History: Unification of Italy and Roman Governance

Unification of Italy

• Geographic features aiding unification included broad plains, less rugged Apennine Mountains, and the absence of small, isolated valleys, facilitating easier movement and integration.

Roman Rule and War

• During times of conflict, Rome appointed dictators with supreme power.
• Rome did not enslave all conquered populations.
• After Hannibal's death, Rome dealt harshly with Carthage, viewing them as a continued rival.
• Julius Caesar's defiance of the Senate, leading his troops across the Rubicon River, ignited civil war.

Roman Governance and Stability

• Augustus established a well-trained civil service to uphold laws and maintain order, forming a stable government foundation.
• Pax Romana, a 200-year period, brought peace, order, and prosperity to the Roman Empire.
• Roman architecture emphasized grandeur and monumental structures.
• Aqueducts supplied Roman cities with water.
• Roman law's development did not include the principle of a jury trial.

Spread of Christianity

• Missionaries, such as Paul, facilitated Christianity's growth from a Jewish sect to a worldwide religion.
• Women played a role in spreading and supporting Christianity but could not hold Church office.
• Constantine's Edict of Milan ended Christian persecution.

Roman Impact & Legacy

• Roman art and literature blended Roman and Greek cultures.
• The Roman legal system, during the empire, contributed to stability across the empire.
• The rapid spread of Christianity was not considered a factor in Rome's decline.
• Diocletian and Constantine worked to restore order to the Roman Empire.

Byzantine Empire

• Emperor Justinian was an autocratic ruler crafting laws strengthening the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine Empire functioned as a defense against invaders from the East and the Middle East.
• A theological dispute over icons resulted in a permanent church schism (split) between the Byzantine and Roman Catholic Churches.