Notes on Rome

Groups that settled in Rome

Latins- (they were first)

• descendants of Indo-Europeans
• settled on the banks of the Tiber
• situated so trading ships - but not war fleets - could navigate as far as Rome, but no further
• a commercial port, but not susceptible to attack
• built on seven hills (esp. Palatine)

they drained a swamp:

• many streams flowed into the Tiber
• there was a marshy area called the Forum, between Palatine and Capitoline Hills
• Tarquin the Proud’s grandfather built the Cloaca Maxima (largest ancient drain), which 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

Etruscans 

•  they came from the north-central part of the peninsula
• they were metalworkers, artists, architect

two foundation myths: 

• Virgil’s Aeneid (where Aeneas escapes from Troy)
• the story of Remus and Romulus

Greeks

• had many colonies around the Mediterranean Sea
• Romans borrowed ideas from them, such as:
• religious beliefs
• alphabet
• much of their art -Remus wanted Aventine
• military techniques and weaponry -Romulus chose Palatine

Lucius Tarquinias Superbus

• the seventh and final king of Rome
• known as Tarquin the Proud (sometimes referred to as Tarquin the Arrogant)
• a true tyrant, in the old and modern sense of the word
  

Rome by Chi Cago

When I heard I was going to get the chance to hear Rome by the famous rapper and historian I was very excited. I heard about it from my brother years back and waited for my chance. I wasn't totally sure what to expect but I would have given it a standing ovation. I think it was very well written and it even had a lot of information but it was in a fun way. I am very disappointed I didn't get to see it live though, that would have been cool. But, it was still great and I'm glad I didn't miss out on the once in a lifetime chance.

Twelve Tables

The Twelve Tables are a set of Roman Laws that are inscribed on 12 tablets in Ancient Rome. They were created in 451 BC. These tablets were hung everywhere for all people to see. It was the start of a new way for laws. These laws would go through the government first, and then they would be written down. They were then hung around Rome so all citizens would know their rights and be treated equally without the laws changing. Before these laws were created patricians would change laws or make them up for their benefit because they were a higher class. The plebeians didn't like this so they fought against them and when they won these laws were created. These laws established the rights of Roman citizens in areas of property, trials, personal wrongs, public, and religious matters. This was an important step for Romans in their government.

Arch of Septimius Severus

                                            

This is the Arch of Septimius Severus. The 69-foot archway is made of Proconessian white marble from the Sea of Marmara. The Romans made this arch to dedicate it to the Emperor Septimus Severus, and his two sons Caracalla and Geta in 203 for their victories in Parthia. It is one of the two remaining triumphal arches that surround the Roman Forum.

Roman Patricians and Plebians

The main difference between patricians and plebians is that patricians are wealthy and plebians are common people. Patricians have lots of money and own land. They probably have some plebians working on their land. They thought they should have a lot of power because they were wealthy. Plebians are the middle class and the lowest class people put together in the same group. There was no middle class if you weren't a patrician you were a plebeian even if you made more money than most plebeians. There are merchants, farmers, builders, bakers, and artisans. These people were the majority of Rome but didn't get any power. Ancient Greece had four classes which make more sense. They had the upper class; the metics, or middle class; lower class, or freedmen; and the slave class. I think the way the Greeks set up their social class system was better and fairer.

Vocab Words for New Unit

Vocab words that are important to know in this new unit.

• Republic-  is a form of government in which power rest with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders.

• Patrician- one of the Roman groups who struggled for power, they're wealthy landowners who held most of the power.
• Plebeian- the other important group, the common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population.
• Tribune- protected the rights of the plebians from unfair acts of patrician officials.
• Consul- like kings, they commanded the army and directed the government.
• Senate- aristocratic branch of Rome government, it had both legislative and administrative functions in the republic.
• Dictator- a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army.
• Legions- Roman soldiers were organized into large military units.
• Punic Wars- in 264 BC, Rome and Carthage went to war, which was the beginning of the long struggle.
• Hannibal- brilliant military strategist who wanted to avenge Carthage's earlier defeat.

Essay question and outline

My essay question would be this: Describe three types of Greek architecture.
My first paragraph would be an introduction to each type of architecture. I would say what they are called and where they are found. My second paragraph would be on the first example, and I would say when it was built, what they used it for, and tell if its name has a meaning, etc. My third paragraph would be on the second example and I would list the same things that I did in paragraph two. For my fourth paragraph, I would list the third example and write the same things as I did in paragraph two. On my fifth paragraph, I would show how all of these are important in Greek culture and how it changed their culture.