4/30/14

Today in class, we didn't do anything. It was kind of like an off mod. I laughed a lot with Claire and i really do not know why. We sat in class and it was fun. I am writing my blog during class so that I do not have to write it at home. I am not really sure if we were supposed to be doing something or if we were supposed to just be doing whatever we want. It was a nice class and I enjoyed talking to my friends. We are aloud to be playing games and do homework. Now we are moving to the cafeteria so I am going to stop writing. So the class was pointless but very enjoyable.

4/29/14

Today in class, we went over the grades for our project. My peers graded me better than you did. That is okay because I still got a high B on the project. The project grade brought my grade up in this class a lot. We also looked at Delaney Link's project because she worked really hard and it was really good. We also went over notes more.

Notes:
The Roman Empire

• August- to be honored, held up on a pedestal, almost as if you are a god.

Augustus-the first emperor- getting it done

•  Begins the  Pax Romania- a period of peace and prosperity
• Built Roads, aqueducts (brought water to the cities)
• Set up civil service to take care of roads, the grain supply, even a postal service
• Augustus dies at age 76 in A.D. 14, and passes power too...

From Jesus to Christianity 

• Jesus was a Roman citizen and a practicing Jew
• At 30, he began his ministry (A.D. 31-33), preaching to the poor (and there were lots of them) in the empire, and reaching out to outsiders
• Statements like "My kingdom is not of this world" made the Romans (and the Jews) nervous, and they began to plan his execution
• The government of the Roman province of Judaea, Pontius Pilate (prompted by Jewish high priests), sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion

notes

Julius Caesar 

• part of the patricians but was not very rich.
• teamed up with Pompeius, one of the richest men ever. 
• triumvirate- In Ancient Rome, an alliance of 3 politicians that enabled them to control the Republic's decision making. 
• Julius Caesar was in a triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus
• Rubicon- river, marks the northern most border of the Roman territories. 
• When Caesar got to the Rubicon he had a decision to either leave his men behind or come in with his thousands of men. 
• Caesar conquered Gual and even made forays into Britain and Germany
• Pompey defended the Senate and Caesar defeated him in Greece and murdered him in Egypt
• Caesar showed respect to the Senate but treated it as a mere advisory body
• Roman's applauded Caesar and his work, but some senators were disturbed. 
• Caesar came to the Senate's house, unarmed and unguarded and was stabbed 23 times in the stomach and killed.

West Civ

Today in class, we watched the projects. My favorite dessert so far was Hanna and Caroline. It was sweet which was surprising because Roman food is not normally sweet. It is interesting to learn about the Roman culture and the different foods that that they eat. The only thing we have learned about is the foods and the Colosseum. I like to learn about that stuff so it is cool. I don't know what else to say besides we watched the projects. We have one more day of presenting than we will be finished.

4/11/14

Today in class, we took a test. I got an 80 which brought my grade up to a 79 percent. I thought that I did better on the test but a B is still good. I am happy for spring break because we will not have school. The only homework I have in this class is the project. I am going to work hard because I want a good grade on the project. Hopefully break will be fun and we will all get rest.

Notes Continued

Roman Legion

Legion- 5000 men

Century- 80 men (like the phalanx)

Infantry- soldiers on foot carried short arms

Cavalry- soldiers on horse back

Punic Wars- Rome vs. Carthage

Rome won all 3 Wars

First Punic War- fought over Sicily

Second Punic War- fought over Hannibal.

Third Punic War- Destroy Carthage. Rome didn’t want to wait for Carthage to get ready for the battle and get more men so they laid waste (wiped out) and destroyed everything in Carthage

• Carthage is in  North Africa

Notes from Today

Assembly- House for Plebeians to vote and to run their government

Tribunes- elected by Plebeians to serve in the Assembly

Senator- elected to the senate

Consul- kind of like a president. Most powerful people in the government but there were 2 of them to keep an eye on each other and make sure they didn’t do anything bad.

Dictator- in charge of everything. Usually one of the consuls or a senator

Romans Government was made up of:

Monarchy- our president

Democracy- house of rep.

Aristocracy- their senate 

Punic Wars

Punic Wars 

• Punic wars were waged on land and sea in three vicious rounds between 264 and 146 B.C. 
• In the first phase of struggle, Rome was able to force Carthage out of Sicily, but the North African city kept the rest of its empire.
•  In the second phase, the Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Italy, defeated several Roman armies, and brought Rome to the brink of defeat. 
• At the end of the second Punic War in 202 B.C., Carthage was disarmed and helpless. 
• Rome provoked a third war, and in 146. B.C., Carthage was captured after bitter fighting. In a final act of vengeance, the Senate ordered the city to be leveled, its people sold into slavery, and even the ground on which it had stood be solemnly cursed. This was just an epilogue. Already in 202 B.C., Rome had won control of the western Mediterranean. 

Chapter 6 worksheet

Chapter 6 questions 1-5

1.  Rome is near the Mediterranean Sea making trade with other islands easy. The farmland was also very good and was enough for the population.

2. Rome used the Etruscan alphabet, the Etruscan people influenced Rome's building style, and Rome adopted their dress style.

3. Patricians and Plebeians

4. They were rules that people had to follow. This allowed judges to make decisions based on the laws, rather than making unfair accusations.

5. Gauls lived in France. The Romans attacked and defeated the Guals.  

Notes

Today in class we took notes. I am working alone on the project. Here are my notes. 

Main Groups Settled in Italy

• Latins were first people to settle in Rome
• Then Etruscans
• Then Greece

They drained part of the land on the peninsula to make it not as marshy they diverted the flow of the water.

Tarquin the Proud- last king Rome ever had. Didn’t feel like he needed to listen to people. Fairley abusive and didn’t listen to advisors.

Rome elected people to rule for them. United States copied the way Rome did things with government

Republic (had Senates)

1. Democracy
2. Monarchy (2 consuls) Consuls could veto what each other says
3. Aristotracy 

(3 branches of government have direct correlations to the US gov.)

Plebeians-regular people, middle class

Patricians- rich and the aristocrats, owned money and land

Class of 4/1/14

Today in class, we talked about an upcoming project that is worth 200 points. I am going to work alone because it is easier than working with people. I am probable going to make a food from ancient Rome. We talked about all the different things we can do for this project. I remember in sixth grade when I did a project on the Gladiators. It is very gruesome and bloody. We also have the option of presenting our project before or after break. I am probably going to present it before break so I do not have to work on it later. This project is going to be interesting and it will hopefully be fun.