Transcript ppt
Midterm Review & “Fall” of Rome "Did you mean to bring your TV remote instead of your calculator for this exam?" Midterm Review • Midterm this Friday, Oct. 8 (in-class and take-home) • Questions re format, etc.? • Sample Multiple Choice • Sample Primary Source Passage • Sample essays & Hints Sample Multiple Choice Questions 1. The Julio-Claudian Emperors who succeeded Augustus were a. his equal in dedication and ability b. unstable and incompetent c. democratically inclined d. mostly of Germanic origin, reflecting Romanization. 2. Patricians were a. usually wealthy aristocrats b. members of an elite military unit to guard the Emperor. c. lower on the social scale than plebians d. members of the Greek priesthood. 3. The Battle of Marathon resulted in a. a Persian victory b. an Athenian victory c. the destruction of the Carthaginian navy d. the death of Julius Caesar 4. The earliest civilizations emerged close to a. river valleys b. the sea coast c. mountain passes d. good pasture land for animals Sample Primary Source Passage • “If anyone take a male or female slave of the court, or a male or female slave of a free man, outside the city gates to escape, he shall be put to death. If anyone be too lazy to keep his dam in the proper condition, and if the dam then breaks and all the field be flooded, then shall he be sold for money, and the money shall replace the grain which has been ruined.” • Hammurabi, “Code of Laws”, ca. 18th c. BC, Babylonia. This law code shows that Babylonia was among the earliest civilizations. It valued organized agriculture, and had a government to enforce laws for the common good. Capital punishment was common in this society. Sample Primary Source Passage II • “We will now proceed to show you that we are come here in the interest of our empire, and how we wish to preserve your country. You should submit before suffering the worst.” “You will not consent to our being neutral, allies of neither and friends of both”. “No, for we are the masters of the sea, and islanders like yourselves might take a rash step and lead yourselves and us into danger.” Thucydides, Athenian/Melian Debate, Classical Greece (4oo’s BC?). Recorded by a Greek historian, this debate was about whether Athens had the right to conquer its neighbors. It shows that Athens was imperialist. Hints for Primary Source Passage • Know “major” passages in Wiesner (e.g., Pericles, Aristotle, Vitruvius, Res Gestae), as well as the online primary sources (e.g., Polybius, Livy, Twelve Tables). • I am likely to choose passages we have discussed in class. Hints for the Essay Question • 1) Analyze the question in advance, to understand what it’s asking re time, location, structure of answer, etc. • 2) Formulate a strategy for answering each question • 3) List relevant examples that might be useful (primary and secondary sources can both be used) • 4) Always include an introductory paragraph • 5) Try to have a thesis statement that makes an argument or convinces the reader; • 6) Use separate paragraphs for separate ideas • 7) Show how each paragraph contributes to the larger argument. “Fall” of Rome timeline • • • • Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) Pax Romana (1st/2nd c. AD) Third-Century Crisis (3rd c. AD) Rebuilding w/ Diocletian and Constantine • “Fall” vs. “Transformation” (4th/5th c. AD) 3rd-Century Crisis • “From a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust” (Diocassius) – Invasions from Persia (Sassanids), from N. Europe (Goths, Franks) – Plague in Egypt – Assassinations of emperors – Massive inflation – Militarization of government • Roman Empire under Siege, ca. 250 AD Diocletian (r. 284-305) • “Dominate” = Lord • Reorganizes Roman Empire into provinces and dioceses • Incorporates barbarians into Army • Tetrarchy • Persecution of Christians Tetrarchy Splits Empire into quarters, with caesars and augusti to rule each. See pp. 206-207 in Noble…. See Lactantius’ comment (p. 208, Noble) Persecution of Christians Baths of Diocletian Emperor Constantine (r. 306-337) Constantine (r. 306-337) • Builds Constantinople • Mobile Frontier Armies • Converts to Christianity Constantinople “In Hoc Signo Vinces” Constantine At Milvian Bridge Constantine & Hollywood! Rome: “Fall” vs. “Transformation”? Why did Rome fall? • • • • Postmodern/Pirenne: no fall at all? Environmental (deforestation, Krakatoa) External forces (Huns, Goths, Vandals) Economic (lack of gold/silver, inflation, arbitrary taxation, low tariffs, “plunder economy”) • Epidemological (plague, lead, measles) • Ethnic mixing (“Germanization” of troops) • Others: – – – – – – Chrisitian focus on heaven > now; “lack of martial vigor” Continued civil war “clash of civilizations” Moral decay Etc. Comments on Homework Essays • Best Essays • One page only (think before you write!) • Cite multiple sources > one • Identify the source of information (e.g., Polybius, Livy, video, textbook) for each “value” • Use specific examples (e.g., Hannibal’s defeat > “strong army”) • Directly answer the question > summarize a source • Weaker Essays • Are the opposite of above—they rely exclusively upon one source, don’t answer the question directly, don’t identify/cite the source, and don’t use specific examples. • Confuse “its” w/ “it’s” and “Romans” w/ “Roman’s” • Use “you” and “things”, which distract the reader.