“what, when, where” and “why significant.

” 1

Meaghan Sherer

Seton Hill University

“what, when, where” and “why significant.”

12 October 2015
“what, when, where” and “why significant.” 2

“what, when, where” and “why significant.”

Crossing the Rubicon

Crossing the Rubicon refers to Julius Caesar crossing a small creek in northern

region of Italy in 49 B.C. Crossing the Rubicon into Italy with or without a legion of

soldiers was breaking a Roman law and the governor who did so would forfeit the

right to rule their province. Caesar was unsure, at first, whether he should cross by

himself or bring his men along with him because crossing the Rubicon meant that

Caesar would have been executed along with any man that followed him. He later

decided to bring his men to march into Rome. Many senators, when they gained

knowledge that Julius Caesar had crossed the Rubicon, fled Rome because they were

under the impression that he had brought his whole army when in reality he had

only brought one legion, which was 6,000 men. Pompey, one of the senators who

had fled, had a much larger number of forces and allies and could have easily

defeated him. After a four year struggle Pompey fled to Egypt where he was

assassinated, leaving Caesar victorious. This moment in history was significant

because it lead to his dictatorship over Rome.

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was born into a prestigious family in July 100 B.C. Caesar progressed in

the Roman political system rather quickly, becoming in succession quaestor in 69

B.C. aedile in 65 B.C. and praetor in 62 B.C. He was governor of Spain, which at the

time was a Roman province, from 61-60 B.C. He had help getting elected to consul

by Pompey and Crassius and the following year he was appointed governor of

Roman Gaul. Being appointed to this position gave him the opportunity to add
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modern day France and Belgium to the Roman Empire, which he did in his eight

year stay. After this stay he returned to Italy crossing the Rubicon in turn defeating

Pompey. After defeating Pompey he appointed himself to be consul and dictator of

Rome and used to his newly inherited power to relieving debts, enlarging the

senate, revising the calendar, and building the Forum Iulium. Julius Caesar was

killed on what is now known today as the Ides of March, or March 15th by a group

led by Brutus and Cassius.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum was built between 70 and 80 A.D. and is also known as the Flavian

Amphitheatre. It is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and

engineering and is the largest amphitheater ever built. The construction of the

amphitheater took place under three emperors and was known as the Flavian

dynasty. It could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 people that came to watch the

many events that took place in the Colosseum. Some events included gladiatorial

contests, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous

battles, and dramas based on mythology. In the early medieval era the

entertainment ceased and was instead used for housing, workshops, and Christian

shrines. Earthquakes and stone robbers have diminished the façade; however, it still

remains to be one of Rome’s iconic symbols.

Aqueducts

Aqueducts were a roman creation that brought water from the countryside into the

cities. The water supplied public baths, latrines, fountains, and households. The

water was brought into the cities by gravity by having the water flowing down the
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duct at a small grade. Aqueducts were one of the first pieces of architecture to use

the arch, a revolutionary method of maximum support with the least amount of

building materials. Roman aqueducts were so well built that that some were

maintained up until the early modern era and a few are still in use today.

“Bread and Circuses”

“Bread and Circuses” was a time period under Augustus Caesar. During this time

period there were upper and lower classes like today and Augustus was well aware

of this. To keep the poor from uprising, he came up with an idea to keep the poorest

residents happy and fed well so they would not riot. To keep plebeians happy,

chariot races and gladiator fights took place in amphitheaters and free grain and

controlled food prices were implemented so the plebeians would not starve. This

was a form of bribery, but it worked and kept crime down and people happy.

Pax Romana

“Pax Romana” means “Roman peace” and was the time period between 27 B.C.E. and

180 C.E. it was a time of economic prosperity and peace that spanned throughout

the empire. At this time the empire included England and went into Morocco and

over into the east where Iraq is currently. This was the time in Roman history when

the empire reached its peak in land area and population. The term “peace” is a bit

misleading but it was a time that refers to the Romanization of the western world.

The Roman army built roads (that are still in use today) to connect the empire as a

whole, the Roman legal system is the basis for many western court systems today,

and the empire was free from piracy and disorder due to the legions patrolling the

borders. In the last century of the republic, the republic was damaged due to civil
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wars yet for years after the Pax Romana, the empire was free of power-filled

disputes.

Mini Essay:
 The Roman Empire is known for some terrible practices (setting lions upon
Christians in the arena), as well as for remarkable achievements. Write an
essay of 300-500 words describing the best and worst of the Roman Empire.
With respect to beneficial achievements, include human achievements
(cultural, social, legal) as well as technological achievements.

The Roman Empire had periods of time that one could say the people would be

proud of as well as practices that tarnished the accomplishments of the empire.

Some accomplishments included a magnificent time period of about 200 years

known as the Pax Romana. This was the time in Roman history when the empire

reached its peak in land area and population. It was not so peaceful as the name

leads on because they had to conquer the lands they gained in their empire. It was a

time of many great architectural achievements that included the invention of the

archway, which led to many other inventions we still use today like the aqueduct,

the building of roads, baths, theatres, temples, palaces as well as other achievements

like formulating the basis of the justice system many countries use today, a powerful

army that could defeat armies larger than themselves with the same equipment, the

ability to say they had founded many cities that still stand today, and the alphabet

that people still use today to name a few.

Some qualities that tarnished the great accomplishments of the Roman

Empire include slavery, the gruesome events of the circuses where attendees would
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witness beasts tearing apart live humans and other animals along with some other

not as violent games, incapable and insane emperors such as Nero, Caligula, and

Septimius Severus, emperors who would order senators they did not like a

prescription to kill themselves, and religious persecution.

These positives and negatives balance each other out when talking about the

Roman Empire. Every civilization has its positive and negative and aspects because

no matter how many great achievements occur there will always be events and

people that tarnish the good that so many have tried to built up for the name of their

country.