Today in class we traded papers with other people so they could check our work.  I traded with Tasha, hers  was good with only a few grammar mistakes.  I hope to do good on this because it is 100 points.

May 20

Today in class, Mr Schick wasn't here, but yesterday we started doing a paper that is about what the difference between Roman Republic and Roman Empire.  By the end of the day, I had 200 words.  It wont take much longer.

May 19

Today we took a test.  I think i did really good on it.  I hope i am right.  Hopefully Ill find out soon.

May 18

Today we finished our powerpoint on Ancient Rome.  We also reviewed for our test tomorrow.  I hope I do okay. I think i know everything pretty well.

The Roman Empire

• Octavian-Caesar Augustus
• begins the Pax Romana - a period of peace
• built roads, and aqueducts
• set up civil service to take care of roads, the grain supply, and postal service
• dies at age 76 in 14 AD
• Tiberius
• Augustus stepson and adopted son
• great general but was dark, somber, reclusive, and reluctant emperor
• her referred to the Senate as "men fit to be slaves"
• Germanicus started out as Tiberius ally, since he quelled a legion mutiny but when it look like he would succeed Tiberius, he got paranoid and had Germanicus killed
• died in 37 AD at the age of of 77
• Caligula (good)
• he was Germanicus' son
• he was Tiberius adopted grandson and great-nephew
• he started off well: granted bonuses to those in the military, declaring treason trials a thing of the past, and made government spending a matter of public record 
• Caligula (bad)
• fighting with the Senate
• claimed to be a god and had statues displaying in many places including the Jewish temple in Jerusalem
• other examples of cruelty and insanity: he slept with other mans wives and bragged about it, indulged in too much spending and sex, and even tried to make his horse a consul and priest
• assassinated by his own aides in 41 AD at age 28
• Claudius
• made fun of because of his disabilities
• last known adult man in his family
• he conquered Britain
• built road, canals, and aqueducts
• he renovated the Circus Maximus
• Had an awful marriage to Messalina, who was unfaithful to him
• Religious Trouble
• Christianity and Judaism: monotheistic
• Romans had many gods plus at times the emperor
• in 66 AD a group of Jews called the Zealots tried to rebel, but roman troops put them down and burned their temple (except for one wall)
• the western wall today is the holiest of all the Jewish shrines
• half a million Jews died in the rebellion
• Persecution of Christians
• Romans were harsh toward those who would not worship the emperor
• especially Christians who were viewed as followers of a new upstart religion (cult)
• used to through them in lions den for entertainment
• grew quickly despite oppression
• by 200 AD around 10% of people in the roman empire were Christians 
• Jesus
• roman citizen
• Jew
• at 30 he began his ministry preaching to the poor in the empire and reaching out to outsiders
• statements like "my kingdom is not of this world" made the Romans nervous and they began to plan his execution
• the governor of the roman province of Judea, Pilate sentenced Jesus to death
• he is a historical figure
• Paul never met got he became blind and saw Christ
• he told everyone about Jesus's life and death and resurrection and message
• he writes letters to many of those he spoke to these epistles are part of the New Testament
• If it wasn't for Paul  not a lot of people would have known about him
• 100 most influential people in history
• Muhammad 
• Sir Isaac Newton
• Jesus
• Buddha
• Confucius
• St Paul of Tarsus

Emperors of Ancient Rome

Tiberius

• His step-father was Octavian 
• he was emperor from 14AD-37AD 
• He was the second Emperor
• one of Rome's greatest generals
• great-uncle of Caligula
• paternal uncle of Claudius

Caligula 

• ruled 37 AD-41AD
• He was the 3rd emperor of Rome
• adopted son of Tiberius
• "There are few surviving sources on Caligula's reign, although he is described as a noble and moderate ruler during the first two years of his rule. After this, the sources focus upon his cruelty, extravagance, and sexual perversity, presenting him as an insane tyrant." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula)

 Claudius 

• fourth emperor 
• ruled from 41AD-54AD
• he had an illness as a child 
• grew up and had problems like speech and walking issues
• he got made fun of for it until he became emperor
• he was loved by the people because he gave them rights
• his wife cheated on him and he told guards to kill her and her lover when she left

May 11

Today in class we watched a video about a talking dog... and bout Rome, which wasn't as exciting.  We had to take notes on it on the video of Rome.  We had to take them on paper.  It wasn't easy; my hand started to hurt.  I hope we don't have to do that too often.