Rome Power and Glory The Cult of Order October 9 2012 KEY WORDS Marcus Aurelius Emperor when first signs of decline showed became emperor in 161 ad Roman Order Marcus Aurelius hoped to renew conformity methodical everything Grim situation facing Aurelius war broke out in East in 161 ad plague broke out invaders attacked North fought for 8 years feared beginning of end Aurelius s sickness and death had cancer died in 180 ad Emporer Commodus encouraged decay son of MA shunned public appearances abused kids corruption and extortion upset the empire demanded to be known as a God proposed all city be destroyed in 191 ad after the fire a92 ad commudus was a gladiator Revolt of the poor 190 ceCommodus appears as a gladiator assassinated Pompeii August 24 179 ad was burned when Mount Vesucious erupted rich were really rich spacious houses lavious gardens Paintings of Roman orgies made to show was Rome disproved Lives of the poor 90 percent of the population had entire families in one room fifty percent child mortality rate Place of women biologically and morally inferior fathers and husbands had legal and financial control Saturnalia winter solstice one week masters freed slaves rich and poor ate together Cult of Dionysus Greek origins second century BC entered Italy communal extasy men and women rich and poor met at night Rome s tragic flaw social order many poor Commitment to cultural diversity Roman ideal open to everyone open door policy means people from all over the world religion tolerance Septimius Severus Emperor 193 ad African adorned his town with lavish buildings and brought it back to rome superstitious cult of rome requires all religions to respect sacrifices to Emperor Caracalla 211 ad took emperor after father citizenship to every free man 215 ad reached Egypt Rise of Christianity third century AD Romans were looking for security Emperor Nero 64 ce 100 Christians massacured for fire but it was not started by them Radical teachings of Christianity spiritual equality opposed rome s social hierarchy Vestal virgins if chastitiy broken were buried to death Persecution of Chrisitians nasty rumors about orgies and sacrificing children Were persecuted because did not accept other gods of other religions Martyrs ie Blandina young slave girl tortured but still kept faith to Christ Tortured for faith Civil war the Barbarians and rising inflation mass chaos promise of salvation in next life became appealing The church was strong 5 000 000 Christians Diocletian 284 ad split rome in two and shared power with three generals Brought peace for a while Largest Christian persecution under his orders Irony of Rome s roads did tome in because through these roads came cults and ideas that undid Rome