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100
Republican Government
300 BC: The patricians and plebians created a practical and flexible unwritten constitution, or political struicture, which they were extremely proud of. The Romans created new offices and institutions of government. The government consisted of three parts: the senate, magistrates, and various popular assemlies. When the last king was thrown out of Rome, two magistrated called consuls, took his place. -
100
Rome Becomes an Empire
60 BC: Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, and Licinius Crassus took over the Roman Republic as the first Triumvirate. The second Triumvirate consisted of Caesar's adopted son Ocatvion,a loyal officer named Marc Antony, and the high priest Lepidus. A civil war broke out and Octavion soon controlled Rome alone. Five rulers called, Good Emperors ruled Rome for almost a century. -
100
Augustan Age
27 BC: For over 40 years, Augustus remained head of the state. Augustus divided the power to rule Rome between between himself and the senate. Most financial and administrative matters were under August's control. His rule made possible a smooth transition to the new imperial government -
100
Science and Engineering
AD: Ptolemy synthesized the knowledge of others in a single theory in astronomy-that the earth was the center of the universe. The Romanss tried to apply the knowledge they gained from science to planning their cities. Roman engineers created amazing roads and aqueducts. Without the aqueducts, Rome could not have grown so quickly. -
100
Judaism in the Romasn World
63 BC: Roman forces under Pompey conquered Judea after months of brutal fighting. As the rulers of Judea, the Romanss chose a new ruler for the area. Like the other Romans conquered, Jews had to pay tribute. The Jews were not willing to abondon their religion for the Romans' religion. -
100
Early Christian Church
They were close knit communities who proveded support for their members, from burial services to food and shelter for the sick and poor. As Christianity grew and spread, its organization became more complex. The most important official of the early Christian Church was the bishop. Later bishops of Rome, or popes, were seen as spiritual heirs. -
Period: 100 to 180
Pax Romana
27 BC - 180 AD: This period saw unprecedented peace and economic stability throughout the Empire. Pax Romana literally means Roman Peace. The imperial government operated smoothly and was very seldom interrupted by war. Stable government, widespread trade, a strong legal system, and peace characterized this era. -
300
Imperial Approval of Christianity
The spread of Christianity through Rome was hastened by the conversion of the emperor Constantine. His conversion was triggered by a vision he experienced just before a battle in 312. Constantine won the battle and became a patron of Christianity. Constantine did not ban the practice of other religions but his support for Christianity helped it spread through Rome. -
300
The Invaders
For centuries Germanic tribes lived along and occasionally raided Romes frontiers. As people moved west from central Asia, they pushed Germanic tribes into the empire. In both Rome and Constantinople, rulers tried desperately to hold the crumbling empire together. The Huns stormed out of the east and sent the German tribes fleeing. -
Reactions to Roman Rule
Zealots began to form pockets of armed resistance agaainst the Romans of Judea. In response, the Romans sacked Jerusalem and killed thousands of Jews. After another revolt in the 130's all Jews were banned from Jerusalem entirely.
