Thursday, October 4

[5thAlexH]

Research 10/2:

Romulus and Remus

They were twin sons of a princess named Rhea and of the war god, Mars.  Other gods and goddesses were out to get their family so Rhea sent them down a river.  They were fed by a she-wolf and then a shepherd and his wife adopted them.  Later on, they decided they wanted to be kings so they decided to built a city on the shore of Tiber.  They both wanted to be the only king so they fought.  Romulus picked up a rock, killed his brother, and made himself king.  That's how Rome started.  

Roman Republic vs US Government

Executive Branch - two consuls vs one president - 1 year term vs 4 year term

Legislative Branch -

Senate - high social status and economic status, serve for life - advises consuls

Centuriate Assembly - soldiers only, chose consuls, serve for life

Tribal Assembly - ordinary citizens, serve for life, make laws

Judicial Branch - 8 judges, one year by the Centuriate Assembly, to oversee civil and criminal courts

Legal Code - Twelve tables - this was a list of rules that was the Supreme law of the land in Rome - in America, it is equal to the Constitution

 

Research 10/3:

Punic Wars and Hannibal

The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome took place over nearly a century, beginning in 264 B.C. and ending with the destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C.  In the first war, Rome took over Sicily.  In the second war, the great general, Hannibal, was defeated by Scipio Africanus.  In the third war, Scipio Africanus captured and destroyed the city of Carthage and Rome won.  Rome became an even greater empire that spread into Africa.  

Rome defeated Carthage in all three wars.  Each war was harder for the Romans to win though.  War 1-2, Tome was on the defensive.  Aggressor in the last war.  Key players were Hannibal (C), Scipio (R) and Cincinnatus (R).

Hannibal was a Punic Carthaginian military commander, generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. 

Lasting effects - showed the civilizations in the Mediterranean that Rome was a dominant force and by 70 BC, Rome had conquered a lot of land around the Mediterranean Coast.

 

Research 10/4:

Emperors after Augustus

Augustus - 41 years and 8 months

Tiberius - adopted son of Augustus - 22 years and 6 months - possibly assassinated by Caligula.  He was a cruel tyrant who put men to death upon mere suspicion.

Caligula - great nephew of Tiberius - 3 years and 10 months - assassinated in conspiracy involving senators and Praetorinan guards.
He was half-mad, and once threatened to have his horse made consul, and at another time raised a great army, and marched it hundreds of miles, and then commanded the soldiers to gather the shells upon the sea-beach and carry them back to Rome.

Claudius I - nephew of Tiberius and uncle of Caligula - 13 years and 9 months - probably poisoned by his wife Agrippinna
He was a weak and foolish emperor who allowed the cruelest acts to be committed in his name, and then forgot them, and invited the persons to dinner whom he had just had put to death.

Nero - 13 years and 8 months - stepson and adopted son of Claudius
He was a monster of vanity and cruelty; he was suspected of setting fire to the city and allowing more than two-thirds of it to burn up, in order that he might rebuild it finer than it had been before.

 

Roman Geography

• Rome was built on 7 rolling hills around the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian Peninsula
  
• It is the midway point between the Alps and Italy's southern tip
  

First Romans

• From 1000 to 500 BC, three groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it
  
• They were the Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans
  
• The Latins built the original settlement at Rome - it was a cluster of wooden huts on top of one of the seven hills
  

Greek Influence

• Between 750 BC and 600 BC, the Greeks established colonies along the southern part of Italy and Sicily
  
• The cities became very prosperous and commercially active
  
• They brought all of Italy, including Rome, into closer contact with Greek civilization
  

Etruscans

• They were native to Northern Italy
  
• They were skilled metal workers and engineers
  
• They were very influential in the development of Roman civilization
  
• Romans adopted their alphabet
   and they adopted some of their architecture, especially the arch
  

Republic

• Republic is a form of government in which the power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
  
• In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted only to free-born adult male landowners
  

Patricians and Plebeians

• In the early republic, different groups of Romans struggled for power
  
• Patricians were the wealthy landowners who held most of the power
  
• Plebeians were the common person, but could still vote - usually farmers and merchants
  
• The Patricians inherited their power and social status and claimed that they had the right to rule due to their ancestry
  
• They barred the Plebeians from holding high offices in the government
  
• In time, the leaders of Rome, allowed the Plebeians to form their own assembly and elect their own representative

Army

• Along with their government, the Romans also took great pride in their military as well
  
• All men who owned land were required to serve in the army
  
• Some of the high public office positions required 10 year of military service
  

Legions

• The Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called legions
  
• Legions were made up of 5,000 foot soldiers
• A group of cavalry would support each legion
  
• The military organization and fighting skill of the Roman army were key factors in Rome's rise to greatness
  
• Broken up into smaller groups called 'centuries' that were made up of 80 people
  

Expansion

• By fourth century BC, the Romans dominated central Italy
  
• They had defeated the Etruscans to the north and the Greek city-states to the south

Treatment

• Latins on the Tiber became full citizens
  
• In territory farther from Rome, the conquered people were citizens as well but didn't have voting power
  
• The remaining people became "allies" of Rome

Roman Republic

• Shortly after their victories in the Punic Wars, the quick and rapid expansion began to hurt the empire
  
• The land was going to large estate and the small farmers were not making any money and were out of jobs
  
• One of the reasons leading to a civil war
  

Julius Caesar

• Debate information
  
• Another civil war broke out because of Caesar's death
  

Avengers of Caesar

• Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus avenged Caesar and became the 2nd triumvirate
  
• Even jealousy here, Octavian forced Lepidus to retire his power
  
• Mark Antony fell in love with Cleopatra and followed her to Egypt
  

Augustus

• The term given to Octavian meaning "exalted one"
  
• Rome was at the peak of its power and at peace throughout Augustus' Rule and even to 180 AD
  
• Pax Romana - "Roman Peace"