Seminar 1: "Between the Testaments"

=====================================================================
Part 4: THE ROMAN EMPIRE
=====================================================================

The Jews had been conquered by the Roman Empire.  The Roman Empire
kept a strong military force in every country it occupied.  Although
there were many Roman soldiers in Palestine, they were only stationed
there; they were not permanent residents.

To gain a better knowledge of the geography of the region of Palestine
and the Roman Empire we must turn to the use of a map of the world of
Jesus' day.

Observe that the Roman Empire ruled over three continents; Europe,
Africa, and Asia.  Occupying the center of these three continents was
the large body of water known as the Mediterranean Sea.   The name
"MEDITERRANEAN" came from the Romans. The word "Medi" means "middle,"
and the word for land or terrain is "Terra."  Obviously they gave it
that name because it occupied the center of the three continents.

The Roman Empire covered a vast area of the then-known world. In order
for us to get a good feel for the size of area that we are discussing
we must compare it to things that are more familiar to us. Using the
US map there are three cities we can measure between. They are Los
Angeles, Denver, and Washington D.C.  The distance between Los Angeles
and Denver is about the same as between Spain and the city of Rome,
which is about a 1000 miles.  The distance from Denver to Washington
D.C. is about 1500 and is comparable to the distance between Rome and
Palestine.

Tremendous distances separated the outer edges of the Roman Empire.
The Roman soldiers had to travel long distances to reach and defend
the countries they had conquered.  In order to assist in the travel
over such distances the Romans built a system of highways throughout
the Empire.

The Romans built roads and so connected the world and enabled armies
to quickly traverse vast areas to quiet military disturbances. The
Roman army built some 50,000 miles of roads in the area of
Syria/Palestine. The Jews were well aware of the Roman roads and how
they banished the robbers who for millennia had troubled travel through
their countryside. One of their writers wrote: "The Romans have given
us the world peace, and we travel without fear along the roads and
cross the seas wherever we wish."  These highways were known as VIAS.

They built them to last placing layer upon layer of clay and other
materials (chalk and gravel) so that the roads would hold up for
hundreds (even thousands) of years.  On top of the layers they
carefully laid stone slabs, with ditches on either side of the
highway.

Roman armies built thousands of miles of vias throughout the Roman
world. They built roads in straight lines, even cutting tunnels
through mountains.  Stone mile markers were placed along the routes to
help travelers keep track of distances.

One of the most famous roads is the Appian Way, named for the Roman
censor Appius Claudius, who began its construction in 312 B.C.  It
runs south of Rome along the coast of western Italy to its
southernmost tip.  The road was used by the Apostle Paul and continues
to be used today!  All roads led to Rome.


=====================================================================
Part 5: THE ROMAN ARMY
=====================================================================

Augustus was commander-in-chief of a standing army of 340,000, he was
head of the Senate, and High-priest of a religion of the State and the
deity of the Emperor.  "Thus all power from within, without, and above
lay in his hands."

The Roman army was responsible for maintaining the world peace. Roman
legions provided the military power of the empire. A legion was
composed of 6,000 men and 120 cavalry. Legionnaires were Roman citizens
who enlisted for 20 years. Of equal size was the non-volunteer,
non-citizen army of men drafted for a 25 year term.

Most important to the Caesar was his Praetorian (Imperial) Guard
(numbering 10,000!) of hand-picked soldiers to guard and serve Caesar.
All Roman soldiers were very disciplined.  Severe rules and equal
punishment ensued for any infraction of Roman military law.  Sleeping
while on duty, for instance, was punishable by death.

There was a military presence in each of the provinces of the Roman
Empire from Britain to Syria.  When the soldiers were not fighting the
army built roads, bridges, and walls to expand their control over the
Empire. During war the army built ingenious pontoon bridges to cross
rivers and isthmuses using boats lined up side by side with a bridge
being built right over them.

To travel by sea the Romans built ships powered by sails and oars.
Slaves, or captured peoples, were used to man the oars for years at a
time, while chained in the lower decks.





=====================================================================
READING ASSIGNMENTS: 
=====================================================================

1. Read about the seditions against the Romans in Josephus,
 Antiquities Book 17 - Chapter 10      

2. Suggestion: If you have the time, watch a MOVIE on the Roman Empire
   to catch the feel of what these times were like. (Anthony and
   Cleopatra, Ben Hur, etc.)