Ancient Rome
Fill in the Blanks:
Although artifacts from ancient Rome date back to the 700s BCE, the Roman civilization thrived from ______ BCE to ____ CE.
100 BCE to 400 CE
Who was the last leader of the Roman Republic?
BONUS: How did his rule come to an end?
Julius Caesar was a Roman general and politician who eventually named himself the first dictator of the Roman Empire, a rule that lasted less than one year
BONUS: He was famously executed by his political rivals in 44 CE
An ancient professional fighter who fought before the public in hugely popular organised games held in large purpose-built arenas throughout the Roman Empire from the 100s to the 400s CE
400s - 1400s
Which plague spread across the Eurasian continent during the 14th century (the 1300s)?
The bubonic plague
Name two architectural innovations were the hallmark of Roman engineering and design?
Answer: The arch and the dome (related: aqueducts)
Explanation: Other peoples had used the arch before the Romans, but Roman builders raised the roof with higher and more rounded ceilings. Heavy columns were no longer needed as roof supports. Bridges and aqueducts could span greater distances.
Although Rome organized itself politically into a republic for approximately 400 years, historians challenge the claim that the Roman Republic was truly democratic.
What prevented Romans from enjoying a proper democracy?
- Women, immigrants, young people, and the enslaved were not allowed to vote
- Roman citizens were not allowed to contribute to the writing and ratification of new laws
- Citizens rarely chose their own representatives
Manor
An agricultural estate built during the Middle Ages that was owned by a lord and run by serfs or peasants. The lords provided safety and protection from outside threats and the serfs or peasants provided labor to run the manor.
Fill in the Blanks:
The "Dark Ages" is a term that has been applied, in its widest sense, to a period of time in the history of Europe that included _____, ______, and ______.
- a lack of support for learning
- repeated invasions
- limited government
- a poor economy
- a decline in the production of art, literature, and architecture
What were the symptoms of the Black Death? (list at least three)
swollen lymph nodes in the armpits or the groin; pus-filled boils; fever; chills; vomiting; diarrhea; terrible aches and pains; blood and lung infection
How old did men need to be to join the Roman army? How long were they required to serve?
18 years old; 20 years mandatory service
Octavian Augustus
Empire
A political system in which one state or nation rules over another state or series of states. At its heart, an empire is ruled by an emperor.
What evidence is there to support the claim that the "Dark Ages" were not actually that dark"?
ECONOMY: From 1000 to 1300 CE, the economy of Europe developed and prospered (available farmland tripled, technological improvements like the heavy plow and the windmill)
LAW AND ORDER: New laws regarding currency, counterfeit money, and trade were implemented during the 8th and 9th centuries
EDUCATION: Scholarship flourished in churches; new universities and colleges were constructed in the 11th century
ARCHITECTURE: Grade gothic cathedrals and stone castles were designed and built from the 12th to the 14th centuries
How does Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that caused the Black Death pandemic, spread?
- From person to person through the air
- Through the bite of infected fleas and rodents
___ replaced the polytheistic religious beliefs (i.e., mythology that incorporated numerous gods and goddess from many cultures) of ancient Romans over time.
Christianity
List TWO key differences between the daily lives of poor and wealthy Romans.
Water and Plumbing: In poor areas, Romans had limited access to public water fountains, and garbage and waste were emptied into the streets; in wealthy areas, individual homes had private plumbing and clean water in-home
Living Conditions: In poor areas, tall, cramped apartment buildings with cracking walls and collapsed roofs were dangerous fire hazards; In wealthy areas, large and sprawling homes were built far from cities and featured luxuries like pools, courtyards, and gardens.
Education: Only the children of wealthy families attended school
Republic
A political system in which the people and their elected representatives hold most or all of the power. In a republic, leaders are selected by voting (as opposed to inheriting leadership through birth or taking power by military force).
TRUE or FALSE: During the Middle Ages, North African, Asian, and Middle Eastern states flourished when it came to art, culture, scholarship, engineering, and military endeavors.
True!
- Cultural blossoming in the Islamic world
- Scientific and artistic advances in China and Northern African states (gunpowder, watercolor, calligraphy and print)
- Booming trade in Asia and Africa
How did officials slow the mass spread of plague during the 14th century?
Officials enforced quarantines (30-40 days long) and social distancing
How many humans and animals are estimated to have died during gladiatorial fights and "games"?
20,000 humans and animals died over the span of 500 years
What factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire in the 400s CE?
- Invading armies (i.e., Goths, Huns, Vikings) conquered Roman territories and lands
- In-fighting between Roman emperors and politicians, which led to a breakdown in leadership and civil war
- Religious controversy
Plebeians & Patricians
Plebians: Working class citizens of ancient Rome (i.e., farmers, bakers, builders, craftspeople)
Patricians: Individuals with high social rank in ancient Rome, often from powerful and wealthy families
True or False: The medieval church's power and wealth were equal to that of kings and emperors.
True! The most important institution in the lives of most medieval people was the Catholic Church. The Pope advised kings and queens. Bishops and priests who served under the Pope lived in total splendor.
True or False: The Black Plague still exists.
True! Modern sanitation and public health practices have greatly mitigated the impact of the disease by have not eliminated it. Antibiotics are available to treat the Black Death today, but according to the World Health Organization, there are still 1,000-3,000 cases of plague every year.