The Legacy of the Roman Empire

Chapter 1

The lion in Florence…

In Rome with Ms. Stuart-

Ms. Stuart, Mrs. Harlan, and Ms. Harlan touching a piece of history…

Geography Challenge 1

Medieval Europe Question 1

1. Label the continent of Asia.

2. What continent is located south ofEurope?

Geography Challenge 1

Medieval Europe Question 2

1. Label the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea,Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.

2. In what ways might these bodies of water

have influenced life in medieval Europe?

Geography Challenge 1

Medieval Europe Question 3

1. Label the Seine, Thames, and Danube

Rivers.

2. Why do you think large medieval cities

were located along rivers?

Geography Challenge 1

Medieval Europe Question 4

1. Label the Pyrenees, Alps, and Carpathian

Mountains.

2. What effect do you think these mountains

had on life in medieval Europe?

Geography Challenge 1

Medieval Europe Question 5

1. Label England, France, the Papal States,the Holy Roman Empire, and theByzantine Empire.

2. Each of these areas had a different leader.

Why do you think Europe had no singlegovernment during the Middle Ages?

Geography Challenge 1

Medieval Europe Question 6

1. Label the cities of Constantinople,Hamburg, London, Paris, and Rome.

2. What is common about the locations ofall of these cities?

3. How might that have affected life in medieval Europe?

Geography Challenge 1 Medieval Europe Question 7

1. Color the areas of Europe in the “humidoceanic” climate zone green.

Medieval farmers used plows to break upthe soil here. They rotated their crops(e.g., planting wheat or rye in the fall, oatsor barley in the spring).

2. What does this tell you about the climate and soil in this zone?

Geography Challenge 1 Medieval Europe Question 8

1. Color the areas of Europe in the “subtropicaldry summer” climate zone orange.

In this zone, medieval farmers were ableto grow a host of crops, such as wheat,olive trees, and wine grapes.

2. What does this tell you about the climate and soil in this zone?

Answers 1 and 2Question 1 Africa is the continent that is

south of Europe.

Question 2These bodies of water allowed

traders to move goods throughout Europe more easily but also made settlements along coastal areas vulnerable to attack by invaders.

3 and 4

Question 3Large cities may have been located

along rivers because it was easier in medieval Europe to travel and ship goods by water.

Question 4The mountains acted as barriers to

travelers and traders, and as protection.

5 and 6

Question 5 Answers will vary. The fall of the Roman

Empire created political disunity. Some invaders set up new kingdoms, while in other areas the Catholic Church or political leaders in Constantinople worked to maintain order.

Question 6 These cities are all located next to bodies

of water, which allowed travelers and traders to reach them easily.

7 and 8

Question 7 Answers will vary. In this climate zone, winters

are cool and summers are warm. It rains moderately throughout the year, and clouds, fog, and drizzle are common. Soils are generally heavy and sticky due to high levels of clay.

Question 8 Answers will vary. In this climate zone,

summers are warm to hot while winters are mild and rainy. Soils in this area tend to be sandy and drain well.

ROMAN EMPIRE For 500 years, from about 27 B.C.E. to 476

C.E., the city of Rome was the capital of the greatest empire the world has ever seen.

During this time, it was generally peaceful and prosperous. There was one official language and code of law.

The fall of Rome marks the end of the ancient world and the beginning of the Middle Ages.

The End of the Roman Empire in the West Rome’s first emperor, Caesar Augustus, ended 100

years of civil war and expanded the boundaries of the empire. But by year 500, the empire began to collapse.

There were a number of problems that combined to bring about its fall. Political Instability – fighting over political leadership Economic and Social Problems – heavy taxes, trade

suffered, unemployment, corruption, decline in spirit, and increase in crime.

Weakening frontiers – the huge size of the empire made it difficult to defend. Communication took weeks.

Divided Empire and Invading Tribes In 330 C.E. emperor Constantine changed the

future of Rome forever – he moved the capital 850 miles east to the ancient city of Byzantium. He renamed the city New Rome and later it was called Constantinople. (Today it is Istanbul, Turkey)

After Constantine reign, power over the vast empire was usually divided between 2 emperors – one based in Rome and one in Constantinople

The emperors in Rome soon found themselves threatened by invading Germanic tribes.

Invading Tribes In 410 C.E., one of these tribes attacked and looted

Rome. In 476, the last emperor in the west was driven from his throne and the western half of the empire began to dissolve into separate kingdoms ruled by different tribes.

In the east, the empire continued for another 1,000 years.

In western Europe, Rome’s fall did not mean the end of Roman civilization. The influence of Rome lived on through the medieval period and all the way to our time.

Roman Legacy of Art Art

Romans adopted many aspects of other cultures including their art.

They imitated Greek sculpture and were very good at making lifelike busts and statues.

Romans were also great patrons (sponsors) of the arts – murals, mosaics, frescoes.

Blown Glass - Venice Gem cutting and metalworking Cameo – carved showing a carved decoration

showing a portrait or a scene.

Fountain in Rome

Sculpture

Medusa’s Head

Venice Art

Glass in Venice

Venecian Glass

Canals of Venice

Gondolier in Venice

Ms. Stuart in the canal…

Legacy of Roman Architecture The Romans were skilled and clever builders. They borrowed

ideas from other cultures but improved on the ideas. They learned how to use the arch, vault and dome to make

large buildings. Used concrete in wide usage – not the first to make it but the

first to use it in vast amounts. Romans invented a new kind of stadium.

These large open open-air structures seated thousands of spectators. The Romans used concrete to build tunnels into the famous stadium in Rome, the Coliseum. The tunnels made it easy for spectators to reach their seats. Our modern football stadium still use this feature.

The grand style of Roman buildings has inspired many architects through the centuries (churches and cathedrals). You can see a the Roman influence today in banks, churches, government buildings. (U.S. Capitol Building)

Arch

Florence - Dome

Coliseum

Coliseum

Coliseum

SMS Teachers in Rome!

Legacy of Roman Engineering Romans were the greatest builders of roads,

bridges, and aqueducts (a pipe or channel built to carry water between distant places).

More than 5,000 miles of road connected Rome with the frontiers of the empire. They built their roads with layers of stone, sand, and gravel.

They built aqueducts that brought water from about 60 miles away to the homes of the city’s wealthiest citizens, as well as to public baths and fountains.

All Roads Lead To Rome…

When you walk down stairs, you go down into history…

Stone Road in Assisi

Open water fountain in Florence

The Legacy of Roman Language and Writing Roman Language was Latin. After the fall of the empire,

Latin continued to be used by scholars and the Roman Catholic Church.

Latin remains extremely influential today. Several modern European languages developed from Latin, including Italian, Spanish, and French. English has borrowed heavily from Latin. In fact, we still use the Latin alphabet, although Latin has 23 letters and English has 26. Example – Our calendar comes from one adopted by Julius Caesar.▪ August – honors Caesar Augustus▪ September – comes from the Latin words meaning “the seventh month”

(The Roman new year started in March)▪ October means “the eighth month”

Language Continued…

Many English words start with Latin prefixes and use Latin roots.

We use Latin proverbs – See a U.S. penny

Roman numerals are still used today (clocks, sundials, and the first pages of books)

The Legacy of Roman Philosophy The Romans were greatly influenced by the Greeks

but made contributions of their own. Stoicism – a Greek school of thought that became

popular in Rome. Stoics believed that a divine (godly) intelligence ruled

all of nature and a person’s soul was a spark of that divine intelligence.

“Living rightly” meant living in a way that agreed with nature and the one truly good thing in life was to have a good character.

This mean having virtues such as self-control and courage. Stoics prized duty and the welfare of the community over their personal comfort.

The Legacy of Law and Justice Roman law covered marriages, inheritances, contracts

(agreements) between people, and countless other parts of daily life. Modern legal codes in European countries like France and Italy are based in part on ancient Roman laws.

Romans believed in the idea of justice. They believed there was a universal law of justice that came from nature. By this natural law, every person had rights. Judges in Roman courts tried to make just, or fair, decisions that respected people’s rights. (Sometimes didn’t live up to their ideals… did not treat the poor or slaves as equal and some judges abused their power)

We see this in our Declaration of Independence.

The Legacy of Citizenship The idea of citizenship as both a privilege

and a responsibility has descended from Roman times to our own.

People were proud to be a Roman citizen. Today, people are U.S. citizens if they are born in the U.S. or promise their loyalty to the U.S. All citizens have responsibilities like obeying the laws. They also enjoy the same basic rights spelled out in the Constitution.

When in Rome…