Western Civ Blog 54

Today on our online western civ class we had to take notes on the rest of Chi Cago’s Study Guide, slides 43-52. After the murder,  Julius Caesar’s grandnephew, and adopted son, Octavian took over at the age of 18, with his own triumvirate. Mark Antony is an experienced general. Lepidus is a powerful politician. This was the Second Triumvirate. Octavian forced the weak Lepidus to retire. He and Mark Antony become rivals. Mark Antony partnered up with Cleopatra of Egypt. Octavian then defeated them at the Battle of Actium. Octavian was now on his own. He is now the unchallenged ruler of Rome. He was given the honorific “Augustus” or the “Exalted one”. He was also given the title “imperator." He was the supreme military commander. This is where we get the word “emperor." Now Rome is an empire, not a republic. Octavian ruled for 40 years, 27 BC to AD 14. He began a stable era of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana (Roman peace). Pax Romana was 207 years long, 27 BC to AD 180. Some of his accomplishments were that he expanded the Roman Empire further into Africa, he set up civil service to run thengovernment/empire. Building a network of roads, collecting taxes, establishing a postal service, administering the grain supply, building awesome public facilities, setting up a police department, running a fire-fighting organization. He died of natural causes. After Octavian’s death, power was passed down to emperors. Some were good, some were not as good. First we have Tiberius, Ruled from AD 14 to AD 37, a good general, but a reluctant emperor. After the death of his son, he exiled himself from Rome and left his prefects in charge. He died at age 77. Then Caligula ruled from AD 37 to AD 41. He on a power struggle after Tiberius' death. He is known for his cruelty, extravagance, and perversity, an insane tyrant. He was assassinated by a group of praetorian guards, Senators, and the imperial court, trying to re-establish the Republic. Next was Claudius. Claudis ruled from AD 41 to AD 54. He suffered from many infirmities which was a limp, stammering, shaking, slobbering. He took over because he was the last adult male in the family. he ruled well and built roads, aqueducts, canals, and started the conquest of Britain.He died by poisoning, it was his last wife's plan because she wanted her son Nero to rise to power. Last was Nero. He ruled from 54 to 68, and emphasized the arts. There was a huge fire in 64. He wanted to rebuild Rome to be more majestic. He hugely overspent, and even raided the temples for money. Historians do not look kindly upon him.

Western Civ Blog 53

Today on our online western civ class we had to take notes on Slides 32-42 from "Chi Cago's Guide to Ancient Rome," which covers the rise and fall of Julius Caesar. We will be taking out test on June 2. Two things that kept the plebs happy and that kept them from revolting was bread and circuses. bread, free grain from the state, and entertainment, circus Maximus, Colosseum, partly to keep them alive, and partly to keep them quiet, distracted, and docile. Tiberius Gracchus recognized the advantages of courting the plebeians. Military generals worked that angle, they lead an army that conquers a land, then give them a share in the spoils. Soldiers’ loyalty was to their military leader, not necessarily to Rome or the Republic. Julius Caesar, 100 - 44 BCE, was a highly successful general. He conquered the huge territory of Gaul. Politics made common folks happy and made Julius friends in high places. Pompey, a general who conquered Syria and Palestine. Crassus was was the richest man in Rome, one of the richest men in all history. These three men formed the First Triumvirate, called “rule of three men." Caesar serves as consul for one year. Then appointed himself governor of Gaul. Pompey got jealous, and becomes his rival. Caesar’s armies clash with Pompey’s in Greece, Asia, Spain, and Egypt. Caesar won. In 44BC Caesar was named dictator, first for six months, then for life. Caesar granted citizenship to people in provinces. He expanded the Senate, adding his friends. He also created jobs for the poor, especially through public works projects. Then he increased pay for soldiers. Last, he started colonies where those without land could own property

Western Civ Blog 52

For my essay I am goin to be answering question A. I feel that I will be able to answer this question the best and most thoroughly because I know about the current government of the united states and I find researching the roman government interesting.

Western civ blog 51

Today on our online western civ class we had to read pages 160-165 and take notes like we used to do in your notebooks, but on your blog. The Civil War was a conflict between groups within the same country. Julius Caesar was a military man, strong leader, and a genius at military strategy. He served one year as consul, and joined forces with Crassus. Triumvirate was a group of three rulers. Augustus got the title"exalted one". Pax Romana was the period of peace and prosperity. As Rome grew, the gap between rich and poor grew wider. Landowners lived on large estates. Thousands of enslaved people. Small landowners, former soldiers, couldn't compete so they sold their land to the wealthy landowners and became homeless. Tiberius and Gaius tried to helped Rome's poor by limiting the size of estates and giving it to the poor. Generals started recruiting their own soldiers to gain power for themselves. From 58 BC to 50 BC Caesar led his legions in a campaign all over Gaul, he won his people's loyalty and devotion. Successes in Gaul made him popular with the people of Rome. Caesar's troops defeated Pompey's armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, and Egypt. In 44 B.C. he was appointed dictator for life.Caesar then granted Roman citizenship to many people. He expanded the senate, gave jobs to the poor, and increased pay for soldiers. He feared he was gaining to much power so he was assassinated. The Civil war broke out after his assassination. Octavian, who was the 18 year old grandnephew of Caesar, joined general Mark and took control of Rome for ten years. He had the titles of Augustus and imperator, supreme military commander. Augustus was Rome's ablest emperor, he set up civil service, paid workers to maintain government, glorified Rome, and set up a government that survived for centuries. After he died the government he created maintained the stability of the nation. Agriculture was a big part in Rome, 90% was farmed. Most people in Rome lived in the countryside and worked on farms. The number of slaves reached 1/3 of the population. Roman law then stated that slaves were property of their owners. The government and religion were linked. Dieties were symbols of the state. Social status was how you lived back then. The rich spent lots of money on homes and gardens, etc. Most of the population was poor and the government supported with daily rations of grain.The colosseum held lots of large events. Soon, Christianity started to appear, early followers were met with lots of brutality.

Western Civ blog 50

Today on our online western civ class we had to explain how, where, why, and who fought the Punic Wars. The wars were tough from 264 - 146 BCE. There were three wars fought by Rome and Carthage. The first one was fought from 264 to 241 BCE. Naval battles for control of the strategically located island of Sicily.Rome won this war. The second war was fought form 218 to 201 BCE. Carthaginian general Hannibal, who was 29-year-old, almost does the impossible, taking Rome. He attacks Rome from the North after crossing Iberia, Spain, and the Alps. He lays siege too much of the peninsula for 15 years, but he never can get to Rome. The third, and final war was fought from 149 to 146 BCE. Rome wanted to remove the threat of Carthage. Scipio, Tiberius Gracchus, and others attacked the city. Carthage was burned for 17 days. This caused the city’s walls and buildings to be destroyed. When the war ended, the last 50,000 people in the city were sold into slavery. The rest of Carthage’s territories were annexed, and made into the Roman province of Africa. The 50,000 Carthaginians, 150,000 Greek Pows slaves were poured into Italy. At the end of the second century BCE there were more than a million slaves in Italy.All the small farmers lost their land to aristocrats, for little or no money. Slaves did the work on the farms for the rich. The big farms became massive estates called latifundia.

Western Civ Blog 49

Today on our online western civ class we had to describe the structure of the Roman government, and how that republic compares to our present-day US government. Your blog should discuss these two topics. Slides 9-12 talked about how bad of a leader Tarquin was. He did many crazy things as a leader, like blackmail a women and then it ended with her killing herself. Tarquin tried to cover it up, but the whole family ended up getting expelled from Rome. He was an old school Tyrant. In slides 13-22 it talked about how the Roman government is compared to how the US government is run today. It also talks about the 3 branches of government. These are the similar to the 3 branches in the United States. The slides also describe how government officials were elected and what their role was. It also explains more about the Plebeians and Patricians.

Western Civ blog 48

Today on our online western civ class we had to take notes on the first eight slides of the study guide. Etruscans settled in Rome. They came from north-central part of the peninsula. They were metalworkers, artists, architects. The Greeks also settled in Rome. Greeks had many colonies around the Mediterranean Sea. Romans borrowed ideas from them, such as religious beliefs, alphabet, much of their art, and military techniques and weaponry. But the Latins were the first to settle in Rome. They were descendants of Indo-Europeans. They settled on the banks of the Tiber. Latins situated so trading ships, but not war fleets, could navigate as far as Rome, but no further than that. A commercial port, but not susceptible to attack. And the built on seven hills. The Tiber river was very important because many streams flowed into it. There was a marshy area called the Forum. It was between Palatine and Capitoline Hills.Tarquin the Proud’s grandfather built the Cloaca Maxima, which was the largest ancient drain. It channeled water into the Tiber. Urban legend says Washington DC was built on a swamp, but only about 2% was actually swampland. However, Constitution Avenue is located on what used to be called Tiber Creek. Lucius Tarquinias Superbus was the seventh and final king of Rome. He was known as Tarquin the Proud, sometimes referred to as Tarquin the Arrogant. He was a true tyrant, in the old and modern sense of the word.

Western Civ blog 47

Today on our online western civ class we had to listen and follow along with the lyrics and write your reaction to Rome, by Chi Cago. First I would like to start off by saying the lyrics were very good. The lyrics were nothing compared to listening the song. I feel like all the students would have loved to be in school to experience watching this for the first time because I really was able to enjoy it at home, and there hasty been anything during cyber school that has stood out to me like this. It is obvious that it took a long time to create because the quality. 

Western civ blog 46

Today on our online western civ class we had to go back and re-read the section on the Twelve Tables, on p. 156. Then watch at least the first 8 minutes of “Law & Order in Ancient Rome – The Law. Then write a summary of the Twelve Tables. Communities have laws to organize themselves and regulate the actions of their members. The twelve tables were written laws for the plebeians to have power to propose legislation, intervene in legal matters, and veto the actions of other magistrates. The Twelve tables were originally carved on wooden tables and set up on display in the public. they eventually upgraded to bronze for the sake of permanence. The common people/ plebeians finally had a say in the law. The laws were passed in three different types of assemblies. The first one was centuriate assembly, which is for high elections and military affairs. The second one is tribal assembly, which is for lower elections. The last one is plebeian assembly, which is for matters that only affected lower classes. The senate would first propose the law to their people, then they would discuss in groups, and finally vote on the law without discussion on that day. The roman Law consisted of: Preamble, main text, sanctioned. The Twelve Tables established the idea that all free citizens had a right protection of the law.

western civ blog 45

Today on our online western civ class we had to post an image of an architectural landmark from ancient Rome, and describe it. I chose the Baths of Caracalla. The dress of the baths are Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Roma RM, Italy. The baths are made from Marble, pozzolana, lime, tuff, basalt. They were the city's second largest Roman public baths, or thermae, likely built between AD 212 and 216/217, during the reigns of emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla. Besides being used for bathing, the complex also offered facilities for taking walks, reading/studying, exercise and body care. The Baths of Caracalla were built to hold around 1,600 bathers at a time and could accommodate up to 8,000 people a day.