Roman Empire Social Structure Essay
EGYPT-SOCIAL STRUCTURES: Kings, priests/nobles, officials/merchants, artisans, peasants/workers, slaves. Ruling class (pharaoh, priests, and nobles)small,middle class (artisans, traders, merchants) small, peasants and slaves (broad base of social pyramid). Status of WOMEN; own property (buy and sell), testify in court, divorce (rare), property inherited through female line. ROLES OF RELIGION AND THE MILITARY: Religion: Polytheistic, Amon-Re (sun god, most important god), Osiris (God of the Nile), Isis (wife of Osiris), Set (Osiris’ evil brother), believed in life after death (judged by Osiris), Writing (Hieroglyphics-picture form, demotic-simple for everyday use, ideogram- pictures that symbolize an idea or action), mummification (preservation of
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the dead). INFLUENCE OF GEOGRAPHY: Nile River increased trade, annual flood, delta (triangular area of marshland formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of some rivers), papyrus (paper-like writing material), Upper and Lower Egypt (Lower conquered by Menes [Narmer] 3100 BC who united Upper and Lower, making the first established dynasty), natural barriers like cataracts (waterfalls) and deserts isolated Egypt. OLD, MIDDLE AND NEW KINGDOMS: Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC); Pharaohs (God-King, son of Amon-Re) had all power, began building pyramids, centralized government, engineering achievements (tombs, obelisks [tall, 4-sided narrow monuments with pyramid shaped top], irrigation projects), peasant revolts&civil war.Middle Kingdom(2050-1800 BC);Leaders more interested in the common people,agriculture and transportation improvements, contacts with other civilizations,power struggles,crop failures,pyramid costs,and invasion of the Hyksos brought down the state.New Kingdom (1570-1090 BC); Started when they drove out the Hyksos, became powerful, expanded to the Euphrates, Empire Age, Hatshepsut (woman pharaoh 1503-1482 BC who increased trade), Thutmose III, Ramses II (most powerful pharaoh in NK 1290-1224 BC),Akenaton(worship of one god, monotheism),civil wars(invaders cause decline), Cleopatra, declined after Ramses II. CONSERVATIVE, HIERARCHICAL, HEREDITARY NATURE: Conservatism of the theocracy discouraged the development of new ideas (use of iron). Power was hereditary and hierarchical. INVASIONS, ABSORPTION BY OTHER EMPIRES: Conquered by Persians (525 BC), by Greeks (322 BC), by Romans (30 BC).Following Cleopatra’s suicide, Egypt ceased to be an influence on the Western world. JOURNALING- Slaves lowest class,men and women shared some rights,nobles and priests members of ruling class. Scribes important in government because they kept official records. Conservative nature of Egyptians helped ruling class maintain control. Order: Menes became pharaoh, Pyramid Age begins, Hyksos invade Egypt, Birth of Christ. Egyptians believed the afterlife was a happy place for people who led moral lives.Most Egyptians lived through farming. GREECE-Impact of Geography-Located between Europe and Asia,mountainous,good natural harbors,many islands,limited farming-trade/travel, growth of separate communities, frequent wars. CONSTANT WARFARE- The Persian Wars (490-480 BC): Miletus (in Asia Minor) revolts against Persia, Darius swears revenge against Athens, Greeks defeat the Persians at Marathon. Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BC)Sparta vs Athens:dispute between Corinth and Athens started the war,plaque kills 1/3 of Athenian population including Pericles, fighting lasts for 27 years, surrounded and facing starvation Athens surrenders to Sparta, Spartans spare Athens from total destruction out of respect, Athens remains the cultural center of Greece but declines in power and importance. DEMOCRACY IN ATHENS- King, landowning aristocracy, council of Archons, Draco’s (harsh) code of law 621 BC. Solon’s reforms (594 BC): abolished debt slavery, increased citizenship, voting assembly, banned export of grain, made Athens a great trade center by exporting olive oil and wine, Greece created democracy. GOLDEN AGE- Athens dominates the Delian League, Athens becomes wealthy and powerful, Greek culture blooms, political freedom, Pericles dominates Athens (461-429 BC), builds the Parthenon on the acropolis, constructs defensive wall to Piraeus, height of Athenian direct democracy (the system where a large # of citizens take part in the day-to-day affairs of government).CULTURE-Greek art and sculpture showed the ideal not the real,Pythagoras (mathematician, musician, astronomer), Hippocrates (Scientific method of observation, oath) The sophists (achieve political and social success),Greek historians(study of human behavior),poetry(epic and lyric, Sappho), philosophy (all areas of human knowledge, Socrates-search of truth and knowledge, Aristotle-Plato’ student, Lyceum, moderation good, gov combo of monarchy aristocracy and democracy), Drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides), Euclid-geometry, Archimedes-lever. JOURNALING- Unlike the river valley civilizations of Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, the Greeks did not create a large land empire. Chronological order: Dorians invade Greece, Miletus revolted against Persian rule,Persians invaded Greece.Not true about democracy: Most Athenians were citizens. Athens’s Golden Age followed the Persian Wars. Aristophanes-Author of comedies that made fun of Greek society. Thales-first Greek philosopher. Spartans developed a strong military state in order to prevent slave uprisings.An immediate cause of the Persian wars was the revolt of Greek cities in Asia Minor against Persian rule. Under Pericles, Athenian democracy remained limited because non-citizens did not have any political rights. Sculptors reflected Greek idealism by showing humans as graceful and beautiful. Hellenistic civilization developed as a result of the blending of Greek and Eastern cultures. Plato wrote the Republic and created the Academy, Socrates’ student. Other Greeks admired Spartan soldiers for bravery. Greek drama originated in festivals honoring Dionysus. The Socratic Method did not teach students to memorize facts. ROME- ROMAN REPUBLIC: Republic- government in which some officials are chosen by the people, “thing of the people”. SOCIAL CLASSES: Citizens: Patricians- Rich land owners, plebeians- common people.
ROMAN FAMILY AND ARMY: Roman family: father had absolute power (sells kids into slavery), large families (expansion), strict discipline (hard work, courage, loyalty), fathers supervised education for both girls and boys, family included (parents, children, sons’ wives and families, the slaves and clients), women highly respected even though they can’t make many decisions. Roman Army: Patricians and plebeians served, legions were 6,000 man units (centuries), strict training and discipline=high effectiveness, liable for military service if between ages 17 and 46. TWELVE TABLES OF LAW: 1st written law code; protected citizens from unfair treatment. PUNIC WARS-1: Roman navy built; defeats Carthage; Rome gains Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica. 2: control over Spain (Rome almost lost, Hannibal). 3 (149-146 BC): Carthage violates treaty w/ Rome, Rome destroys Carthage, and surrounding area becomes Roman. Rome expands after. JOURNALING- 1st ruler of the Roman Empire: Augustus. During the empire, the Roman legal system contributed to unity and stability. Romans tolerated the Jews’ religion. The Pax Romana ended in 180 AD, after the death of Marcus
Aurelius. Imperator-commander-in-chief of the Roman armies. Censor- he enforced the morality code. Leader of Carthagian Army who crossed Alps to invade Italy- Hannibal. Author of Aeneid- Virgil. Astronomer who theorized that the Earth was the center of the universe- Ptolemy. Jewish convert who spread Christianity from Mesopotamia to Rome- Paul. German leader who outsed the Roman emperor-Odoacer.Tribunes represented plebeians.In art and lit,Romans were influenced by Greece.Wealth acquired from winning an empire affected Rome:It widened the gap between rich and poor. Decline of Roman republic followed a century of civil wars fought over who should hold power. Diocletian and Constantine tried to restore order in Roman empire. The assassination of J Ceaser not related to fall of Rome. Diocletian tried to strengthen Roman Empire by setting limits on wages and prices. Fall of Roman Empire-476 AD. Attile wasn’t leader of (Germanic tribe) the Visigoths. MIDDLE AGES- Germanic customs combined with roman traditions. AGE OF CHARLAMAGNE: (768-814) founder of the Carolingian dynasty, Treaty of Verdun (843) splits empire into three after his death. MEDIEVAL CHURCH: Religious orders: life of work, prayer, charity and social service, Benedictine Rule, the Dominicans, The Franciscans, challenge to church authority, the cluniac reforms (banned simony), the Albigensians (criticisms of growing church worldliness and wealth) MIDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE: Cathedrals (1150-1300) replaces old Romanesque.SCHOLASTICISM:an attempt to explain Christian theology in light of reason. THE CRUSADES: hoped to reunite the two branches of the Christian church,reduce feudal warfare and to increase the prestige of the church. 1st (1096-1099):Retakes Jerusalem,slaughter of Muslims and Jews.2nd(1144): led by Bernard of Clairvaux, fails to recapture Edessa. 3rd(1189-1192):Prompted by Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem in 1187,King Richard (Lionhearted) of England accepts truce. 4th (1204): results in looting of Constantinople, Muslim forces seize Acre in 1291 (last of Christian strongholds). NATIONAL MONARCHIES- France: begins with Capetian dynasty in 987, English holdings on French soil gradually diminish,French kings established efficient royal bureaucracy;educate clergy,lesser knights, and townspeople to administer local districts. Spain: 1250 Granada last remaining Muslim stronghold, Reconquista (reconqest) takes place over several centuries; Spanish nobles practice tolerance toward Jews and Muslims. JOURNALING- Written document that set out the rights and privileges of a town is a charter. Money for investment is a capital. A strong, efficient government helped unite Charlemagne’s empire. Under feudalism, lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service. New agricultural technologies in the Middle Ages led to increased food production.The Church had great power over people during the Middle Ages because it decided who could achieve salvation.The revival of Latin learning is credited to Charlemagne.Battle of Tours is significant because it stopped the Muslim advance into Western Europe.Manor economy was based on farming & self-sufficiency.Trade is the most important economic activity in a medieval town.Monks and nuns improved life by caring for the sick and poor.The 3-field system contributed to the agricultural revolution by allowing peasants to produce more crops.Chivalry governed the relations between noblemen and noblewomen.Serf-a peasant tied to the land.Fief- a feudal estate.Tithe-to pay or give a tenth part of especially for the support of the church.Secular- controlled by the government rather than by the church; non-religious.Usury- the practice of lending money and requiring the borrower to pay a high amount of interest.Leif Erikson-a Norse explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Charlemagne- King of the Franks from 768, the King of Italy from 774, and from 800 the first emperor in western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier, promoted Christianity, created schools and libraries, role of missi dominici, uniform law code.Troubadour-a writer and performer of songs or poetry. Merchant- someone who buys and sells goods especially in large amounts. Vassal- a person who received protection and land from a lord in return for loyalty and service. Knight- A soldier who had a high social rank and who fought while riding a horse and usually wearing armor. Christian scholar who used reason to examine Christian teachings is Thomas Aquinas. Norman King responsible for the Domesday Book is William the Conqueror. Ruler who used the Inquisition to help unify Spain is Isabella. “I hereby excommunicate Henry IV” –Gregory VII.“Seize that land from the Turks!”–Urban II.“My tales give a colorful picture of medieval life”–Geoffrey Chaucer. “What touches all should be approved by all” -Edward I. The Reconquista refers to the campaign to drive the Muslims out of Spain. The development of an early jury system took place during the reign of Henry II. Church during the late Middle Ages grew weak and divided. Innocent III was the pope who led the Church at the height of its power in the Middle Ages. Joan of Arc: Peasant woman who led French troops to victory against the English in the 100 Years’ War.Result of the plague:economic decline.Magna Carta important because it asserted that the monarch must obey the law.Major conflict between Holy Roman emperors and popes concerned who would appoint bishops.Concordat of Worms was a treaty that ended the struggle between emperors and popes over investiture.Chief goal of Crusades: to free the Holy Land. Key feature of Gothic architecture is flying buttresses. 3 long term effects of the Crusades: helped Europe make its mark as a colonial power, forced Christianity on indigenous peoples, and uprooted traditional systems of government.
the dead). INFLUENCE OF GEOGRAPHY: Nile River increased trade, annual flood, delta (triangular area of marshland formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of some rivers), papyrus (paper-like writing material), Upper and Lower Egypt (Lower conquered by Menes [Narmer] 3100 BC who united Upper and Lower, making the first established dynasty), natural barriers like cataracts (waterfalls) and deserts isolated Egypt. OLD, MIDDLE AND NEW KINGDOMS: Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC); Pharaohs (God-King, son of Amon-Re) had all power, began building pyramids, centralized government, engineering achievements (tombs, obelisks [tall, 4-sided narrow monuments with pyramid shaped top], irrigation projects), peasant revolts&civil war.Middle Kingdom(2050-1800 BC);Leaders more interested in the common people,agriculture and transportation improvements, contacts with other civilizations,power struggles,crop failures,pyramid costs,and invasion of the Hyksos brought down the state.New Kingdom (1570-1090 BC); Started when they drove out the Hyksos, became powerful, expanded to the Euphrates, Empire Age, Hatshepsut (woman pharaoh 1503-1482 BC who increased trade), Thutmose III, Ramses II (most powerful pharaoh in NK 1290-1224 BC),Akenaton(worship of one god, monotheism),civil wars(invaders cause decline), Cleopatra, declined after Ramses II. CONSERVATIVE, HIERARCHICAL, HEREDITARY NATURE: Conservatism of the theocracy discouraged the development of new ideas (use of iron). Power was hereditary and hierarchical. INVASIONS, ABSORPTION BY OTHER EMPIRES: Conquered by Persians (525 BC), by Greeks (322 BC), by Romans (30 BC).Following Cleopatra’s suicide, Egypt ceased to be an influence on the Western world. JOURNALING- Slaves lowest class,men and women shared some rights,nobles and priests members of ruling class. Scribes important in government because they kept official records. Conservative nature of Egyptians helped ruling class maintain control. Order: Menes became pharaoh, Pyramid Age begins, Hyksos invade Egypt, Birth of Christ. Egyptians believed the afterlife was a happy place for people who led moral lives.Most Egyptians lived through farming. GREECE-Impact of Geography-Located between Europe and Asia,mountainous,good natural harbors,many islands,limited farming-trade/travel, growth of separate communities, frequent wars. CONSTANT WARFARE- The Persian Wars (490-480 BC): Miletus (in Asia Minor) revolts against Persia, Darius swears revenge against Athens, Greeks defeat the Persians at Marathon. Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BC)Sparta vs Athens:dispute between Corinth and Athens started the war,plaque kills 1/3 of Athenian population including Pericles, fighting lasts for 27 years, surrounded and facing starvation Athens surrenders to Sparta, Spartans spare Athens from total destruction out of respect, Athens remains the cultural center of Greece but declines in power and importance. DEMOCRACY IN ATHENS- King, landowning aristocracy, council of Archons, Draco’s (harsh) code of law 621 BC. Solon’s reforms (594 BC): abolished debt slavery, increased citizenship, voting assembly, banned export of grain, made Athens a great trade center by exporting olive oil and wine, Greece created democracy. GOLDEN AGE- Athens dominates the Delian League, Athens becomes wealthy and powerful, Greek culture blooms, political freedom, Pericles dominates Athens (461-429 BC), builds the Parthenon on the acropolis, constructs defensive wall to Piraeus, height of Athenian direct democracy (the system where a large # of citizens take part in the day-to-day affairs of government).CULTURE-Greek art and sculpture showed the ideal not the real,Pythagoras (mathematician, musician, astronomer), Hippocrates (Scientific method of observation, oath) The sophists (achieve political and social success),Greek historians(study of human behavior),poetry(epic and lyric, Sappho), philosophy (all areas of human knowledge, Socrates-search of truth and knowledge, Aristotle-Plato’ student, Lyceum, moderation good, gov combo of monarchy aristocracy and democracy), Drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides), Euclid-geometry, Archimedes-lever. JOURNALING- Unlike the river valley civilizations of Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, the Greeks did not create a large land empire. Chronological order: Dorians invade Greece, Miletus revolted against Persian rule,Persians invaded Greece.Not true about democracy: Most Athenians were citizens. Athens’s Golden Age followed the Persian Wars. Aristophanes-Author of comedies that made fun of Greek society. Thales-first Greek philosopher. Spartans developed a strong military state in order to prevent slave uprisings.An immediate cause of the Persian wars was the revolt of Greek cities in Asia Minor against Persian rule. Under Pericles, Athenian democracy remained limited because non-citizens did not have any political rights. Sculptors reflected Greek idealism by showing humans as graceful and beautiful. Hellenistic civilization developed as a result of the blending of Greek and Eastern cultures. Plato wrote the Republic and created the Academy, Socrates’ student. Other Greeks admired Spartan soldiers for bravery. Greek drama originated in festivals honoring Dionysus. The Socratic Method did not teach students to memorize facts. ROME- ROMAN REPUBLIC: Republic- government in which some officials are chosen by the people, “thing of the people”. SOCIAL CLASSES: Citizens: Patricians- Rich land owners, plebeians- common people.
ROMAN FAMILY AND ARMY: Roman family: father had absolute power (sells kids into slavery), large families (expansion), strict discipline (hard work, courage, loyalty), fathers supervised education for both girls and boys, family included (parents, children, sons’ wives and families, the slaves and clients), women highly respected even though they can’t make many decisions. Roman Army: Patricians and plebeians served, legions were 6,000 man units (centuries), strict training and discipline=high effectiveness, liable for military service if between ages 17 and 46. TWELVE TABLES OF LAW: 1st written law code; protected citizens from unfair treatment. PUNIC WARS-1: Roman navy built; defeats Carthage; Rome gains Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica. 2: control over Spain (Rome almost lost, Hannibal). 3 (149-146 BC): Carthage violates treaty w/ Rome, Rome destroys Carthage, and surrounding area becomes Roman. Rome expands after. JOURNALING- 1st ruler of the Roman Empire: Augustus. During the empire, the Roman legal system contributed to unity and stability. Romans tolerated the Jews’ religion. The Pax Romana ended in 180 AD, after the death of Marcus
Aurelius. Imperator-commander-in-chief of the Roman armies. Censor- he enforced the morality code. Leader of Carthagian Army who crossed Alps to invade Italy- Hannibal. Author of Aeneid- Virgil. Astronomer who theorized that the Earth was the center of the universe- Ptolemy. Jewish convert who spread Christianity from Mesopotamia to Rome- Paul. German leader who outsed the Roman emperor-Odoacer.Tribunes represented plebeians.In art and lit,Romans were influenced by Greece.Wealth acquired from winning an empire affected Rome:It widened the gap between rich and poor. Decline of Roman republic followed a century of civil wars fought over who should hold power. Diocletian and Constantine tried to restore order in Roman empire. The assassination of J Ceaser not related to fall of Rome. Diocletian tried to strengthen Roman Empire by setting limits on wages and prices. Fall of Roman Empire-476 AD. Attile wasn’t leader of (Germanic tribe) the Visigoths. MIDDLE AGES- Germanic customs combined with roman traditions. AGE OF CHARLAMAGNE: (768-814) founder of the Carolingian dynasty, Treaty of Verdun (843) splits empire into three after his death. MEDIEVAL CHURCH: Religious orders: life of work, prayer, charity and social service, Benedictine Rule, the Dominicans, The Franciscans, challenge to church authority, the cluniac reforms (banned simony), the Albigensians (criticisms of growing church worldliness and wealth) MIDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE: Cathedrals (1150-1300) replaces old Romanesque.SCHOLASTICISM:an attempt to explain Christian theology in light of reason. THE CRUSADES: hoped to reunite the two branches of the Christian church,reduce feudal warfare and to increase the prestige of the church. 1st (1096-1099):Retakes Jerusalem,slaughter of Muslims and Jews.2nd(1144): led by Bernard of Clairvaux, fails to recapture Edessa. 3rd(1189-1192):Prompted by Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem in 1187,King Richard (Lionhearted) of England accepts truce. 4th (1204): results in looting of Constantinople, Muslim forces seize Acre in 1291 (last of Christian strongholds). NATIONAL MONARCHIES- France: begins with Capetian dynasty in 987, English holdings on French soil gradually diminish,French kings established efficient royal bureaucracy;educate clergy,lesser knights, and townspeople to administer local districts. Spain: 1250 Granada last remaining Muslim stronghold, Reconquista (reconqest) takes place over several centuries; Spanish nobles practice tolerance toward Jews and Muslims. JOURNALING- Written document that set out the rights and privileges of a town is a charter. Money for investment is a capital. A strong, efficient government helped unite Charlemagne’s empire. Under feudalism, lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service. New agricultural technologies in the Middle Ages led to increased food production.The Church had great power over people during the Middle Ages because it decided who could achieve salvation.The revival of Latin learning is credited to Charlemagne.Battle of Tours is significant because it stopped the Muslim advance into Western Europe.Manor economy was based on farming & self-sufficiency.Trade is the most important economic activity in a medieval town.Monks and nuns improved life by caring for the sick and poor.The 3-field system contributed to the agricultural revolution by allowing peasants to produce more crops.Chivalry governed the relations between noblemen and noblewomen.Serf-a peasant tied to the land.Fief- a feudal estate.Tithe-to pay or give a tenth part of especially for the support of the church.Secular- controlled by the government rather than by the church; non-religious.Usury- the practice of lending money and requiring the borrower to pay a high amount of interest.Leif Erikson-a Norse explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Charlemagne- King of the Franks from 768, the King of Italy from 774, and from 800 the first emperor in western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier, promoted Christianity, created schools and libraries, role of missi dominici, uniform law code.Troubadour-a writer and performer of songs or poetry. Merchant- someone who buys and sells goods especially in large amounts. Vassal- a person who received protection and land from a lord in return for loyalty and service. Knight- A soldier who had a high social rank and who fought while riding a horse and usually wearing armor. Christian scholar who used reason to examine Christian teachings is Thomas Aquinas. Norman King responsible for the Domesday Book is William the Conqueror. Ruler who used the Inquisition to help unify Spain is Isabella. “I hereby excommunicate Henry IV” –Gregory VII.“Seize that land from the Turks!”–Urban II.“My tales give a colorful picture of medieval life”–Geoffrey Chaucer. “What touches all should be approved by all” -Edward I. The Reconquista refers to the campaign to drive the Muslims out of Spain. The development of an early jury system took place during the reign of Henry II. Church during the late Middle Ages grew weak and divided. Innocent III was the pope who led the Church at the height of its power in the Middle Ages. Joan of Arc: Peasant woman who led French troops to victory against the English in the 100 Years’ War.Result of the plague:economic decline.Magna Carta important because it asserted that the monarch must obey the law.Major conflict between Holy Roman emperors and popes concerned who would appoint bishops.Concordat of Worms was a treaty that ended the struggle between emperors and popes over investiture.Chief goal of Crusades: to free the Holy Land. Key feature of Gothic architecture is flying buttresses. 3 long term effects of the Crusades: helped Europe make its mark as a colonial power, forced Christianity on indigenous peoples, and uprooted traditional systems of government.