Roman Expansion In About 509 B.C. Rome example essay topic

The Greeks Athenian league and Spartan league come about after the Persian wars, and this causes conflict as the two Greek states are competing for territory. The beginning of the Peloponnesian war (431-416 and 415-404). The Athenian navy blockades Sparta and puts a choke on trade. The Spartan Army simply sets out and begins to burn Athenian crops.

After a few years, the Plague breaks out in Athens, killing about 1/3 of all Athenians. Pericles dies of the plague, causing a military decline in the Athenian might. In about 416 the two sides call a truce, which only lasts for about a year, then they begin to fight again. In the year 404 Athens is forced to surrender but only after losing many soldiers on both sides.

After the war there is almost no Army left at all. Greece begins to decline in the year 404. Philip of Macedon. Created a professional military that was not forced but who chose to fight.

He creates the Phalanx formation; a tight shock-style troop who fight with 15 foot spears and short swords. He also learns that the Phalanx is unstoppable against the horseman. Overruns Greece in 338 B.C. Alexander the Great Son of Phillip of Macedon. Taught by Aristotle, and the kid learned valuable traits from his fathers brutality in achieving power.

Quite possibly the first evil genius, commanding the most efficient army in the world. In 10 years he destroys the Persian Empire and conquers from Greece to India. They stop and turn about because it was a three year foot march strait home from their current location. He then develops a Calvary of Hellenic soldiers who are mounted archers. He also develops the spear as a means to fight soldiers in a Phalanx-style formation. He also develops the first engineer corps.

He also has a quartermaster corps. He also does not destroy cultures as he goes, but rather absorbs them and they become part of the Macedonian culture, he also lets them keep their religions and holidays. Through him Hellenistic Greece comes round, not Hellenic. In this period learning is revived.

Alexander dies in 323 B.C. at 33 years old. Soon after his death the Romans and Persians begin to take the areas he conquered and his empire falls to the Romans. The Romans Their real strength was not invention but improvement. Around 753 B.C. a group of wanderers settle in the middle of Italy. The area provides food, defenses, and water. They come in contact with the Etruscans, and Rome becomes a state which has a Monarchy.

The Monarchs are thought of as good leaders, but have a gradual decline. Around 509 B.C. the Romans rebel against the Monarchs and Rome becomes a Republic. Roman Law. The Romans then create a primitive system of checks-and-balances, and duplicate every office to limit the threat of corruption.

The Roman top official was the Consol, and there were always two of them. They could make separate decisions, but they had to agree on military and diplomatic matters. The Romans have two classes of people: The Patricians or upper-class, wealthier, and got their status based on support of the revolution against the Etruscans. Than there is everybody else; the Plebeians. Have limits on the jobs they can have.

Cannot marry into the Patrician society. Cannot judge the Patricians in court. Also, the Plebeians cannot vote or hold legal office. Than the Patricians let the Plebeians select two people from their ranks to become the Tribune, or the news informer to the Plebeians, also they could veto some of the laws which the Patricians try to pass. Also the Tribunes could do whatever necessary to protect the Plebeians from abuse.

After a while they create the 12 law tables. Begin to create laws for handling most everything. Also the citizens have a prosecutor, a defense lawyer, and the Jury, of all Patricians. They also have a judge who just watches and lets the jury carry out the decision. No real changes in their system of law for 500 years. Roman Expansion In about 509 B.C. Rome is able to defend itself against attacks.

By about 300 B. C Rome begins to attack and overrun their nearby areas to conquer the Italian Peninsula. Rome had a volunteer Army, and they were privileged. You had to be a Roman citizen to be in their Army. They did not have a draft unless it was during a major time of conflict. Roman military becomes highly organized.

Their soldiers were organized into legions, the equivalent of a modern American Division. The legion was then divided between 10-20 units. These units was celled the Century, led by a Centurion. The Centurion was the equivalent of a MSG, and it was only earned through battle. Rome tried to supply as much as it could in the ways of Arms and Armour. Only the elite soldiers like the horseman had to provide things such as horses.

The Romans had a standardized training program like our modern Basic Training. You were taught everything that you would need in combat, just like Sparta, and the soldiers were taught how to fight in hand-to-hand. Roman Military The Romans were big on artillery. They invented the Ballista. It was basically a giant crossbow on wheeled which fired metal arrows. It was used to fire into crowds, and was effective against three-to-four enemy soldiers.

Was a crew-served close-support weapon. They also fought with catapults armed with buckets full of Greek Fire. The Romans developed a number of compounds which were harmless until mixed. This really aided in their routine use of artillery against opponents. They also had various models of chariots to make a primitive armor fighting force. Carthage Soon after 300 B.C. the Romans came into contact with each other and begin to fight in 264.

From 264-243 B.C. the first Punic War. The Romans win the first Punic War, with both sides retreating and neither side defeated. So the Carthaginians return from 218-202 B.C. the Second Punic War. Hannibal was the commander of the Carthaginians, and had a tendency to do the unexpected.

So Hannibal saw that Rome had no defenses to the North because of the Alps Mountains. So Hannibal trains what are known as war elephants, which are very effective in frightening the enemy. So as the Romans prepare their defenses in the South the Carthaginians, led by Hannibal, go through the Alps. Hannibal's plan does not work however, because all but one of Hannibal's elephants die. Hannibal keeps moving south and is finally stopped by the Roman military 20 miles outside Rome. The war continues until 202, and in that year the Romans invade North Africa, defeat Hannibal, and conquer Carthage.

In 149 the third Punic war starts, where Carthage rises up against Rome, so Rome kills most of the Male's, and enslaves most of the females and children. In 146 the Romans tear down the city of Carthage and throw it into the Mediterranean. The end of Carthage. Rome becomes to crumble Rome begins to fall as the rich become richer and take from the poor, thus the downfall of Rome begins. Due to the victory of the Roman military in the battle with Carthage, Rome begins to become corrupt because of greed and a desire for power. The rich citizens begin to steal land from the poor, and Rome faces civil war.

So Rome elects consuls; Tiberius Gracchus 133 B.C. He proposes land reforms where a person could only own so much property, and the people think that it is a good idea. He is assassinated by the Roman Senate. About 10 years later his brother, Gaius Gracchus, is elected. He will serve for two years from 123-122 B.C. Wants to extend the right to vote, as well as price controls on certain items. The people don't support his ideas. The Senate tries to kill him, so he commits suicide.

Even though they do not make reforms, their ideas will be in the peoples heart and the rights of Plebeians begin to be thought of. Now the Plebeians become part of the Senate, as well there are Plebeian consuls. Rome's problems Rome begins to have problems in it's outer areas, and the Rich get greedier. So the politicians play to the idea of greed. Julius Caesar A talented military commander, he commanded the soldiers in Gaul, and he had won a number of victories over many enemies. He makes his army swear allegiance to him, but Caesar does have allies.

Pompey and Crassus, along with Caesar, become the 1 ST Triumvirate. Caesar is called back to Rome alone, so he brings his entire army with him. He marches his army into Rome, and establishes himself as the leading consul. Caesar takes power of Rome in 46 B.C. This make everyone very nervous because Caesar was doing what the original Roman Monarchs had done before. He always has a crisis to present to the Roman people, and he gets the Senate to appoint him dictator for life. As time goes on the senate becomes very nervous with what he is doing.

In 44 B.C. he is assassinated by the senate on March 15. The Roman government goes back to how it was before Caesar. The 2nd Triumvirate Octavion, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus. These three come along and hold control until 31 B.C. During this period there is a struggle between Octavion and Mark Anthony. Now Mark Anthony goes to Egypt, marries Cleopatra, and tries to make a revolution in Rome. Octavion, or Caesar Augustus, declares a war on Mark Anthony, and he is killed.

Now Octavion takes control of the Senate, by making good on the promises and returning the power to the people, making them puppets. By doing this he is made an emperor in 27 B.C. The Roman Empire is borne. Roman Empire Augustus, though getting his power from lying and cheating, is actually a good leader. He respects the senate, and follows the peoples wishes. He is regarded as the best Roman emperor. After he dies a religion appears in the East which causes conflict with Roman authority.

Christianity. Now Christ's teachings go against the Roman policy in that God was above government. Rome becomes very forceful in it's dealings with Christianity, and the Christians accept death over giving in. Now the things that the Romans did became very violent and bloody against the Christians, and even the people saying that Christianity was wrong said enough is enough. Spartacus He was the leader of the slave rebellion in Rome who was comprised of mainly Gladiators. They ran around southern Italy trying to escape, but they were finally cornered and destroyed by the Romans.

The Roman numbers overwhelmed the enemy and with the Roman reinforcements, they quickly destroyed the Sparticans. The Romans taught primarily with leather armor, but did develop metal armour after a while. Augustus Dies In 14 A. D Augustus dies, and his step-son Tiberius takes over. Because Rome had no main succession of power there was always a fight when the Emperor died. Because of this, there were problems with the emperors successor.

At the same time, the power of the emperor grows as their characters begin to fall. The first four emperors after Tiberius are called the Julio-Clauligula. These men begin to portray acts of supreme cruelty with killing Christians. They did not care about the people and as long as the people did not rebel they were happy. At the same time Rome's military might grows even stronger the military becomes more efficient and the empire grows very rapidly in all directions, including the north. At Rome's height Rome conquers Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, and extends all of the way up through Britain and almost conquer Ireland.

The Scotts and Northern Europeans fought against the Romans naked, painted blue, and having their hair spiked up with mud. They were also tall, nearly 6 feet, compared to the Roman 5"8. The Celts's words did not fair well against Roman shields because the quality of metal was not very good and would bend under pressure. As most of Northern Europe falls between 150 and 160 AD. Rome runs through Northern Europe to the middle East to Iraq, then due west through Egypt and across Northern Africa. The Roman military had, at times, up to 1/2 million soldiers.

Marcus Orel ius He was a great leader and he actually understood the Christian teachings. One of the last great emperors, once he died the Roman Empire fell again in 180 A.D. After his death the Romans begin to come under attack in Northern Europe by the Germanic Tribes which spell the downfall of Rome. As the Mongols push west from Asia, all of the tribes West of there push towards Rome. This lets these tribes into Rome, which gives Rome legions of tribal soldiers.

The Greeks were afraid of the Germans who were much larger than the Romans and were much stronger as well. They cut off their enemy's heads and mounted them in their homes. In 180 the Germanic invasions begin to take place and in 284 Diaclecion who splits Rome into two empires. East and west. Now the empire has two emperors. After this split the two empires split into many small sections.

In 313 Constantine legalizes Christianity, but the Roman empire begins to shrink. In 378 the Romans fight in Adrianople and lose. Now this Germanic tribe floods into eastern Rome. In 410 Rome itself is attacked by the Goths. In 476 Rome falls and Western Rome ceases to exist. After this Classic Rome just fades away, and Eastern Rome becomes what we call Turkey in about 1483.

Christianity The early church was not nearly the same as it is today. The interpretation of the teachings as well as the methods of teaching were different than they are now. Christianity's survival is in doubt for it's first hundred years, but things come along to help it survive. When Constantine converts in 313 Christianity becomes legal in Rome. Now the Christians come forward and begin to let their religion spread. Soon after in 381 AD, Theodosius outlaws all other religions except Christian.

Ambrose threatens the Emperor to perform public penance in Milan, the argument between church and state authority begins. Then Jerome comes along and translates the Bile into common Latin because it was still just in Hebrew or Greek. He translates it in 400 AD, the "Vulgate" Bible. Augustine comes around in about 380 AD, and after he converts to Christianity he writes to famous books, "City of God", and "Confessions".

Has an idea of predestination as well as salvation by grace alone. Spread of Christianity Paul makes 3 missionary journeys as well as 1 trip to Rome for trial. He travels over Turkey, the Holy Lands, to Greece and Romania, visits Rhodes, Jerusalem, Athens, Cyprus, down to Tire, and then South to Palestine. Picked up by the Romans and preaches all of the way to Rome. In 325 there is the Council of Nice a, Turkey. Thanks to this we have the Nice an creed, which acknowledges only one God and He is God.

Medieval Levels of Church Parish- Local Church, overseen by a Priest. Diocese- A district of Church having around 10 parishes, overseen by a Bishop. Province-Region of area, controlled by an Archbishop. Metropolitan's-Rome had 5 of these, overseen by a Patriarch.

Out of a Patriarchal power struggle comes the Papacy. Christian-like heresies Gnosticism- Jesus was just one really great guy. He was not divine, he was just a man, and no God could exist in the capacity of a human. Gnostics say that God is above temptation, so the appearance of God as a man was just an appearance, nothing more.

They say that God and Jesus are different beings. Comes back during the 300's as Manichean ism and in 1200's as Albigensian ism. Donatist- Any rights of the church that are performed by a sinful priest do not count, and since all priests are human, and all humans sin, than there are hardly any pure rites. Arianism- Argument that Christ was not Gods equal and that if God always is, and Jesus had to be borne, than Christ is not Gods equal. Father, son, and Holy Ghost were different people.

Pelagianism- Argument that man can perfect himself by living a solid Christian lifestyle. Monasticism Wandering monks, mostly men but a few women. They Live in monastery's. They learn to read and write, learn about agriculture, learn how to build and manufacture, and are a shining light of education.

Exclusive study of Christ. To avoid sin, they must overcome temptation by isolation. Spend lots of time praying, about 6 or 7 hours a day. Monastery's are organized by 520 A.D. These people became know as the regular clergy. Secular clergy are priests and others who serve in the secular world. Europe in trouble In 476 Rome collapses and western Europe is tossed to the wind, so what will hold western Europe together?

The church, namely the monks. Even though they have no army, they still have the power to make the civilians obey. They make the people pay for God and that the people owe God for what they have. By the middle ages the church owns 1/4 to 1/2 of Europe.

In 500 A.D. the Franks take control of Europe, and live in modern-day France. They did make a code of laws which they expected everyone to obey. First king of the Franks is Clovis, and he gets his power by fairly rough tactics. He establishes the Merovingian Dynasty. Gregory the Great 90 years after Clovis. Supports Catholic ideas.

Penance, purgatory, and church over state. East does not take to ideas, but west does. Pepin take control of the Frankish military and in 732 Muslims attack and are annihilated at Tours. After Charles dies Pepin the Short comes along, cand demands the Pope to depose of King Childarick in 751. Frankish-Papal alliance provides military protection to the Pope. Carolingian Dynasty.

Pepin dies 16 years after he takes control, his heir is Charlemagne. Charlemagne Charles premier le grande rules 768-814.800 Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Sponsors a learning revolution in late 700's for around 20 years. Splits kingdom between his children.

Feudalism A political system that originated under Charlemagne. Where Feudalism is found manorialism is also found. Feudalism does not exist in the modern world because in the medieval world it was easy to control everyone using force, making all people swear oaths to those above them. Oath of homage: agree to obey them. Oath of fealty: military commitment, either you or soldiers, and carries threat of eternal damnation.

The lords land is divided into ever-smaller parts that are controlled lesser lords. Also in this fief there is a self-sustaining city well as the lords manse, in addition to the peasants' homes. Due to the fact that the church's power dies when the church's local representative dies, and the local system must always have a representative, the church begins to allow secular leaders to appoint church officials. Gregory VII Gregory VII becomes Pope in 1073, issues a decree the Bishops are appointed by the Pope.

Anyone in Pope's staff is higher than anyone else. Henry and Gregory are 6 months away, creating conflict. Come to decision that secular leaders may appoint temporary officials until Pope approves appointment. Crusades 1970 Turks lose control of Holy Land to a Baghdad army.

Turks receive help from Pope Urban II in 1090's. 1095 council of Clermont where Pope declares Crusade. Nobility sets out in 1096 in two groups, one by land, one by land and sea. Crusaders are more heavily armored than Muslims, but Crusaders are very susceptible to heat injuries.

Muslims are fighting amongst themselves so the Christians are able to fight them area by area. 1099 Crusaders retake Jerusalem. Crusaders control Damascus to the Suez Canal. Outre mer. There are anywhere between 8 and 13 Crusades, each less successful than the previous.

The Crusades begin to be quests for jewels instead of religious wars. After a the first Crusade the Muslims will win due to hit-and-run tactics, and soon they retake and hold Jerusalem. Crusades and Church First Crusade was called for and the Christians went forth to victory. Due to the losses of the Christians, the rest of the Crusades posed the question 'Is God really on our side?" Innocent the 3rd takes control of the Papacy and becomes one of the strongest Popes of all time. He rallies armies, gains control England, and in 1215 at the Lateran Council he standardizes Christianity.

At this council he also makes a regulation for the Clergy, Bishops, Priests, etc. Magna Carta King John is forced to sign a document in 1215 that places regulations on the King. Puts regulations in place which are similar to our Constitution. Certain freedoms and laws that are nearly universal. Most modern councils are modeled after the Magna Carta. Disaster strikes After these two decrees there is quite a bit of peace in the land, even the Weather is peaceful for around 100 years.

Then in 1347 the Black Plague strikes. It spreads from Italy through England in less than two years. It spreads terrible fast and causes swelling of the lymph nodes, causing massive internal and external bleeding. There were two versions of it; Bubonic which took 72 hours and caused swelling of the lymph nodes.

Pneumonic plague where your lungs were infected and you died between 24 and 36 hours. By 1349 or 1350 it has covered Europe and has killed 1/3 of the population. By about 1351 the first strain vanishes, but about every 35 to 40 years it reemerges. In 1377 there is a split in the church called the Great Schism. Due to the separation of Church, there is a Roman and a French Pope. Now another Pope is elected, so there are three Popes instead of one.

Due to this there is another movement started called Conciliar ism in 1417, where problems with the Pope can be corrected when observed.