Ancient Rome- Activity #3 Part One 1. What is the story of how Rome started?
Twin brothers Romulus and Remus founded Rome in 753 B.C.E. They were from a wealthy family but were abandoned by their uncle, and later brought up by a she-wolf. Romulus went on to kill his brother Remus to control Rome.
2. Describe the political and social order in early ancient Rome.
There were two groups, the Patricians and Plebians, they were both Romans but had different rights. They could both vote, make legal contracts, and marry, but intermarriage between the two classes was not allowed. Through time the Plebians became more powerful and created a new assembly in 471 called the Council of Plebs. The New leaders, called Tribunes, protected the Plebians and a new law allowed intermarriage. In 278 B.C.E. the council got the right to pass laws for all Romans.
3. What happened in the Punic Wars?
Romans sent an army to Sicily to intervene with a local dispute, but the Carthaginians thought it was an invasion of their territory. in 241, Sicily gave up their rights because of Roman dominance in naval strength. The second unic war began when a carthaginian, Hanibal, retaliated against Roman attempts to get Spain to invade Carthage. he led an army of 30,000-40,000 men along with 6,000 horses and elephants across the Alps and defeated the Romans, however, they could not maintain control over Roman cities. Therefore, Rome invaded Carthage and beat Hanibal along with his men. A peace treaty was signed in 201 B.C.E. Carthage lost Spain. Then fifty years later, Rome wenyt to war again and that time they destroyed the Carthage in 146 B.C.E. and claimed it as a Roman province called Africa.
4. Why was Julius Caesar so important?
He seized power in 47 B.C.E. and was made dictator, and three years later, he was given the title dictator for life. He made land reforms and gave land to the poor. He also increaed the Senate to 900 members then packed it with supporters of his reforms. Julius gave people in the provinces who had helped him, the status of Roman citizen. He began numerous public works projects as well as military campaignes in the East. In 44 B.C.E., he was assasinated by a group of senators.
5. Describe Roman family life.
A Roman family consisted of all household members who lived together, with the father ruling the family and the household. Women had considerable power in their own families and many of them ran businesses and managed estates. Ancestor worship was very important to the families.
Part Two 1. What are the dates for the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire?
Roman Republic: 509-30 B.C.E.
Roman Empire: 30 B.C.E.-476 C.E.
2. Explain the meaning of the Latin phrase primus inter pares. Primus inter pares translates to 'First among equals'. Being first among equals gave the illusion that an emperor was the most important and prestigious person of the Roman Senate, but every other senator was also equally important. However, the emperors ruled and did not take much imput from anyone else.
3. Describe the accomplishments of Augustus.
Augustus began the tradition of calling emperors gods, and picking their own successors, he built and maintained the empire's infrastructure, he encouraged the growth of business and established a strong money system. Augustus established fire and police departments for Rome, and he extended citizenship to more provincials. He claimed that he found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. He reigned in the time that Jesus was born.
4. What was the Pax Romana?
The Pax Romana was Roman peace. Rome had ruled the Mediterranean and more and their peace lasted around 200 years.
5. How do Caligula and Nero represent the problems of hereditary succession?
Caligula and Nero represented the problems of hereditary succession because the society never got to choose their next leader because it was just pasted down from the family, which meant you could have really bad leaders, such as those two, and no one could do anything about it.
Part #3 1. Who split the empire into two halves, and why?
Diocletian slit the empire into two halves to create what would become two seperate empires. He believed that it would strengthen the empire for administrative purposes.
2. Explain the relationship between Emperor Constantine and Christianity.
His Mother had converted to christianity, and he too converted on his deathbed. Christianity finally gained acceptance with the Edict of Milan from help with his conversion.
3. Describe the accomplishments of Emperor Justinian.
Justinian's accomplishments included reuniting the two empires, but unfortunately it did not last, and he rewrote the Roman law (Justinian Code).
4. When did the Western (Roman) and Eastern (Byzantine) empires officially end, and why?
The Western empire officially ended in 476 C.E. when the last emperor, Romulus Augustus, was desposed by Odoacer, a barbarian. The Eastern empire ended in 1453 when the empire was conquered by the Ottoman Turks.
5. Explain the economic, military, political, and social reasons for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Economic:
-There was a gap between the rich and the poor
-Impoverished workers became tied to the land as coloni
-Not many people in the lower classes could afford goods, so manufacturing and trade declined
-Large estates became self sufficient, making the manufacturing and trade even worse Military:
-Roman republic: armies were servants of Rome
-Roman empire: armies made and unmade emperors
-Reliance on barbarian troops: Not ultimately loyal to Rome, could not be counted on to fight their fellow barbarians, interested in obtaining booty-not defending Rome or furthering Rome's interests Political:
-Decline in patriotism
-Eastern/Western split caused problems regarding loyalty
-No orderly succession Social:
-Population decreased because of hunger, plagues, and war
-Decline in intellectual culture
-Religious divisions
6. Name and describe at least three contributions of Roman Civilization to world history. Architecture & Engineering:
Their success was largely based on how they built and maintained their empire's infrastructure. Literature:
Playwrights designed to entertain, Poets- Virgil & Horace Transmission of the Greek Culture:
Preserved the transmitted Greek culture to the West, their greek texts that were popular in Rome, and even when Rome fell, the monks still preserved and transmitted Greek texts and ideas.
Part One
1. What is the story of how Rome started?
Twin brothers Romulus and Remus founded Rome in 753 B.C.E. They were from a wealthy family but were abandoned by their uncle, and later brought up by a she-wolf. Romulus went on to kill his brother Remus to control Rome.
2. Describe the political and social order in early ancient Rome.
There were two groups, the Patricians and Plebians, they were both Romans but had different rights. They could both vote, make legal contracts, and marry, but intermarriage between the two classes was not allowed. Through time the Plebians became more powerful and created a new assembly in 471 called the Council of Plebs. The New leaders, called Tribunes, protected the Plebians and a new law allowed intermarriage. In 278 B.C.E. the council got the right to pass laws for all Romans.
3. What happened in the Punic Wars?
Romans sent an army to Sicily to intervene with a local dispute, but the Carthaginians thought it was an invasion of their territory. in 241, Sicily gave up their rights because of Roman dominance in naval strength. The second unic war began when a carthaginian, Hanibal, retaliated against Roman attempts to get Spain to invade Carthage. he led an army of 30,000-40,000 men along with 6,000 horses and elephants across the Alps and defeated the Romans, however, they could not maintain control over Roman cities. Therefore, Rome invaded Carthage and beat Hanibal along with his men. A peace treaty was signed in 201 B.C.E. Carthage lost Spain. Then fifty years later, Rome wenyt to war again and that time they destroyed the Carthage in 146 B.C.E. and claimed it as a Roman province called Africa.
4. Why was Julius Caesar so important?
He seized power in 47 B.C.E. and was made dictator, and three years later, he was given the title dictator for life. He made land reforms and gave land to the poor. He also increaed the Senate to 900 members then packed it with supporters of his reforms. Julius gave people in the provinces who had helped him, the status of Roman citizen. He began numerous public works projects as well as military campaignes in the East. In 44 B.C.E., he was assasinated by a group of senators.
5. Describe Roman family life.
A Roman family consisted of all household members who lived together, with the father ruling the family and the household. Women had considerable power in their own families and many of them ran businesses and managed estates. Ancestor worship was very important to the families.
Part Two
1. What are the dates for the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire?
Roman Republic: 509-30 B.C.E.
Roman Empire: 30 B.C.E.-476 C.E.
2. Explain the meaning of the Latin phrase primus inter pares.
Primus inter pares translates to 'First among equals'. Being first among equals gave the illusion that an emperor was the most important and prestigious person of the Roman Senate, but every other senator was also equally important. However, the emperors ruled and did not take much imput from anyone else.
3. Describe the accomplishments of Augustus.
Augustus began the tradition of calling emperors gods, and picking their own successors, he built and maintained the empire's infrastructure, he encouraged the growth of business and established a strong money system. Augustus established fire and police departments for Rome, and he extended citizenship to more provincials. He claimed that he found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. He reigned in the time that Jesus was born.
4. What was the Pax Romana?
The Pax Romana was Roman peace. Rome had ruled the Mediterranean and more and their peace lasted around 200 years.
5. How do Caligula and Nero represent the problems of hereditary succession?
Caligula and Nero represented the problems of hereditary succession because the society never got to choose their next leader because it was just pasted down from the family, which meant you could have really bad leaders, such as those two, and no one could do anything about it.
Part #3
1. Who split the empire into two halves, and why?
Diocletian slit the empire into two halves to create what would become two seperate empires. He believed that it would strengthen the empire for administrative purposes.
2. Explain the relationship between Emperor Constantine and Christianity.
His Mother had converted to christianity, and he too converted on his deathbed. Christianity finally gained acceptance with the Edict of Milan from help with his conversion.
3. Describe the accomplishments of Emperor Justinian.
Justinian's accomplishments included reuniting the two empires, but unfortunately it did not last, and he rewrote the Roman law (Justinian Code).
4. When did the Western (Roman) and Eastern (Byzantine) empires officially end, and why?
The Western empire officially ended in 476 C.E. when the last emperor, Romulus Augustus, was desposed by Odoacer, a barbarian. The Eastern empire ended in 1453 when the empire was conquered by the Ottoman Turks.
5. Explain the economic, military, political, and social reasons for the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Economic:
-There was a gap between the rich and the poor
-Impoverished workers became tied to the land as coloni
-Not many people in the lower classes could afford goods, so manufacturing and trade declined
-Large estates became self sufficient, making the manufacturing and trade even worse
Military:
-Roman republic: armies were servants of Rome
-Roman empire: armies made and unmade emperors
-Reliance on barbarian troops: Not ultimately loyal to Rome, could not be counted on to fight their fellow barbarians, interested in obtaining booty-not defending Rome or furthering Rome's interests
Political:
-Decline in patriotism
-Eastern/Western split caused problems regarding loyalty
-No orderly succession
Social:
-Population decreased because of hunger, plagues, and war
-Decline in intellectual culture
-Religious divisions
6. Name and describe at least three contributions of Roman Civilization to world history.
Architecture & Engineering:
Their success was largely based on how they built and maintained their empire's infrastructure.
Literature:
Playwrights designed to entertain, Poets- Virgil & Horace
Transmission of the Greek Culture:
Preserved the transmitted Greek culture to the West, their greek texts that were popular in Rome, and even when Rome fell, the monks still preserved and transmitted Greek texts and ideas.