Module 2 -- Humanities test #1

2 Roman Myths: 

(about the founding of Rome) 

1. Romulus and Remus: 2 brothers raised by a she-wolf. When they grow up, Romulus kills Remus and founds the city of Rome. 

2. Aeneas: Myth of a Trojan who escaped the destruction of Troy during the Trojan War (1200 BCE) and sails to Rome where he founds the city. (Virgil’s Aeneid) 

3 Groups From Whom Rome Borrowed Ideas: 

1. Etruscans- Taught the Romans about city planning, chariot racing, the toga, and the arch. 

2. Greeks- Gave the Romans a system of gods (but they changed the names), linguistic and literary principles, and the classical style of art. 

3. Phoenicians- Bestowed the Romans with an alphabet and sailing skills. 

Republic: 

Romans overthrew the Etruscan kings and established their own monarchy. Slowly began to conquer all the Italian peninsula. A Republic slowly develops with a Senate, where elected senators would make laws. This is closer to the US representative democracy than the direct democracy that we saw in Module 1 with Athens. 

Patricians vs Plebians: 

Patricians- wealthy landowners (had control of the Senate for most of its existence) 

Plebians- workers who farmed the land. 

Julius Caesar: 

Successful general who defeated many of his rival generals. Led a Roman army just north of the Rubicon River. Once him and his army marched across the river, there were only 2 possibilities: He would successfully conquer the city or be put to death for treason.  

He conquered Rome and became its leader. 

His famous quote: Veni, vidi, vici, which means “I came, I saw, I conquered” 

Later leaders of Rome gave themselves the title “Caesar” 

He instituted a Julian calendar and named July after himself 

His enemies were nervous because of his growing power. Brutus and Cassius, two senators, are the ones who history says plotted his assassination. 

Empire: 

After years of civil war, Octavian/Octavius won control from Mark Antony, who committed suicide. He renamed himself Caesar Augustus (Latin- “Sacred One”)  

Named the month of August after himself 

Declared himself emperor. Rome falls from a republic to an empire 

Octavian/Caesar Augustus: 

Institutes Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), which comes at a terrible price. 

All power is transferred to one man, the Emperor. No legal safeguards against the emperor’s will, Roman citizens find their lives subject to his personal whims.  

Augustus uses excessive, violent force against those who don’t want to be part of the Roman empire or who aren’t loyal to him.  

3 Roman Values: 

1. Pietas: A deep sense of respect for all people. The opposite of furor (“unrestrained passion” or “fury”). A Roman especially had pietas, or a deep sense of respect for the paterfamilias, “head of the family” “father” 

2. Duty: A true Roman would do their duty to Rome 

3. Gravitas: A deep sense of seriousness 

Pompeii: 

City was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE 

Buried everything in volcanic ash