Western Civilization

Jillian Kurzmann 4/27/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we took notes on Christianity from the textbook. Roman power spread to Judea. Jews still believed that they would be freed by the Messiah. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He was baptized by John the Baptist. At the age of 30, Jesus began his public ministry. He taught monotheism. He stressed the importance of love for all. 12 men followed Jesus called the Apostles. He attracted large crowds of people. The Roman government accused Jesus at Pontius Pilate. Jesus rose from the dead and was called the Messiah. He started Christianity. Christianity slowly spread through the Roman Empire. Paul, the apostle, had an enormous influence on Christian's development. He had a vision of Jesus.  Pax Romana was ideal for Christianity to spread. In AD 66, a band of Jews rebelled against Rome. In AD 70, the Romans stormed Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple Complex. The Jewish fortress near Masada held out unti...

Jillian Kurzmann 4/26/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we took a test. I was an open-blog test and therefore, it was too bad. It took most of the period. I was my first open blog or open book test I have taken.

Jillian Kurzmann 4/25/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we took notes on Rome. We had a shortened class due to a D Day schedule. Caesar reforms Granted citizenship to people in provinces. Expanded the Senate, added his friends. Created projects for the poor, especially through public works projects.  Increased pay for soldiers. Started colonies where those without land could own property. Caesar was assassinated. why? The senators saw Caesar's rise in power a threat to their own viability. How? They stabbed him 23 times after luring him into the Senate, made sure everyone was involved. who? Even Brutus, Caesar's ally (Et tu Brute?). Senators were not punished. Octavian was named Caesar's sole heir. Basically, this was the end of the republic. Julius Caesar's grandnephew- and adopted son- Octavian takes over at the edge of 18! with his own triumvirate. Mark Antony is an experienced general. Lepidus is a powerful politician. This i...

Jillian Kurzmann 4/23/18 Honors Western Civilization Today, I was not in class. I was absent due to illness.

Jillian Kurzmann 4/21/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we ate brownies that Kelsie brought in. We also took more notes on Rome. 5000 soldiers, not in it for pay (not yet). The Roman army's elite heavy infantry. Recruited exclusively from Roman citizens. Group of eighty's a century. On horseback is the calvary. Shield, sword, dagger, and armor, and tunic. The Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) Rome versus Carthage. Three wars. First Punic War (264-241 BCE) Naval battles for control of the strategically located island of Sicily. Rome wins this one. Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) 29-year-old Carthaginian general Hannibal almost does the impossible: taking Rome. Attacks Rome from the north after crossing Iberia (Spain) and the Alps. Lay siege to much of the peninsula for 15 years, but he never can get to Rome. Rome 2, Carthage 0. Third Punic War (149-146 BCE) Rome wanted to finally remove the threat of Carthage. Scipio, Tiberius, Gracchus, a...

Jillian Kurzmann 4/19/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we had a shortened period because of a Community Bell. We took notes on Rome also. Twelve Tables Publicly displayed  Gave rights to plebeians, not just Aristocrats. Only protected are-born male citizens (not women). Bill of Rights  First Ten Amendments to the Constitution 1- free speech/ press/ religion 2- bear arms 3- no quartering 4- no search and seizure 5- no self-incrimination 6- right to a fair trial 7- jury trials 8- no cruel or unusual punishment 9- right to privacy,- rights are assumed 10- states have power where Fed doesn't 

Jillian Kurzmann 4/17/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we took notes on the Rome powerpoint. Res Publica- the people's affairs. Brand new republic, ready to run. Democracy- the people's assembly and the tribunes. Aristocracy- the Senate- approx 300 members. Plus Monarchy- the consuls. Not a Tyranny- ew... too scary... a mistake the Romans did not want to repeat. Originally, the US modeled their new government on the model used by the ancient Romans. Is it exactly the same? Not quite... But both have three branches of government. Executive Legislative Judicial And both have a legal code. Roman Executive two consuls one year terms each has veto power controls the military Could appoint a dictator in a crisis for a six-month term. US Executive President (plus VP) four-year terms Can veto proposed laws. Commander-in- Chief of the military. Roman Legislative Senate-300 people-aristocrats-members for life. Assemblies (either Cen...

Jillian Kurzmann 4/16/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we took notes on the Rome powerpoint. We also read more in the textbook. The people's shock at this horrible family and their terrible behavior made them never want to be subject to the rule of kings ever again- this was an attitude that lasted for centuries. Rule of Kings is replaced by rule of two consuls ("gotta be better than one"). Consuls are elected officials. Term of office: one year. Always aristocrats (patricians). Patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor, or pater ("father"). Duties: dealing justice, making laws, commanding the army. One consul could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual). Fifth century BCE- patrician dominance of the government was challenged by the plebs ("people"). Plebs were 98% of the population. How did the patricians dominate? Plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office. Plebs were thre...

Jillian Kurzmann 4/13/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we started a powerpoint on Rome. We also took notes. Etruscans Came from north-central part of peninsula. metal workers, artists, and architects. Two foundation myths: Virgil's Aeneid (where Aeneas escapes from Troy- sound familiar). The story of Remus and Romulus. Greeks They had many colonies around the Mediterranean Sea. Romans borrowed ideas from them, such as: Religious beliefs Alphabet Much of their art Military techniques and weaponry The Latins! Descendants of Indo-Europeans. Settled on the banks of the Tiber. Situated so trade ships- but not war fleets- could navigate as far as Rome, but no further. A commercial port, but not susceptible to attack. And.... built on seven hills (esp. Palatine). First settled in Rome. Remus wanted Aventine. Romulus chose Palatine. Many streams flowed into Tiber. There was a marshy area called Forum, between Palatine and the Capital Li...

Jillian Kurzmann 4/11/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we went over the test. We had discussions about certain questions and whether they were valid questions for this test. We had many arguments about whether we learned certain topics or not. We had a shorten class due to us getting out at 12:45 for teacher meetings. Mr. Schick decided to add 4 points to our test to make us happy and to be fair.

Jillian Kurzmann 4/10/18 Western Civilization Today in class, we took textbook notes. We also started to go over our tests. Rome The Origins of Rome Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus, the twins of Mars and a Latin princess. They were abandoned and raised by a she-wolf. This area (Rome) was chosen for its location and soil. Rome was built on seven rolling hills on a curve near the center of the Italian Peninsula. It was midway between the Alps and Italy's southern tip. It was also near the midpoint of the Mediterranean Sea. The first Romans were the Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans. The very first were the Latins. The Greeks established colonies along southern Italy. These cities prospered. The Etruscans strongly influenced Rome's development. They boasted literature and architecture. The Early Republic  Kings ordered that the first temples and public centers be the heart of Roman political life. The Last King was Tarquin the Proud....

Jillian Kurzmann 4/9/18 Honors Western Civilization Today in class, we took a test. We also took notes on Rome. Ancient Rome and Early Christianity Power and Authority Rome began as a republic, a government in which elected officials represent the people. Eventually, absolute values called emperors seized power and expanded the empire. Empire Building At its height, the Roman Empire touched three continents (Europe, Africa, and Asia). For several centuries, Rome brought peace and prosperity to its empire before its eventual collapse. Religious and Ethical Systems Out of Judea rose a monotheistic religion known as Christianity. Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, it soon spread throughout Rome and beyond.