Understanding the Roman Empire Flashcards
What did the Romans enthusiastically absorb?
Hellenic culture
What was the Roman view on religion?
Relativistic
What did Emporor Augustus (Emporor at the time of Jesus’ birth) declare himself to be?
Son of God (Divi Filius). He made sure his statutes were worshipped in temples throughout the empire. Refusing to worship him was an act of rebellion and blasphemy
What did the Romans allow local Kings to do?
Carry on ruling their populations; so long as they were loyal to the Emporor and paid taxes to Rome
What kind of areas were ruled directly from Rome by a governor?
Places too important or troulesome to be entrusted to a local king
Why did the cult of the divine emporor pose a religious problem for the Jews?
Because their religion forbade them from worshipping any other God
What was a ‘Roman citizen’?
People who had particular priviledges; like travelling freely within the Empire or appealing to Roman law rather than being judged by local kings and magistrates