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...for the Week of Nov. 1, 1999
...for the Week of October 25, 1999
...for the Week of October 18, 1999
...for the Week of October 11, 1999
... for the Week of October 4, 1999
Thursday |
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Debrief Test and Intro ROME - READ
6.1 |
| Friday |
|
Borrow, Adapt, Improve -
Building the Foundations of the
Roman World |
Built from a Greek foundation, the Roman world grew from the shores of the
Tiber River to encompass the western world from Britannia
to Egypt. As legions of
citizen-soldiers defeated Carthage, the doors of Empire began to open. Though rapid
expansion led to initial crisis, a tyrant with vision, Julius Caesar, defied the Imperial
Senate and took Rome, its people, and his soldiers by storm. Establishing order from
chaos, Caesar taught the Romans a government designed for a city, the Republic, could not
control an Empire. Senators jealous of his ideas and power killed him, only to later
establish the type of government he championed. During the Pax Romana, man conquered
nature, bringing water to cities, building amphitheaters
for sport, and spreading a Roman
culture and the idea of a divine emperor to all corners of the western world. But a
new idea, one that challenged the very foundation of Rome, kept strong in the East.
Symbolized by Ben-Hur, the Judaic faith angered Romans who held fast to traditional
Greco-Roman gods. When ruthless passion was replaced by unconditional love, the
Empire began to fall, a slow three-century decline that would culminate with a barbaric
invasion and the destruction of the Eternal city.
Coming soon...
De nobis fabula narratur -
Their story is Our story
Ben-Hur - Film assignment
Along the Roman Roads - Built by their legions,
the roads eventually carried an idea that destroyed them
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 |
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Committed to ruthlessness, the Roman military was built upon the Greek and
Hellenistic armies that conquered before them. Unleashing on their great adversary,
the Carthaginians, in the Third Punic War, Roman domination of the Mediterranean Sea
followed, paving the way to Empire. |
Having a clear vision of what Rome required, Julius Caesar ruled justly and firmly,
intent on leading the Republic-turned-Empire. But he was killed for his trouble. |
Octavian heeded the words of his uncle, becoming Emperor of Rome. As Augustus, he
found the city built of wood, and left it clothed in marble. With him began the Pax
Romana, Rome's golden age. For the next 200 years, the Romans will reach heights
that world will not see for the next 1,800. |
 |
 |
 |
| Roman
cities grew to populations in the millions, a growth fueled by the generosity of the early
Roman government that provided them water, bread and free entertainment. The great
aqueducts demonstrate Rome's grand mastery of form and function |
To entertain the masses, games at the coliseum
featured bouts to the death,
whether it be Christian or lion. For the Romans, the bloodier, the better. So
much so, the Romans spray scented water over the crowds to hide the stench of defeat. |
Their greatest architectural triumph was the Pantheon, a building that featured the
dome, a Roman trademark. One-hundred and forty feet high with an oculus
nearly
30-ft. wide, the building took advantage of another Roman innovation - concrete. |
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Showcasing the struggle between two ideas, Ben-Hur is the epic story of love vs. hate,
mercy vs. ruthlessness and a Jew vs. a Roman. With the death of Messala and the
salvation of Miriam and Tierza, one of the most fundamental elements of Western culture is
formed. |
Upon seeing what he believed was a flaming cross in the sky on the eve of a battle,
Constantine ordered Christianity promoted throughout the empire. It was too little,
too late as Rome began to succumb to the force that will bring it down. |
|
| Chapter Six |
| Section One |
Section Two |
|
Etruscan roots of Rome |
Legions both defend and conquer (Punic Wars) - significance? |
|
Describe the Roman Republic - Greek similarities/differences |
Good
times follow...but too good - why does a crisis develop? |
| The
power of the 12 Tables of Law |
Rise
of Caesar - once again, a tyrant establishes order |
| Section Three |
Section Four |
| Why
does the old Republic fail, making way for Empire? |
Why did Rome oppose Christianity? |
|
Roman Rule - Imperial government, law and military |
Why
did Christianity spread rapidly? Structure, message, appeal... |
|
Roman Civilization - the Pax Romana characteristics |
What
role did Constantine play in the rise of Christianity? |
| Section Five |
|
Breakdown the problems: Economic; |
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Political (despite the efforts of Constantine and
Diocletian); |
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| Here
come the invading nomads...was it inevitable? |
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