AP World History 2012-2013
  • Unit 1
    • 1.1.3: Tools and Adaptation>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.9 & 1.3.2: New Religions & Geographies of Early Civs.>
      • Early Religions>
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
      • The Early Civilizations>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
    • 1.1.2: Humans and Fire>
      • 1.1.4: Economic Structures>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.6: Arts & Record Keeping>
      • Arts and Artisanship
      • Systems of Recordkeeping
      • Case Study: The Phoenician Alphabet
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.1-1.3.3: Early Culture & Systems of Rule>
      • Culture's Effects
      • Systems of Rule
      • Case Study: Hammurabi's Code
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.1-1.4 Early Human Innovation>
      • 1.1.1: Human Patterns of Migration>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.1-1.2.3: The Climate & The Neolithic Era>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.5-1.2.6: Reliable Food Sources & Innovation>
      • Case Study - The Plow
      • Works Cited
    • 1.3.1-1.3.2: Pastoralists & Early Architecture>
      • Introduction
      • Monumental Architecture And Urban Planning
      • Pastoralist Weapon Dissemination And Transportation
      • Pastoralist Tools
      • Basic
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Works Cited
  • Unit 2
    • 2.2.5-2.2.7 Social Hierarchy and Gender Roles>
      • Gender Roles>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Social Hierarchies >
        • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.2.4 Cities>
      • Trade>
        • Trade AGMSPRITE
        • Trade Case Study
      • Religious Rituals>
        • Religious Rituals AGMSPRITE
        • Religious Rituals Case Study
      • Public Administration>
        • Public Administration AGMSPRITE
        • Public Administration Case Study
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of the Persian and S. Asian Empires>
      • Persia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • South Asia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of Rome and China>
      • China>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Rome>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.1: Growth of Empires & States>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.1.6 Cultures Of Second Wave Civilizations>
      • Sculptures
      • Architecture
      • Literature
      • A.G.M.S.P.R.I.T.E
      • Sources
    • 2.1.1: Religions as a Bonding Force>
      • The Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
    • 2.1.4 Buddhism and Hinduism Impact on Gender Roles>
      • Buddhism
    • 2.1.2 The Emergence of Religions>
      • Christianity
      • Confucianism
      • Greco-Roman Philosophy
      • Daoism
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 3
    • 3.1.1 Third Wave Global Trade Routes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.2 The Impact of trade on emerging trading cities>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.3. Spread of Islam Through Afro-Eurasia>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 3.1.4 Inter-Regional Travelers >
      • The Basic Gist
      • Compare and Contrast
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.5. Cultural Interactions and Art>
      • The Basic Gist
      • Cultural Traditions AGMSPRITE
      • Art AGMSPRITE
      • Literature AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
    • 3.1.6: The Impact of Newly Spread Technologies and Scientific Knowledge>
      • Basic Gist
      • Movement of Gunpowder from East to West
      • Movement of Printing from East to West
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.7 Inter-Regional Conflicts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
  • Unit 4
    • 4.1.1. - Influence of Tools Upon Transoceanic Trade>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.1.2: Maritime Reconnaissance>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.1.3 World Economies>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE analysis
      • Case Study
    • 4.1.4 The Colossal Impact of the Colombian Exchange>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study on Sugar
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the East
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the West
    • 4.1.5 Government and the Arts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.2.3 Forced Migration of Africans Cause and Effect>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the forced migration of Africans
      • Effects/Developments of the forced migration of Africans
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.3.2 Impact of Technology on state consolidation and imperial expansion>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 5
    • 5.3.1 US and Latin American Revolutions >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2b Hatian Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2a: Causes and Effects of French Revolution>
      • Causes of the French Revolution
      • Effects of the French Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2c Causes and Effects of the Mexican Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the Mexican Revolution
      • Effects of the Mexican Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.3: The Winds of Change>
      • Case Study
      • The Conception of Nation-States
      • Nationalism on the Rise
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.4 Nationalism and Democracy >
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
      • 5.3.5 Enlightenment and European Despots>
        • Basic Gist
  • Unit 6
    • War and Peace in a Global Context>
      • Big Gist>
        • WWI vs WWII
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Changing Economics>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Demographic and Environmental Changes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 20th Century Globalization>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Effects of Revolutions on Women>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • New Patterns of Nationalism >
      • Basic Gist
      • Independence of Vietnam Case Study
      • Effects of Communism Case Study
      • Chinese and Russian Revolutions
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Globalization of Science, technology and culture. >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE

                                                        Roman Empire
                                                          AGMSPRITE

Picture
Silver roman sestertius showing Pompeii
Rome was one of the most powerful civilizations in history. Their geography was a major contributor to their advancement. Since Rome had control over the whole Mediterranean Basin, they were able to trade with North Africa and the Middle East very easily. Also, since most of Europe was made up of plains, it allowed the Romans to build a system of concrete roads, something that was revolutionary and allowed the Romans to tame their geography and use it to their advantage. Also, their roads allowed them to deploy military forces quickly, allowing them to better defend their empire and enforce the laws. The roads were also patrolled by the Roman army, allowing a stable form of trade. Between the Mediterranean Sea and the roads, Rome was able to create a very expansive trade network. This trade network covered the whole expanse of the Roman Empire. This allowed for Rome to have a very large and diverse economy. This is because they were able to trade many different goods such as gemstones, grain, vinegar, and ivory. This variety of goods allowed the Romans to have an economy that flourished since the economy relied on a variety of different goods and not just one central good. Another important part of their economy was that the Empire used a common currency called the Sestertius. This allowed the Roman economy to be unified, even though it was spread over a very large area. The Romans used gold and silver coins, suggesting that they knew how to work metal  well and had a large amount of gold and silver at hand in which to make the coins with.

                All of this would not have been possible without the strong military that Rome had. Its military was made up of its citizens. This is important because since the army was made up of Roman citizens, mainly property owning farmers, they would be willing to fight. Also, the Roman soldiers were paid by the emperor and also by their conquests. This gave the army a reason to keep fighting and conquering land, thus the Roman Empire was able to become very large and was able to, in turn, develop a large economy. The Roman army was also successful because of the military technology that they had. This included a large crossbow called the Scorpion. They also used different tactics other than the standard hoplite formation. Thus, they were able to be more mobile and, in turn, effective on the battlefield. Although the Romans had a vast and effective array of military technology, the soldiers had to supply their own equipment. Thus, the soldiers took great pride in serving in the military. Their military was also responsible for shaping the Roman religion as well. The Romans were a polytheistic society who based many of their gods off of the Greek ones. They prayed to different gods and each god was responsible for different things. For example, Mars was the god of war and an agricultural guardian. As the Romans would conquer people, they would actually adopt some of their gods. Thus, the Roman military played a part in expanding their religion.

                The Roman social structure was more mobile than other civilizations. For example, slaves could free themselves if they acquired enough money and farmers could move up into a higher class as well. The middle and lower classes were called plebeians. Although they had a voice in the government because of the public assembly, the upper class had the most power. For a long time, Rome was a monarchy with a king and two consuls. They also had a Senate, made up of the very wealthy. However, the Empire became too large and it became a dictatorship. This meant that the emperor would hold all of the power. 

                One of the great achievements that Rome accomplished was trigonometry. This was important because it allowed them to build domed structures like the Pantheon and also aqueducts. Aqueducts were important since they provided running water to cities and water to the farmers away from the cities, making it possible for them to be successful agriculturally. Their agricultural success allowed Rome to create a surplus of food, in turn making them into the large empire that they became. Also, the building of the Pantheon is an example of their religion since it was a temple to the gods. They are also responsible for building the Coliseum. Not only is it an engineering feat, but it shows that there was live entertainment in Rome. This means that the people were able to feel unified and that they were successful enough to have free time to enjoy such things. The Romans were also able to effectively use stone to create art as well. Some of their most famous artwork is mosaic, which uses colored stone or glass to depict scenes from their everyday lives. Also, they were able to create stone sculptures that depicted prominent figures such as emperors and gods. This means that they put a lot of emphasis on their rulers and gods and that they were seen as central figures in their lives. The abundant use of stone for artwork is because Rome is located near the Apennine Mountains. 

                 The culmination of Roman culture, geography, military, economics, and politics allowed Rome to become one of the largest and most important civilization in history. 


Picture
Roman scorpion catapult
Picture
Rome's expansive trade network allowed its economy to flourish

                                                                      Works Cited

Armstrong, Monty. Cracking the AP World History Exam. New York: Random House, 2012. Print.

"Roman Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire>.

"THE TWELVE TABLES." THE TWELVE TABLES. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html>.

"Ancient Roman Art and Architecture." Scholastic, Helping Children Around the World to Read and Learn. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753873>.

"The Roman Empire, C125 AD." The Roman Empire, C125 AD. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch2en/conc2en/romannet.html>.

"The Roman Military." The Roman Military. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://romanmilitary.net/>.

"Roman Social Class and Public Display." Roman Social Class and Public Display. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/socialclass.html>.

"10 Cool Engineering Tricks the Romans Taught Us." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/10-roman-engineering-tricks.htm>.

"Mosaic." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 July 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic>.

"Roman Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire>.

"Roman Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire>.

Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World: A Brief Global 
History
. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. Print.

"Ancient Roman Art and Architecture." Scholastic, Helping Children Around the World to Read and Learn. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753873>.

"The Roman Empire, C125 AD." The Roman Empire, C125 AD. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch2en/conc2en/romannet.html>.

"The Roman Military." The Roman Military. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://romanmilitary.net/>.

"Roman Social Class and Public Display." Roman Social Class and Public Display. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/socialclass.html>.

"10 Cool Engineering Tricks the Romans Taught Us." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/10-roman-engineering-tricks.htm>.
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