THE ROMAN EMPIRE AT ITS PEAK (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Reign of the Good Roman Emperors
a) After Domitian's death, the empire reached its peak of power and wealth under the rule of the 'Five Good Emperors.' These rulers, known for their moderate policies, were in contrast to their more tyrannical and oppressive predecessors and successors. This period was particularly notable for its peaceful method of succession, where each emperor chose his successor by adopting an heir. This prevented the political turmoil associated with unstable and weak governments. Secure from both internal and external threats these Roman rulers governed during a time of unprecedented territorial, economic, and cultural expansion.
b) The greatest extent of territorial expansion occurred with Trajan's conquest of Dacia in 117 A.D. Rome is considered the third largest and most powerful ancient empire, behind the first place Persian and second place Han dynasty. At the time of Jesus, it had a total population of about 60 million people.
i) 387 B.C. - The city is sacked for the first time by the Gauls after the Battle of the Allia.
ii) 410 A.D. - Alaric, King of the Visigoths, overtakes the city after three attempts then spends three days looting it.
iii) 455 A.D. - Pope Leo I pleads with Genseric, King of the Vandals, to not destroy the city or kill all the people. The King agrees and Rome's gates are open to him and his men to loot it as they see fit. For fourteen days, they rob the city of its riches and destroy many objects of cultural significance. Their deliberate destruction of such treasures is where we get the English word VANDALism.
iv) 546 A.D. - Gothic King Totila plunders Rome.
v) 846 A.D. - Arabs raiders loot Rome, including the Vatican and St. Peter Basilica.
vi) 1084 A.D. - The Normans pillage the old city, which at the time was one of the richest in Italy.
vii) 1527 A.D. - The soldiers of Emperor Charles V mutiny after they find out that funds are unavailable to pay for their services. They sack the city for three days and take Pope Clement VII as prisoner. Their actions mark the end of the golden age of Rome's Renaissance.
3. Fighting God
a) The Roman empire and its impact on Christianity and its beliefs were enormous. Rome carried out ten waves of persecution against Christians, the first of these began by Emperor Nero in 67 A.D. He instigated the torture and death of believers, many times as sport in the Circus Maximus, in order to deflect criticism of himself. During this first purge, the apostles Paul and Peter died a martyr’s death. The tenth and last of these persecutions began under Diocletian (284 to 305 A.D.). All during this period, in spite of the concentrated efforts to stamp out God's truth through the martyrdom of countless saints, believers in the Bible continued to multiple. The persecutions by the state finally ended in 313 A.D. when Constantine, in his Edict of Milan, legalized Christianity and ended the violence.
The End ...
1. Reign of the Good Roman Emperors
a) After Domitian's death, the empire reached its peak of power and wealth under the rule of the 'Five Good Emperors.' These rulers, known for their moderate policies, were in contrast to their more tyrannical and oppressive predecessors and successors. This period was particularly notable for its peaceful method of succession, where each emperor chose his successor by adopting an heir. This prevented the political turmoil associated with unstable and weak governments. Secure from both internal and external threats these Roman rulers governed during a time of unprecedented territorial, economic, and cultural expansion.
Roman Emperors during
its height of power | |
| Name | Reigned |
| Nerva | 96 - 98 A.D. |
| Trajan | 98 - 117 A.D. |
| Hadrian | 117 - 138 A.D. |
| Antoninus Pius | 138 - 161 A.D. |
| Marcus Aurelius | 161 - 180 A.D. |
b) The greatest extent of territorial expansion occurred with Trajan's conquest of Dacia in 117 A.D. Rome is considered the third largest and most powerful ancient empire, behind the first place Persian and second place Han dynasty. At the time of Jesus, it had a total population of about 60 million people.
2. Revenge of the Barbarians
a) The capital city of the empire, Rome, has been looted (sacked) and stripped of its wealth several times during its long history. Some of the more noteworthy sacks include:
a) The capital city of the empire, Rome, has been looted (sacked) and stripped of its wealth several times during its long history. Some of the more noteworthy sacks include:
i) 387 B.C. - The city is sacked for the first time by the Gauls after the Battle of the Allia.
ii) 410 A.D. - Alaric, King of the Visigoths, overtakes the city after three attempts then spends three days looting it.
iii) 455 A.D. - Pope Leo I pleads with Genseric, King of the Vandals, to not destroy the city or kill all the people. The King agrees and Rome's gates are open to him and his men to loot it as they see fit. For fourteen days, they rob the city of its riches and destroy many objects of cultural significance. Their deliberate destruction of such treasures is where we get the English word VANDALism.
iv) 546 A.D. - Gothic King Totila plunders Rome.
v) 846 A.D. - Arabs raiders loot Rome, including the Vatican and St. Peter Basilica.
vi) 1084 A.D. - The Normans pillage the old city, which at the time was one of the richest in Italy.
vii) 1527 A.D. - The soldiers of Emperor Charles V mutiny after they find out that funds are unavailable to pay for their services. They sack the city for three days and take Pope Clement VII as prisoner. Their actions mark the end of the golden age of Rome's Renaissance.
3. Fighting God
a) The Roman empire and its impact on Christianity and its beliefs were enormous. Rome carried out ten waves of persecution against Christians, the first of these began by Emperor Nero in 67 A.D. He instigated the torture and death of believers, many times as sport in the Circus Maximus, in order to deflect criticism of himself. During this first purge, the apostles Paul and Peter died a martyr’s death. The tenth and last of these persecutions began under Diocletian (284 to 305 A.D.). All during this period, in spite of the concentrated efforts to stamp out God's truth through the martyrdom of countless saints, believers in the Bible continued to multiple. The persecutions by the state finally ended in 313 A.D. when Constantine, in his Edict of Milan, legalized Christianity and ended the violence.
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