Res Gestae

The Senate House

Chalcidicum

Temple of the Apollo on the Palatine

Temple of Julius Ceaser 

Flaminian 

Temple of Miverva 

Temple of Juno

Aventine

Theatre of Pompeii

Temple of Saturn 

Pictures From: http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

                        http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

"The Internet Classics Archive | The Deeds of the Divine Augustus by Augustus." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. .

Whats so "ancient" about Rome?

        Rome was a very strong and powerful empire. It went through many wars, rulers, and expansions. All of these conflicts and changes contributed to our history today. In my opinion, to be “ancient” means to inspire or influence the people that come long after you. The Roman people did that through the way they lived and ruled. Ancient Rome influenced our government and war techniques in the United States.

            The government of the United States may seem old or ancient, but the Roman government was very similar. Just like our government, they had three branches; the executive, legislative, and the judicial. They also had an emperor who was their form of a president. They were the leader of the entire empire, but did not have complete power. The purpose of the emperor was to eliminate the concept of a tyrant or king. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/empiresofabsentmind_article_01.shtml).  There were other people involved in creating laws and maintaining control in the empire. (http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webunits/greecerome/Romegovt1.html). The most famous event of the Roman Empire was when it fell. Although there is much speculation on whether it did fall or not, something happened for the empire to end. In about 40 B.C., A Roman orator, or public speaker tried to give the government advice. He spoke of many things people are talking about in our country today. He talked about the budget, the debt of the empire, and the quest for more money. He claimed, if they did not control these things, Rome would fall. Clearly the government didn’t listen to this, and thus Rome fell. Rome was in the same state we have been in for the past couple years. The Roman Emperor Nero wanted to increase taxes so they could expand and build. The businesses in Rome began to go bankrupt, because of this serious taxation. This finally led to the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. Many people in our country are thinking that because we have the same structured government and are in an economic crisis ourselves, we might “fall” too. This is very unlikely, but also very realistic at the same time. We have a very strong nation, but we also have weaknesses. (http://www.fff.org/freedom/0690c.asp).  The Roman government and the United States’ government are alike with the views on taxation and the actual structure of the government. With the influence on Rome’s ancient government, we have been able to replicate a government that is just as strong and successful.

            The United States Army has learned so much from the Romans. The ancient Roman Empire fought in many wars, but not just to expand their country. It was written in Roman law that they could only go to war if the people were being attacked. The people being attacked means “an act of aggression by another power”. The United States believes in this same strategy. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/empiresofabsentmind_article_01.shtml).  If we were not attacked on September 11, 2001, by terrorist bombers, we would not be in the war in Afghanistan. The only reason we are there is because they attacked us and killed many innocent people of our country. The same thing happened to Rome  during the Punic Wars. During the time, Rome controlled the island of Sicily, a major trading spot. Carthage and Rome had treaties for years keeping them at peace, but the Carthaginians wanted Sicily. They attacked Sicily, and started the first Punic War in 264 B.C. (http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_punic1.html#war). The fighting translated into three Punic Wars that lasted from 264 to 202 B.C. (http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/westciv/punicwar/). The Roman army influenced the United States so much, they created the same laws as the Romans about fighting.

            Through government and war, the Romans impacted us greatly. This influence on modern day life, makes Rome ancient. To be “ancient” means to inspire or influence the people that come long after you. The Romans did that easily by  giving us our very successful way of government and the knowledge of when to go to war. The Romans were people who were able to create something so strong, but still lose it all. They didn’t listen to the person giving advice and the empire fell. The Romans still influenced us so much and to me, are considered ancient.

"First Punic War, 264-241 BC." Military History Encyclopedia on the Web. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. .

"Government in Rome." Ancient Rome. Web. 5 Mar. 2010. .

Ibeji, Mike. "BBC - History - Ancient History in Depth: Empires of Absent Mind: Rome and the USA." BBC - Homepage. 5 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. .

"The Punic Wars, Home Page." Boise State University. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. .

Reed, Lawrence W. "The United States and the Roman Empire." Welcome to The Future of Freedom Foundation. June 1990. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. .

Picture From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_phots/3778299709/

Rome

The Trojan War formed the mythological background for Roman culture.

Roman culture is everywhere.

ITALY

Sicily was primarily Greek controlled.

Everything up to about the ankle was also Greek

Bay of Naples: near the remains of Pompeii.

Variety of geography and people in Italy.

IULUS-

Alba Longa

Story of Rome

Romulus and Remiss- raised by she wolves

They grow up and they have  a lot of sibling rivalry

Declare war. Romulus wins and kills Remiss

Plebeians and Patricians

The struggle of the orders

They fixed it by having one Plebian have the power to veto the laws the Patricians make.

First city in the world to have more than a million people

Pyrrhus of Epirus-

Greek king that decided he was going to take on the Romans. Invades Rome Won most of the battles but lost so many people they were unable to go on and was not able to full of the final victory. This is called the Pyrrhic victory. Rome is then able to then fend off a major opponent

Punic War

3 panic wars

Define Roman dominance in the Mediterranean

264-146 BCE

Etruria

Tarquin, the Proud

Traquin, the Sixth- raped Lucretia- the wife of the Proud.

Lucius Junius Brutus, helps start the Roman Republic

Roman Republic was founded in 509 BCE

1.    Aeneas/ Trojans defeat Latium

2.    Alba Longa

3.    Romulus and Remus/ Founding on Rome in 753 BCE

4.    Expulsion of the Etruscan Kings/ Establishment of the Roman Republic  6th century.

5.    The struggle of the Orders/ Tribune of the Plebs

6.    Roman expansion/ Pyrrhus

7.    1st Punic War

PUNIC WAR

1st- War that basically puts Rome on the map.

2nd- Hamlicar- father of Hannibal.

HANNIBAL

·         Used war elephants to cross the mountains of Spain

·         Invaded Rome.

·         60 thousand of Romans died in the battlefield.

·         He didn't want to control Rome, he wanted to destroy and defeat Rome. Got within fifty miles of the city, but doesn't have the supplies or invasion force left to fully siege the city. Can't get final victory.

·         The Roman general who beat Hannibal was Scipio. Known as Scipio Africanus. The last battle of the Punic War. Battle of Zama.

BATTLE OF ZAMA.

Decisive battle of the second Punic war.

Carthaginians attack

Send elephants

Romans blow the horns freaking elephants out making them turn around and retreat. Then it is infantry against infantry. 

Take a Picture of Something in your Neighborhood that Appears to Have Been Influenced by the Romans

The Romans were very famous for their creation of roads that traveled throughout the Roman empire.

Greek and Roman Historians

Herodotus

            Herodotus has always been considered “The father of history.” He was one of the first people to begin finding information on the past. When Sparta and Athens defeated the Persians, he couldn’t believe it. After that moment, he devoted himself to finding the answer the question, how did they defeat them? “Herodotus decided that the main point was that the Persians were ruled by a king, and the king had too much power. This led the king to think he was able to control things that really only the gods could control, like the weather, or who won a war”. Herodotus was a very influential writer that inspired most of the historians then and today.

Thucydides (460-395 BC)

            Thucydides was an Athenian. During Thucydides life, he wrote about The Peloponnesian war. He was a much more accurate writer than Herodotus. He wrote the history of this war from the moment it started. He thought it was an important and very exciting war. Thucydides was a great historian, and his works are very interesting.

Livy (59-17 BCE)

Livy was born in Patavium. When Livy was alive, he wasn’t very popular. We don’t know much about his private life, but he had a daughter and a son. He wrote about the rise of Rome. He started with the early history and wrote everything down from then, to his death. Without Livy, we wouldn’t know much of the history of Rome as we do today.

"Herodotus - History for Kids!" Kidipede - History and Science for Kids - Homework Help for Middle School. Web. 04 Mar. 2010. .

"Livy 1: Life." Livius. Articles on Ancient History. Web. 04

Mar. 2010. .

"Lycurgus.org - Ancient Texts From Thucydides, Plutarch, Herotodus, Xenophone." Lycurgus.org - Plutarch, Plato, Socrates, Ancient Greek Warfare, Spartans. Web. 04 Mar. 2010. .

Pictures From:   http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Titus_Livius.jpg 

                        http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thucydides_pushkin02.jpg

                        http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herodotus_Massimo_Inv124478.jpg

Imagining Life as a Roman

Although there are still two Punic Wars ahead, I believe that there hopeful life ahead. In the future, everyone would be treated equal in Rome. The Struggle of the Orders was a long time ago, but many people are still being treated unfairly. I hope a brand new invention will come soon to help us with farming. The wheel and the plow help enormously, but maybe something could be made that would help us not only plant the crops, but harvest them. It is so tiring harvesting all of our crops in the fields. As far as culture, I feel that the Roman culture is so different, and interesting it will be introduced to many other civilizations and nations. We have a different view on many things, and I hope it translates into the future. As a Roman civilian, I hope our future changes, but we still keep the Roman culture alive.

By looking at the world around me today, I can’t predict what is going to happen. Not that anyone can, but I can’t even begin to think about how our world can go through more change then right now. We can elect different leaders, change parts of our government, and make new laws, but the United States will always be a great country. Brand new technology is being created that make life so much easier. Computers, cars, tools all help us to do the things we can do every day. All of these new things really make me wonder if we really need them. People back in Rome and Greece didn’t have our materials, but their civilizations were very successful and powerful. I just know in the future, I do not want to lose the country we have today to new and improved technology.

Picture From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmacorig/162606437/

Hannibal

Hannibal was born in 247 BCE in Carthage. During this time, they were about to lose the First Punic War. Hannibal was around war and fighting all his life. His dad and son-in-law were both generals. When they died, Hannibal took command. His father always taught him to hate the Romans, and Hannibal did. When he took command, he decided to follow his father and attack the Romans. He soon declared the Second Punic War. He used elephants to cross mountains and attack cities. This use of animals was so unusual that it is very widely remembered.  Hannibal won many battles, but lost many men. To avoid surrendering or loss, he poisoned himself in 183 BCE.

"Hannibal." Livius. Articles on Ancient History. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. .

Picture From: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hannibal.jpg