (philosophy)
Similarities Political Ideas (Democracy and Republic) Religion Artistic Styles Economy (agricultural with heavy trade)
II. Greece
Earliest society was on Crete (Myceneans) The civilization involved in the Trojan War Later invaded the Peloponnesus (Greece)
Led to the Greek Dark Ages (1150-800 BC) Became known as the Greeks or the Hellenes
II. Greece
Archaic Period (800-500BC) The city-states soon developed Warred against each other unless invaded
Xerxes and the Persians (492-490 & 480-479 BC) Main cities were Athens and Sparta
Athens- democratic (508 BC) and philosophic Sparta- oligarchy and militaristic
Pericles- peak of Athens democracy Influenced the government through negotiations All men were expected to participate
II. Greece
Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) Sparta and its allies defeated Athens and its allies Greatly weakened the city-states Allowed Phillip II of Macedon to take over
Alexander the Great Son of Phillip II Expanded the Macedonian empire into Asia Spread Greek culture Founded Alexandria in Egypt
II. Greece
Culture Socrates
Question everything to improve it Plato
Student of Socrates Human reasoning can help understand the world
Aristotle Student of Plato Stressed moderation
Sophocles Dramatist Oedipus Rex and Antigone
Homer “Historian” Iliad and Odyssey
II. Greece
Contributions Democracy Socratic Method
Philosophy Olympics Pythagorean Theorem Anatomy Architecture
III. Rome
Began as a Roman monarch around 800 BC Etruscans
Monarchy overthrown by Roman Aristocrats 509 BC Became the Roman Republic
III. Rome
Romans were paranoid about invasion Expanded their territory
Punic Wars (264- 146 BC) Result of Roman expansion 3 wars with Carthage 1st Punic War was over Sicily 2nd Punic War- Hannibal invades through the Alps 3rd Punic War- Rome attack Carthage and ends the
war
III. Rome
End of the Republic Executive branch was made up of 2 Counsels Julius Caesar was invading Gaul and Pompey had a
disagreement Crosses the Rubicon 45 BC and overthrew Pompey to
become dictator. "alea iacta est" – the die is cast. Julius Caesar assassinated by Senate on March 15 44
BC After Civil War Octavian Caesar Augustus takes over
as “emperor” (27 BC) Led to Pax Romana (27 BC- 180 AD) Pax Romana ends with death of Marcus Aurelius who
expanded to Britain
III. Rome
Christianity Originated with Jesus Christ of Nazareth Was able to spread throughout the “known” world due
to Roman Roads Apostle Paul traveled heavily on these roads Heavily persecuted by emperors due to refusal to give
1st allegiance to empire Nero, Diocletian and Marcus Aurelius Constantine converted which ended the persecution(313
AD) Moved capital to Constantinople and divided into 2
halfs
III. Rome
Fall of Rome Invaded by the Barbarians
Goths and Huns Incompetent emperors Eventually fell in 476 AD Byzantine Empire lasted until 1453 with its capital in
Constantinople
Side Note- Gladiator games offered free bread 3x a day as well as entertainment (heavy welfare dependence help lead to the fall?)
III. Rome
Laws Twelve Tables (450 BC)
Helped protect the rights of citizens Regulated commerce
Religious tolerance Allowed all religions as long as they gave allegiance to
Rome 1st
Local Rule Allowed conquered regions to rule themselves but submit
to Roman law Citizenship
Naturalized citizens