Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Theme (1): Geography and Early History of Rome
| How did the geography of the Italian peninsula affect the early history of Rome? | Early History: |
| What were the two major ethnic influences uponRome which existed in pre-Roman times? Give examples. | Same site as above: Read "Land and the People",then click on "the Etruscans" |
| What did the early history of the expansion ofRome on the Italian peninsula involve? What are the reasons for the success of Roman expansion? Why did Romans create the foundations for empire while the Hellenic Greeks did not? | Expansion
through war: Read"Conquest
of Italy", then Click on the "Roman Republic" Compare Romans with Greeks |
Theme (2): The Roman Republic
| What was the most splendid political achievement of the Romans in the days of the Republic? | |
| What determined the nature of social conflict in the Roman Republic? What was the function of the tribune? What was the outcome of the Struggle of the Orders? | Social Conflict: Read "The Roman Republic", then click on "The Republican Crisis" |
Theme (3): Roman Imperialism and the change in values
| As Rome expanded, what brought Romans into conflict with the people they eventually conquered? What was the historical originof the phrase "Pyrrhic Victory"? |
Overseas Expansion |
| What were the causes and results of the First Punic War? What was the nature and outcome of the Second Punic War? ----- the Third Punic war? What circumstances led the Romans to march againstthe Macedonians. | Punic
Wars
also see: (Overseas Expansion) above |
| What was the role of Paterfamilias in Roman society?What was the status of women? --- of the matron? How was slaveryintroducedinto Roman society? What was the Roman attitude toward towardsslaves? What was the nature of Roman religion? How did they characterizetheirGods? |
Paterfamilias Women Slavery Spartacus: Roman religion Mithras:Note especially the last two paragraphs |
| What were the effects of Roman imperialism uponthe nature of everyday life among the Romans? What areas conquered by theRomans had the greatest impact on Roman life? Where did the Romans acquire their taste for public baths? What influence did the baths have upon social practices? |
Everyday life |
| What effect did the imperialistic wars have uponRoman veterans when they returned home? What were the political consequences? What policies of the Roman Senate led to the downfall of the Senate? What reforms introduced by Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus brought about major political change? | Unrest in Rome and Italy |
| How does the career of Julius Caesar relate tothe civil war that ended the Roman Republic? |
Civil war Caesar: See Spartacus above, Scroll to "Caesar Conquers and Falls" |
Theme (4): The Roman Empire at its height
| What did Caeasar Augustus attempt to do,andwhat was the main basis of his power? How did Augustus disarm his potential critics when he assumed power? |
Roman Empire The Principate: Read 1st Paragraph |
| What changes were made in regard to the Roman army? How was the army satisfied in spite of its great numbers and potential for discontent? How were the provinces administered under Augustus? Intowhat areas did the empire spread under Augustus? |
Roman army Also see The Principate (above) |
| How can we describe the writings of Virgil? of Horace? What were the contributions of Livy? of Seutonius? of Tacitus? | Virgil : click on his name for short Bio |
| What problems existed in Palestine during the life of Jesus? What were some of the characteristics of Christianity which explain its appeal and spread throughout the Roman Empire? | Jerusalem in Jesus' time |
| What was the principal weakness of Augustus' settlement of affairs after the Fall of the Republic? What were the consequences of that weakness? | The Emperor and the Army:
Site (1) Site (2) TheJulio-Claudians |
| Why was the 2nd century of the Roman Empire prosperous?What changes occurred in the army during the 2nd and 3rd Centuries? |
TheAntonines |
Hallmarks of Roman culture. Europe and Asia during the period of the Empire? |
Life in the Golden Age: Roman architecture, aqueducts, roads, baths gladiators The Silk Road |
Theme (5): Imperial Decline and Reconstruction:
| Why did the spirit of Pax Romana begin to fadeduring the 3rd Century AD? | Barracks Emperors |
What had been the role of agriculture in theRoman Empire and how was that changing? What changes in government andadministration were made under the Emperor Diocletian? under Emperor constantine?What economic problems plagued the empire in the 4th Century? What wasDiocletian's response? Describe the effects. |
agriculture: See also articles 02 and 03 Political Reconstruction Inflation: Scroll to "Inflation in the Roman Empire." |
| To what extent were Christians persecuted by the Roman Empire? Why? |
Christians in a pagan empire: Scroll to "Christians-A New Family"
Persecution of Christians: Scroll to: "Christianity organizes and struggles with new ideas" |
| Why did the emperor Constantine accept conversion to Christianity? What important changes were carried out by Constantine? | Constantine's conversion:Scroll to CONSTANTINE'S CONVERSION |
| What was the most likely cause for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire? | Decline and Fall |
Maps of Antiquity Maps of Europe AD1: 1000
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