More Time on Rome Projects

Today in class, we worked more on our Rome projects. Everyone told Mr. Schick what they were doing for their topic. Meredith and I decided to do Roman culture with food. We are going to bake Roman food and make a Samian vessel, to serve the food on. I think this project will be a lot of fun and I can't wait to get started!

Baltimore Riot

Today in class, we talked about the Baltimore riot that is going on. We talked about our opinions on the situation and thought all the violence should stop. This riot is so bad that they are shutting down schools in Baltimore cities. I think this is crazy and it needs to be stopped. Hopefully this riot will not last and things in Baltimore will be better.

Roman Forum, Colosseum, Aqueducts, and Circus Maximus

Today in class, we took notes on these Roman architectural areas.
 Roman Forum
-began as a market place, but became the economic, political, and religious hub, town square, and center of all Rome
-people first began meeting in forum around 500 BC
-central area of city
-site was originally an Etruscan burial ground
-first developed in the 7th century BC

Colosseum
-originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre
-located east of the Roman Forum
-most famous monument
-built nearly 2000 years ago for hosting violent gladiator games
-commissioned around AD 70-72
-620 by 513 feet
-had seating for more than 50,000 spectators
-by 20th century, a combination of weather, natural disasters, neglect, and vandalism has destroyed two-thirds of the original Colosseum
-built in 70 AD

Aqueducts
-like a water bridge
-a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water
-were built from a combination of stone, brick, and the special volcanic cement pozzuolana
-challenging to build
-the word aqueducts, from Latin word water
-most Roman towns had at least one aqueduct to bring in fresh water, and big cities like Rome had ten or more

Circus Maximus
-Fire in 31 BC, destroyed the wooden structure, three fires
-used for events such as processions of gladiator combats, but most days only chariot races
-last race was held in 549 AD
-located between the Aventine and Palatine hills
-originally laid out in the 6th century
-oldest and largest public space in Rome

Roman Projects

Today in class, Mr. Schick gave us the day to plan out our Roman projects. Meredith and I Iooked for different foods to cook and how to present it. We found some neat recipes of what the Romans used to cook. We are going to start testing soon and trying to see what foods will be good to serve. This project will be a lot of fun and I hope to get a good grade!

Chi Cago

Today in class, we started off by reviewing the Rome power point. The office calls and says we have a special guest, so Mr. Schick goes to get him. "Chi Cago" comes into our class and starts rapping Rome lyrics to the song Low. It was such a fun class and the rap can help us study for the test!

Rome Power Point Continued..

Today in class, we took me notes on the Rome power point
Allies and Colonies
-Rome was military culture and made a number of improvements to the older Greek tactics
-Made their armies nimble and effective
-Aggressive, attacked people for land
-When conquering, tempted and became Romans
-Non-Romans in Italy tried everything to become a citizen of Rome
-"family father" could have their wife put to death
-provinces were ruled by Roman "pro-consuls"

Start of Rome Power Point

Today in class, we got our Greece papers back. My group did very well and got a 98. We started to review the Rome power point and take notes.
Rome
-Ninth century BC- Etruscans, Latins, and Greeks settle into Italy
-Greek colonies- Southern Italy
-Eighth century BC- settlements near mouth of Tiber River
-Italy and Its People
-Indo-European tribes moved in Italian peninsula
-myth: babies Remus & Romulus raised by a she wolf
-Romulus won agreement- called Rome
-Etruscan and Greek settlements influenced Romans
-Originally, Rome was a monarchy on Etruscan model with a council of elders called the "Senate"
-Senate was populated by patricians, the plebeians fought for a vote in Rome's government
-Patricians- rich men in charge, own a lot of land/ money
-Plebeians- ordinary citizens, lower class
-C. 500 BC, the Romans overthrew their monarchy and established a "Republic"
-Each had house of government
-Each year the Senate elected two rulers, "consuls" who each served a term of a year
-Romans would appoint a single dictator in times on war or conflict, 6 months, decisions
-The Roman Republic: The Senate and the People
-Eventually, the plebeians gained power in the Senate by electing their own magistrates, called "tribunes"
-In 450 BC, the laws of Rome were codified and written into the "Twelve Tablets"- listing of laws
-The "mixed government of patricians and plebeians had many of the checks and balances that modern democracies have today
-Republican values
-Romans had strong values and gods Jupiter (Zeus), Juno (Hera), and Minerva (Athena)
-Romans believed that is was every citizen's duty to participate in government and war, excluding women
-The Roman family and clan (group of related families) was paternalistic and the "family father" had complete control
-Married women were also revered in Rome as "matrons"

Rome Projects

Today in class, Mr. Schick talked about how we are going to learn about Rome next week. We talked about doing a project for Rome, and started thinking of ideas. Everyone has a choice of a power point or a project, but the projects would count as higher points. Meredith and I decided to do Roman food and about the ingredients they had back then. We talked to Mr. Schick about it and he thought it was a great and fun project. Can't wait to learn more about Rome!

Further into Allegory of the Cave

Today in class, we watched the rest of the Allegory of the Cave video. The video showed a man going to see the world, then coming back to the basement and getting made fun of by his peers. We talked about how this relates to Socrates and today life. Mr, Schick wanted us to share our opinion of things happening in our government. The video relates to being judged. This explains Socrates's quote, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Allegory of Cave

Today in class, we started off by talking about Mr. Schick and his directing experiences. It was so cool to see the movies he assist directed, like Home Alone and Uncle Buck! He told us stories about the actors and actresses and everyone seemed really surprised. After we were done talking about that, we started to watch the Allegory of the Cave video. It started talking about illusions and seeing different things. We did not get to finish the video, so we will finish tomorrow.

Greece Review

First day back from break! Today in class, we reviewed the Greece test. I hoped to do better than I did, but now know what I got wrong. While we were reviewing, Mr. Schick talked about Oedipus and his story. The test can be very helpful for the exam on the last week of school. Mr. Schick was talking about how we only have 7 more weeks of school left. It seems like freshman year is going by so fast!

Greece Test

Mr. Schick is back! Today in class, we turned in our Greece papers and took the big test. Mr. Schick was explaining how the other class averaged at a 68, so most of us were nervous. I studied the notes we took in class, and watched most of the video. Some of the questions on the test were tough, but others I knew right away. Hopefully I did well on the test and obtain a good grade in West Civ.