Story Of Romans Term 2

Famous Stories

100

Describe a Roman Triumph 

A Roman Triumph (triumphus) was the ultimate civil and religious honor granted to a victorious general, transforming him into a "king for a day" through a massive, ritualistic parade through the streets of Rome.

The Order of the Procession

The parade followed a traditional sequence designed to build narrative tension and showcase the scale of the victory: 

1. Senate and Magistrates: The procession was led by the city's leaders, emphasizing that the general served the state.
2. Trumpeters: Musicians announced the arrival of the various sections of the parade.
3. Spoils of War: Carts laden with captured treasure, weapons, and exotic artwork. Large paintings or floats often depicted key battles and conquered cities.
4. Exotic Animals: Animals from the conquered regions—such as elephants, giraffes, or lions—were paraded to show the vastness of the empire's reach.
5. Captives: Defeated enemy leaders and their families walked in chains. High-profile prisoners, like the Gallic king Vercingetorix, were often executed at the end of the march.
6. The Triumphator: The general rode in a gilded four-horse chariot (quadriga). He wore a purple and gold toga picta, a laurel crown, and his face was often painted red to imitate the god Jupiter.
7. The General's Family and Soldiers: His adult sons and officers followed on horseback, while his unarmed soldiers marched behind, wearing togas and laurel wreaths. They famously sang ribald, mocking songs about their general to ward off the "evil eye" and envy of the gods. 

   
   

200

Describe some of the Roman gods

The Roman gods were the central figures of ancient Roman religion, serving as protectors of the state, family, and social order. While often compared to the Greek gods, Roman deities were originally less individualistic and more focused on practical, civic virtues like discipline and duty. 

University of Pennsylvania +2

The Twelve Major Gods (Dii Consentes)

The Romans recognized 12 principal deities, many of whom were "syncretized" (merged) with Greek counterparts while retaining unique Roman traits. Jupiter

 (Zeus): The King of the Gods and god of the sky and thunder. He was the supreme protector of the Roman state.

300

Tell about the rise of power and the character traits of King Herod. 

Character traits of Herod:

Killer, murderer, prideful, jealous, derraged. Selfish, evil to the core.

Above all he wanted to remain as King of the Jews. He became king by having the Romans appoint him, they besige the city and after the Romans killed many of the jews.

After he ruled as a jealous king, he killed his wife and sons.

400

Describe The Fable of the Stomach

There was a wise man and he went to the poor people and he told them a story or a fable. It was about the stomach. The arms and legs said they would not longer work for the stomach. The teeth said I will no longer grind for you just to fill you up. The arms, legs, teeth did not work and they were happy to get a rest but then the stomach and the body was weak and died. The poor people understood this analog and came back to Rome.

When they came back to Rome, the poor people got 2 magistrates to help them make laws that took care of the poor people. The also had tribunes to help fight for their causes. They also got Veto power to block a law if it did not help the poor people.

500

Tell the story of: Crossing the Rubicon

Ceasar added to his fame repeatedly by defeating 3 million people in various battles. Pompey who was hiding in Rome was not brave enough to talk with Ceasar. There was a law that no citizen that was not in Rome could be elected consul. However, there was a loophole. Pompey recalled 2 legions (2000 soldiers) BUT who were always to Ceasar. Then Ceasar crossed the alpes and the front of the Army. This made the senate fearful and they were filled with anger and resentment towards Ceasar. They sent Pompey north to check on Ceasar’s progress. Ceasar still wanted peace and so he offered peace many times but it was refused. That is when Ceasr made his famous line that “The die is cast” and made his decision to bravely cross the Rubicon (leaving Gual and in opposition of Roman law). When Pompey heard this, he fled and went to Greece to get more troops. Caesar marched un-match into Rome and stole the money from the treasury and first paid his soldiers. Then Caesar after conquering all of Spain and adding to his fame, sailed to Greece … where Pompey and Cicero had many soldiers.

Roman Citizens

100

Who founded Rome 

Romulus 

200

Who was Rome's first Emperor 

Augustus Caesar 

300

Explain the two classes system in Rome

Ancient Rome there were two class, the rich and the poor. The poor were called the plebeians, the rich were called the patrons. The Patrons got to treat the poor however they wanted. They would put them in jail and take their land. The poor usually worked in the wars with the patrons even though they did not get paid. When they came home from the war they would lose their farms b/c they did not earn money.

400

Describe relationship and issue btw Tiberius and Germanicus (nephew to Augustus and son of Marc Anthony) 

Evil Tiberias (son), nephew Gremanicus. Tiberias did not like him and was jealous of him. He sent him off to war to be killed but he survived and was very successful. The people in the battle loved him but he was poisoned by the Tiberius’s servants (Piso). The soldiers who were uder his protection were very mad and they tried to kill Piso but he fled. Then his wife brought his ashes back to Italy.

Tiberius now showed his true colors, his assistant (body guard was as evil as him). He wanted Tiberius to go away so he could have all the power. He convinced him to reire to an island and then he took all the power and kill anyone who had been loyal to Germanicus. He sent Germanicus’s wife away to an island where she starved to death.

500

Describe Marc Anthony and his love affair with Cleopatra

Marc Antony

 (Marcus Antonius) was a powerful Roman general and politician whose life and death marked the end of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire. He is most famous for his role as the loyal lieutenant of Julius Caesar and his tragic, legendary romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII. 

Key Historical Roles

• Caesar's Right Hand: Antony was a key supporter of Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars and the subsequent civil war. He served as Caesar's second-in-command and co-consul in 44 BC.
• The Second Triumvirate: After Caesar's assassination, Antony formed a governing alliance with Octavian (Caesar's heir) and Lepidus. Together, they hunted down Caesar’s killers and divided the Roman world, with Antony ruling the Eastern provinces.
• Rivalry with Octavian: The alliance eventually collapsed into a power struggle between Antony and Octavian. Octavian used Antony's relationship with Cleopatra to portray him as a "un-Roman" traitor who had gone "Egyptian". 
• Downfall and Legacy
  • Battle of Actium: In 31 BC, Antony and Cleopatra's combined forces were decisively defeated by Octavian's fleet at the Battle of Actium.

Mystery Of Roman Ransom

100

Setting of the book 

Set in ancient Rome, with scenes taking place in the city, school, in various hide-outs

200

characters of the book

The school boys, Udo (slave), Teacher (Xanthos), Gorgon (Evil man chasing them), The Senator 

300

What is the conflict of the book? 

A group o roman school boys buy a slave named Udo as a birthday gift for their teacher. At first, Udo seems def and mute but soon they discover he is hiding a secret message. They learn this message hides a plot to kill an unnamed senator. They boys want to return Udo but come into contact w/ an evil man who wants to capture Udo. They need to figure out what the secret message is, who the senator is that is in danger and keep Udo away from the bad man all at the same time. 

400

What is the resolution of the story 

Boys discover that Udo is not helpless and in act he in turn helps them. They figure out the plot to kill the senator and realize who is in serious danger. 

Using teamwork and quick thinking they help expose  the criminals behind the plan. The use a friendly lion to escape the tunnels and they stop the villiam before anyone is murdered. They impress their teacher w/ all of their investigating. 

500

What was your favorite part of the book

Open

Roman Wars

100

Describe the design of Rome's ancient ships

Ancient ships had a spike on the front to ram other ships. Rome built a fleet and put in grappling hooks so that the Roman soldiers could board the enemy ship and execute hand to hand combat. Instead of using the wind, they had rowers. Rowers sat on two long benches on the ship and a head rower would command the rowers go faster or slower or turn in a certain direction.

200

Describe who and what happen to a great greek mathematician during one of the Roman invasions

Archimedes was killed in 212 BC during the Roman siege of Syracuse by a soldier who disobeyed orders to spare him. While studying a geometric diagram in the sand, the 75-year-old mathematician was approached by a soldier, prompting the famous final defiance: "Do not disturb my circles!".

300

Tell the story of the sacred geese 

The Guals trying to starve the Romans, but the Romans in the capitol hill tower were throwing bread down to the Guals and so the Guals thought the Romans were much better off than they really were. Then the next night, they saw a Roman climbing down the wall to send a message to other that they need relief. The Guals decided to attack the Romans the next night by surprise. As they were climbing up the wall, their armor clanged and woke the sacred sea birds. A roman guard by the wall heard the racket and pushed the barbarian attacking him off the wall. He collided into his fellow solders and the spilled to the ground. The roman hit an alarm, and all the other romans came running. After much more fighting, the romans agreed to give the Guals gold to go away.

400

Describe Skippy's victory in New Carthage 

he Battle of New Carthage (209 BC) was a decisive Second Punic War engagement where Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio (later Africanus) captured the Carthaginian capital in Iberia, Qart Hadasht (modern Cartagena). By exploiting low tides in a nearby lagoon and attacking by land and sea, Scipio seized the city in a rapid, well-planned assault, undermining Carthaginian power in Spain. 

Key Aspects of the Battle:

• Context: Part of the Second Punic War, aimed at cutting off Hannibal Barca’s supply lines in Spain.
• The Command: Scipio commanded about 25,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalry, while Gaius Laelius led a 35-ship fleet. The city was defended by a small garrison under Mago Barca.
• The Strategy: Scipio, learning the northern lagoon was shallow, launched a surprise attack from multiple sides while the defenders were focused on the main land entrance.
• The Assault: While Roman ships attacked the southern walls, and a land assault hit the eastern gate, a specialized force crossed the shallow lagoon to scale the unfortified western wall, leading to a quick collapse of the defense.
• Outcome: The city was taken by storm, granting Rome key resources, hostages (allowing for diplomatic leverage), and control of silver mines, significantly changing the tide of the war in Iberia. 

  
  

Scipio famously renamed the city to Cartagena, and the swift victory cemented his reputation as a master tactician. 

Imperium Romanum +3

500

Describe the naval battle between Marc Anthony/Cleopatra and Augustus Caesar 

The Battle of Actium (September 2, 31 BC) was a decisive naval engagement in the Ionian Sea where Octavian (later Augustus) defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Octavian's admiral, Agrippa, used smaller, faster ships to overcome Antony's massive but sluggish vessels. Cleopatra's sudden retreat with her squadron caused Antony to flee, leading to the collapse of his fleet, the end of the Roman Republic, and the start of the Roman Empire.

Generals

100

who was Scipio Africanus (Here comes Skippy!)  

Publius Cornelius 

Scipio Africanus

 (236–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman often ranked among the greatest military strategists in history. He is best known for defeating the legendary Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, effectively ending the Second Punic War. 

• Invincible Record: He never lost a single battle during his decade of command.
• Conquest of Spain: At age 25, he took command in Spain and cleared it of Carthaginian forces in four years through daring sieges like New Carthage (209 BC).
• Defeat of Hannibal: At Zama, he countered Hannibal's war elephants by creating "lanes" in his infantry lines, turning Hannibal's own tactical brilliance against him.
• Tactical Innovator: He reformed the Roman army, emphasizing independent unit movement and flexible pincer maneuvers. 

200

Tell the story of Hannibal crossing the alps

In 218 BC, during the Second Punic War, Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca executed a3 daring 15-day crossing of the Alps with a massive army of ~30,000 soldiers, cavalry, and 37 war elephants to invade Italy. Faced with freezing temperatures, steep terrain, and hostile tribes, Hannibal successfully brought the war directly to Rome, defying expectation and gaining a major tactical advantage.

300

Describe Julius Casear 

Julius Caesar (100–44 BCE) was a brilliant Roman general, statesman, and dictator whose actions led to the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Known for conquering Gaul, winning a civil war, and initiating reforms like the Julian calendar, he was assassinated on the Ides of March, 44 BCE. 

Britannica +3

Key Characteristics and Attributes:

• Military Genius: Caesar was an energetic, rapid-moving, and thorough military strategist, notably conquering Gaul (58–50 BCE) and extending Roman influence, as described in his Gaulish campaigns.
• Political Ambition & Populism: He aligned with the populares (advocating for the lower classes) to challenge the traditionalist optimates in the Senate, eventually forming the First Triumvirate.
• Charismatic & Generous: He was known for being magnanimous to defeated rivals in the civil war, often granting them amnesty.
• Intellectual & Author: Beyond military skills, he was a skilled orator and author.
• Dictatorial Style: While initiating beneficial reforms (like restructuring the Senate and debt relief), his accepting a lifelong dictatorship made him appear as a tyrant to traditionalists.
• Personal Life: He was married three times (Cornelia, Pompeia, Calpurnia) and had a famous romantic involvement with Cleopatra. 

  Britannica +6

400

Describe Augustus Caesar 

Augustus Caesar (63 BC – AD 14) was the first and arguably most influential Roman Emperor, transforming Rome from a republic into an empire. Originally named Octavian, he defeated rivals after Julius Caesar’s assassination, established the Pax Romana (a 200-year peace), and reorganized Roman government, law, and infrastructure.

Physical Appearance and Character

• Appearance: He was described as remarkably handsome, graceful, and about 5'5" to 5'7" with light brown/blondish hair and clear, bright eyes.
• Health: He was often frail and plagued by serious illnesses throughout his life, leading to a temperate, modest lifestyle.
• Personality: Initially hot-tempered in his youth, he became a calm, patient, and shrewd leader known for deep intellectual planning and a sharp, calculating nature. 

Political and Military Leadership 

• Rise to Power: As Julius Caesar's great-nephew and adopted son, he formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat Caesar's assassins before eliminating his partner, Mark Antony, to gain sole control.
• Reorganization: He did not declare himself king, but rather "Princeps" (First Citizen), holding unprecedented powers granted by the Senate while maintaining the appearance of a republic.
• Reforms: He professionalized the army, established the Praetorian Guard, overhauled taxation, created a civil service, and significantly rebuilt Rome, famously claiming he "found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble". 

  
  

Legacy

• Pax Romana: He ended decades of civil war, initiating a stable era known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace).
• Longevity: His 41-year reign provided stability that allowed the empire to flourish economically and culturally.
• Family: He was married to Livia Drusilla for over 50 years, who was a close advisor, though they had no children together. 

  
  

Key Facts

• Born: Sept 23, 63 BC (as Gaius Octavius).
• Died: AD 14 (natural causes, aged 75).
• Successor: Tiberius, his stepson.

500

Who do you think was the greatest General we have read about and why?

Various.... Excited to hear your thoughts