Ancient Greece and rome

Homer

Composed Iliad and Odyssey

Iliad and Odyssey gives Greeks collective identity

History without writing, told by bards

With rediscovery of writing (from Phoenicians) 2 of 10 poems are recorded

Socrates

Helped students teach themselves

Influenced many Athenian youth including Plato

Put on trial for corrupting youth/condemned to death

Plato

Considered the founder of Western philosophy

Used Socrates’ method of questioning in an effort to ‘know’ the truth of beauty , love and justice (aka “the Good”)

Founded a school called the Academy

His greatest work; the Republic- describes his idea of a perfect society

Hannibal

Won the second Punic war, Carthage lost

Carthage was completely destroyed in the third Punic war

Aeneas

Venus’ son

Collects family gods, survivors, and heads west

Julius caesar

Patrician from old noble family with little wealth

Looks to the urban poor for support 

Pays for political support with money from Crassus

Caesar and Crassus joined by Pompey to form first triumvirate

Takes command of legions in Gaul

Conquers Gaul and invades Britain

Sends letters and booty home to Rome

Has support of army and public and wealth form conquest

First triumvirate dissolves 

Caesar leads legions across the Rubicon

Defeats Pompey

Supported by poor and army

Appointed dictator for 10 years

Murdered by senators

Paul of Tarsus

Expanded Christianity beyond Jews

Augustus

Octavian, Lepidus, and Marc Antony join together to track down and punish assassins

Octavian defeats Antony at Aticum

Holds all power

Previously Octavian, took the title of Augustus