WLD HIS Unit 4 Ch.
11
The Roman Empire and Christianity
Section 1: Life During the Empire
Ch. 11 (1.1): Augustus and the Pax Romana
Main Idea: Augustus transformed Rome from
a violent republic into a peaceful empire.
● ________________ - Caesar's heir
○ Defeated rivals to become all-powerful sole
ruler of Rome
○ Name changed to ________________, “exalted
one”
○ Named Emperor, or Supreme Ruler
● Improved roads, buildings, services
● Updated ________________ and bureaucracy
● Started 200 years of peace: ________
________________
Ch. 11 (1.1): Augustus and the Pax Romana
● Pax Romana
○ “Roman Peace” from 27 BC- 180
AD
○ Seen as the Roman
“________________
________________”
○ Trade flourished
○ Ships and legions protected
lands
Ch. 11 (1.2): Growth and Trade
Main Idea: As the Roman Empire expanded, trade became easier and the economy
boomed.
● Network of ________________, Bridges, and Tunnels
○ Built by soldiers, connected the distant lands of the empire
○ Crucial for expanding ________________
○ Expanded ability for information by ________________
○ ________________ was easy, save, and fast for everyone in the empire
● Booming ________________
○ Flow of goods on the roads = thriving economy and sense of community
○ Standardized ________________ throughout the empire
■ Silver ________________ and brass ________________
Video: Roman Engineering (Start at 6:30)
Ch. 11 (1.3): Roman Engineering
Main Idea: The Romans were skilled engineers who
helped transform how things were built.
● ________________
○ Previously dirt paths, now created with layers and
sturdy material
○ Mostly built by soldiers
○ ________________ ________________ - Rome’s first great
road, built in ________________ BC
○ “All ________________ lead to ________________”
● ________________
○ New Roman invention, used to build strong, large
buildings (many still standing!)
● ________________
○ Carried clean ________________ from hilltops to cities
Video: Gladiator Training
Ch. 11 (1.4): The Colosseum
Main Idea: The Colosseum was the stage for
brutal games to entertain the Roman people.
● Opened by emperor ________________ in 80 A.D.
● Seated ________________ spectators
● Hosted ________________ games, animal hunts
and ________________ reenactments
● “________________ and ________________”
○ Emperor paid for the games, hoping to distract the
poor from taxes and political control.
○ distribute free wheat to the poor
○ chariot races and gladiator matches
Ch. 11 (1.6): Pompeii
Main Idea: The ruins and remains of Pompeii provide insight into everyday Roman
life.
● August 24, A.D. 79 - Mt. ________________ erupted
● ________________ the ________________ wrote about the events
● Eruption lasted 3 days, burying the city in ash
● Ruins of the city were discovered in the 1500s but archaeologists waited until
________________ to careful uncover the ruins.
Video: NatGeo Lost Treasures of Ancient Rome
See assignment on Canvas
Section 2: Christianity
Ch. 11 (2.1): The Origins of Christianity
Main Idea: Christianity developed in ________________
communities and was based on the teachings of
Jesus.
● By 63 BC Romans conquer all of Judea
○ 66 AD – Zealots begin First Jewish War
○ 70 AD – Romans sack ________________ and burn Jewish
Temple
● Jesus of Nazareth- Born ~4 BC
○ Wandering preacher at age 30
○ Same God as Judaism
○ Seen as messiah
○ Taught ________________- stories with moral lesson
○ Performed ________________- cure the sick and bring back
the dead
Ch. 11 (2.2): Christianity Spreads
Main Idea: Christianity attracted many followers and
spread throughout the Roman Empire.
● Paul - converted Roman who had a vision of Jesus
○ ________________ - Travelled around Asia Minor,
________________, and eventually ________________
○ Wrote ________________ to friends and followers
○ Responsible for spreading Christianity throughout the Empire
● System of roads also contributed to the fast growth
of the new religion
● Rome confused Christianity for Judaism, allowing it
to grow
○ ________________ by 64 AD
Ch. 11 (2.4): The Early Christian Church
Main Idea: In time, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
● Persecution intensifies
○ A.D. 64: ________________ blames Christians for a great fire in Rome
○ Being Christian is punishable by ________________
○ A.D. 312: Persecution had reached its peak
● Emperor ________________
○ Had a vision of Christ, won a battle, ended persecution
○ Edict of ________________ (313 AD)- granted tolerance to practice and preach Christianity
● Emperor ________________
○ Made Christianity the official religion of Rome
Section 3: Decline and Fall of the
Empire
Ch. 11 (3.1): The Third Century Crisis
Decline of the Roman Empire (see pg. 327 for additional examples)
● ________________ Threats
○ Germanic invasions, relied on mercenaries
● ________________ Weakness
○ High taxes and inflation, lower value of currency
● ________________ Turmoil
○ Frequent civil wars, assassinated emperors, widespread government corruption
● ________________ Decay
○ Traditional values decline, struggle between rich and poor
Ch. 11 (3.2): Eastern and Western Roman Empires
Main Idea: In A.D. 285, the Roman Empire was divided into the
________________ Roman Empire and the ________________ Roman Empire.
● A.D. 285: Emperor ________________ makes the radical change to
divide the empire in two
○ ________________ - Easter ruler
○ ________________ - Western ruler
○ Each had a junior emperor, leading to a ________________ (rule by four)
● Empire was more successful and populous
________________
● Constantine later moved the capital from Rome to
Byzantium (in the Eastern empire) and renames it
________________
Ch. 11 (3.3): End of the Western Roman Empire
Main Idea: Invaders attacked the Western Roman Empire and
caused its downfall.
● Three main tribes of barbarians (people outside the empire)
lead to Rome’s demise: ________________, ________________, and the
________________
● ________________ the ________________ leads his army into Europe
and attacks Gaul
● ________________ destroy Rome in A.D. 410
● By 476, the last emperor leaves Rome
● Western Roman Empire = Broken up into many Germanic
kingdoms
● Eastern Roman Empire = Becomes the ________________ Empire
Section 4: The Legacy of Rome
Ch. 11 (4.1): Latin and Literature
Main Idea: The Latin language spread across the empire and
influences the way we speak and write today.
● ________________ Language
○ From Latin, we receive the ________________ languages - French, Italian,
Spanish, and Portuguese.
○ English was also greatly influenced by Latin and uses many Latin words
● ________________
○ Public speaking - considered an artform. ________________ was one of the
greatest orators
● ________________
○ Epic Poems (similar to the Greeks).
○ Virgil’s ________________ - 12 volumes about the founding of Rome
● ________________
○ Derived from Greeks. Stressed civic duty and acceptance of circumstances
