Roman Post 4: MVP

Constantine is the MVP of the Roman Era. Also known as Constantine the Great, he was born circa 271 AD to Constantinus I and Helena. Constantine defeated all of his challengers and kept his powerful position as emperor. He is most known for reuniting the empire that would have been divided between many different emperors. Constantine was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity.

He was so awesome that in the Christian church, he is known as Saint Constantine. Constantine successfully fought against the Franks, Alamanni, Visigoths, and Sarmatians during his reign. In his 31-year rule, Constantine kept the entire empire together and after his death Constantinople was named the new capital of the Byzantine empire. He was also the first to use a cross as an emblem in his flag. He earned the nickname "The Great" from the church for his many great contributions to the religion. This is why Constantine THE GREAT is the obvious MVP of the Roman era!

Roman Post 3: Venn Diagram

Roman Post 2: A Paragraph

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/famousromansdropdown.htm
http://www.google.com/search?q=julius+caesar&hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=pEs&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=LoknS4CyOI-YtgeJ9f3SCw&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=13&ved=0CDoQ5wIwDA

We should use the BBC History website because BBC is a legitimate news source. BBC has been around for awhile and it is a nice credible resource. If I was going to do a report on the Roman Empire, I would use information from BBC for sure. I would also use Social Studies for Kids because that is also a credible resource and it is also easy to comprehend for those who have difficulty understanding the sophistication of BBC. Social Studies for kids is a great website because they have information on everything! I would also use the Julius Ceasar timeline because I like to know the chronoligical events of things. It helps me sort all of the information and how certain events affected other events after that.

Roman Post 1: 6 Lists of 5 Facts

Section 1: Founding the Roman Republic

1. The Forum was the center of all Roman business
2. Praetors were officials who oversaw the Roman legal system.
3. Patricians were  powerful landowners controlled the government and inherited their power
4. Plebians were farmers and workers who made up the majority of the population.
5. Legionaries were citizens who made up the major unit of the Roman army.

Section 2: Rome Expands its Borders

1. Carthage was a powerful city on the north African coast, was a great commerical power that Rome feared would control the Mediterranean.
2. Sparticus, a Roman slave, led a revolt in 73 B.C. in which more than 70,000 slaves took part.
3. During the Third Punic War, Rome completely destroyed the city of Carthage.
4. One of the greatest generals of all time, Hannibal, a Carthaginian, assembled a huge army and harried the Roman countryside for years.
5. the Roman general Scipio defeated the Hannibal and his army and forced Carthage to give up its colonies in Spain.

Section 3: The Birth of the Roman Empire

1. Together, the Five Good Emperors - Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius - ruled Rome well for almost 100 years.
2. Caesar, Licinius Crassus, and Gnaeus Pompey formed a political alliance called the First Triumvirate in 60 B.C.
3. The Julio-Claudian Emperors, relatives of Julius Caesar, ruled for 54 years.
4. Marc Antony helped Caesar's grandnephew, Octavian, inherit Rome and ruled with him in the Second Triumvirate.
5. Brave leaders such as the Gracchi tried to implement reforms that would save the Roman Republic.

Section 4: Roman Society and Culture

1. The government passed new laws as needed and judges reinterpreted old laws to fit new circumstances.
2. Growing trade, good transportation, a strong government, revised laws, and a strong army all helped to unify and strengthen the Roman Empire.
3. For centuries people thought Galen was the greatest authority on medicine.
4. The Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, the prince of Troy.
5. Roman engineers were masters at building roads, bridges, arenas, and public buildings.

Section 5: The Rise of Christianity

1. Rabbis were Jewish scholars who interpreted scriptures and were learned in Jewish laws, and became the leaders of Jewish congregations.
2. The emperor Hadrian banned all Jews from Jerusalem, which resulted in Jewish communities outside of Jerusalem.
3. Many Christians became martyrs - people put to death for their beliefs.
4. Today the Trinity is a central belief of Christians.
5. The Latin word "pope" means "father" in English. Any decisions made by the pope were equivalent to those coming directly from the disciples, who had received their authority from Jesus.

Section 6: The Fall of the Western Empire

1. Inflation, a rise in prices caused by a decrease in the value of money, became so severe that people stopped using money.
2. The Huns, nomadic people from central and southwestern Asia, posed an ever-growing threat to Rome in the late empire.
3. Although the A.D. 476 overthrow of Romulus Augustulus is often seen as the "fall" of the Empire, the empire in the East remained until AD 1453
4. The Vandals, a Germanic tribe, proved to be a serious threat and sacked Rome around A.D. 455.
5. In AD 324, Constantine became the sole emperor again and built a beautiful capital city in the East.

Greek Post 5: Top 5

1. Democracy
2. Math/Science
3. Architecture
4. Justice System
5. Literature

I chose democracy as number one because America is a partially democratic nation and democracy is the best. The Greeks also made huge strides in math and science, with many theorems and laws that are still used today. Ancient Greeks built hundreds of temples, shops, stadiums and public places that are still standing today. The two most famous are the Acropolis and the Parthenon.  The justice system derived from the Greeks is very similar to the justice system used today in America. Lastly, Greek literature has had a huge impact on society; the famous Illiad and Odyssey are still read in classes today. 

Greek Post 4: Cover Picture

I would chose this as a cover for the Greek unit because the ancient Greeks were famous for many things, but the Olympics were arguably one of their most famous rituals. The Olympics are still a big deal today and some of the games of ancient Greece are still played in the Olympics today. 

Greek Post 3: Greek Mythology/Family Tree

Greek Mythology Stories
Mythological Greek Name Meanings
Greek Mythology For Kids
Women in Greek Mythology

Greek Post 2: Sparta vs. Athens

Sparta and Athens were both very strong Greek city-states, although they had a few major differences. The Spartans were fixiated on having a perfect military. To the Athenians, learning and knowledge were more important. The Spartan rules were very strict, and education was mainly focused on creating soldiers. Athenians were taught to be more peaceful, yet prepared for war. The Athenian schools were private, but cheap, enabling even peasants to send their children to school. In both city-states girls went to school from the age of 6 to the age of 18. Both places had the same historical, mythical, religious, and ethical beliefs. Athens was a more democratic state, whereas Sparta was considered more of an aristocracy.

I would have preferred to live in Athens. I would not have liked to live in a war-driven, battle-hungry state such as Sparta. I think it is more important to get an education and establish laws and justice than learning how to fight. Also, Athens was a more democratic state, which is something that a commoner such as myself would have much preferred over the aristocratic rule of Sparta.



http://www.writework.com/essay/athens-vs-sparta-compare-and-contrast-two-cities-ancient-g
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_compare_athens_and_sparta

Greek Post 1: Greek Facts

1. The Minoans were the earliest Greek civilization
2. Frescoes were paintings made of plaster on palace walls.
3. The Mycenaeans controlled mainland Greece from about 1600 B.C. to about 1200 B.C.
4. The inhabitants of Greece were intensely loyal to the concept of the polis.
5. Greeks built forts on a acropolis, or hill.
6. Athens developed a form of democracy when the idea of popular government, or the idea that people can and should rule themselves, began to take root.
7. Greeks would often travel to oracles to ask questions about the future.
8. Homer was blind.
9. The Olympics were held to honor the Greek gods.
10. Someone who illegally took power but had the people's support was a tyrant.
11. Athens was known for its laws and governement; Sparta was known for its physical strength and discliplined people.
12. Helots made up the third and lowest group in Spartan society.
13. Sparta's goal was to make every adult male citizen part of the military machine.
14. Draco's laws were so harsh and severe that today we call a harsh law a Draconian law.
15. The form of democracy Athens had under Cleisthenes was called direct democracy.
16. Trade was the mainstay of Athen's economy. 
17. Parents arranged marriages and often girls were married at 13 or 14 to men twice their age or older.
18. Sappho often described everyday scenes from Greek life, such as weddings.
19. Hoplites formed the center of the Athenian infantry. Helots were people that the Spartans conquered.
20. Athenians placed great value on literacy and learning and sent their sons to schools at a young age.
21. The Persian navy was larger than the Athenian navy, but the Athenian ships were smaller and more maneuverable and sank most of the Persian fleet.
22. Pericles was a great general, orator, and statesman in Athens, and was responsible for building the Parthenon and the Acropolis.
23. The Delian League was an alliance of Greek city-states. 
24. Sparta won the Pelopennosian war after 27 years.
25. Delos housed the war chest of money that the members of the Delian League contributed to for the defense of Greece.

Post 13: GLOGSTER

Egyptian Laws Glogster

When I first started using Glogster, I thought it was kind of confusing. But then after a few times using it, I figured out how to navigate it and now I'm used to it. I think it's a pretty cool presentation tool and I like how it's different from the standard PowerPoint. I like how it gives you more freedom for creativity. Overall, I'd give the glogster and 8.5 out of 10.

Post 12: Sources

Law & Order in Ancient Egypt

Origin of Laws

Egyptian Government

Ancient Policing

Laws of Ancient Egypt

Ma'at

Post 11: My Inquiry

I am curious about the laws of ancient Egypt. I was wondering how they were enforced, how strict they were, and if they had a police force. I find this very interesting because I think that law and order is very interesting, especially in ancient civilizations. I will organize my findings in a really cool and visually exciting powerpoint.

Post 10: Darius

Darius was most definitely the best and most influential Persian leader. Darius is most noted for his innovative and incredible building projects, such as the Royal Road, a massive canal, and a bridge of boats. After years of disintegration, Darius united the Persian empire. He established a postal system and even helped the economy by having coinage, weights, and measures standardized. Religious tolerance was also practiced under the rule of Darius. And that is why Darius is so clearly awesome and obviously the most influential Persian ruler. 

Post 9: Hebrew History

Post 8: VIP Award

The Most Important......invention!

The Most Important Invention award will be awarded to.....cunieform! For being the most influential and important invention in the entire Sumerian civilization.

Post 7: Russo's Code

1.  If a man is caught stealing from the lunch ladies, he shall have his thumb chopped off by a cleaver.
2.  If a student sasses a teacher, he shall have his mouth duct taped shut for a week.
3.  If a student shall fail a test, they will be locked in solitary confinement for a fortnight.
4.  When the lunch lady messes up your sandwich, she shall repay you with 50 ka.
5.  If a student is dissatisfied with the teachings of a teacher, he has the right to rebel.
6.  Everyone shall share their 64-pack of crayons with the built-in sharpener with their commrades.
7.  Functional air conditioning and heat shall be installed in every single classroom.
8.  He who skips class shall receive 40 lashes.
9.  Those who assign homework must pay each student 50 shekels for their time and suffering. 
10.  For each teacher that is let go, each administrator must take a $100,000 pay decrease. 
11.  If an 18-year-old student wishes to sign themselves out, they shall have the right to.
12.  The couples who make out in the middle of the hallway shall be flogged. 

Post 6: Hammurabi's Code

All of Hammurabi's Laws!!!

1. If a man strike a free-born woman so that she lose her unborn child, he shall pay ten shekels for her loss.
2. If a man adopt a son, and if after he has taken him he injure his foster father and mother, then this adopted son shall return to his father's house.
3. If a man be guilty of incest with his daughter, he shall be driven from the place.
4. If a man let in the water, and the water overflow the plantation of his neighbor, he shall pay ten gur of corn for every ten gan of land.
5. If persons are stolen, then shall the community and . . . pay one mina of silver to their relatives.

 I put number 1 because striking women is avery bad thing to do, espically pregnant women. Number 2 made it to my list because I believe that it is wrong for parents to abuse their children, espically foster children. I put number 3 because incest is revolting. Number 4 is important because it is fair that if you ruin your neighbor's crops, you pay for the damage. Lastly, number 5 seems fair, because if a child goes missing, it is largely the community's fault, and they should pay for parents' suffering and losses. 

Post 5: The Fertile Crescent Dominates

Dear Travel Agent,

I have absolutely no desire to go to the repugnant Indus River Valley. Why would I leave a place as glorious and miraculous as the Fertile Crescent? Our fertile valleys are perfect for our thriving farming industry, and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers provide for our superior irrigation systems. We have our own super advanced writing form, also known as cuneiform and education and religion are amongst our core beliefs. The first code of written law is also accredited with our civilizations, making the fertile crescent highly superior to the IRV.  The fertile crescent is constantly referred to as the "cradle of civilization" and it is way better than the Indus River Valley civilization.

Post 4: Come to the Indus River Valley

Come to the Indus River Valley!

We're surrounded by the Indus River and the Arabian Sea, so the Indus River Valley agriculture is thriving and we only have to protect one side of our land in a war. The large area of the IRV is surrounded by mountains, so wars and attacks are almost always avoided, disease is also prevented from getting in. We even have early forms of boats and carts for all your transportation needs! Some of our luxurious crops include, but are not limited to; wheat, barley, rye, peas, cotton, rice, and domesticated animals. But with our huge irrigation systems from the river, you'll never have to worry about your crops going hungry. The housing in the Indus River Valley is ideal for any living situation, as all houses have access to water and some even have two stories. So, come to the Indus River Valley, because it's way better than old, out-dated Mesopotamia!

Post 3: Timelines

Timeline Uno

Timeline Dos

I think timeline dos would make a better addition to the textbook. It is very clear and concise and the pictures make it easy to follow. The second timeline is short, sweet, and to the point, yet includes a lot of information. 

Post 2: 15 Facts

1. The Sumerians developed a calendar based on the moon
2. Sumerian writing is called cuneiform
3. Sumerians practiced polytheism, the belief in many gods
4. The Assyrians were the  first soldiers on horseback.
5. The Epic of Gilgamesh reflects Sumerian beliefs about life and death
6. Hitties were one of the first people to smelt iron
7. The Code of Hammurabi was a collection of Babyloian laws which dealt with all aspects of life
8. The present-day regions of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria were once called Phoenicia
9. The Phoenicians invented the art of glass-blowing
10. The alphabet was developed by the Phoenicians
11. Lydians were the first people to use coined money
12. Cyrus the Great was the Persian king who captured Babylon and took over the rest of the Fertile Crescent.
13. Zoroaster is the Persian prophet and teacher who developed an influential religious philosophy.
14. The strip of fertile land that begins at the Isthmus of Suez and arcs through Southwest Asia to the Persian Gulf is called the fertile crescent
15. Sumerians invented the arch

Post 1: Getting to know me

I am interested in history, Dave Matthews Band, shopping, The Office, studying abroad, and Clint Eastwood movies.

My hobbies are dance, tennis, sleeping, and participating in various clubs and cults.

I am a unique human being because I am empathetic, hardworking and enthusaistic.

I took this class because I'm really interested in learning about ancient civilizations because it is a topic that I do not know very much about.

Ancient Civilizations intrigue me because they were the building blocks of the modern world we live in today.

I hope to gain lots of knowledge about things that I was previously not knowledgeable about from this class.