Project

In class Mr.Schick let us plan out our projects more like we did the other day. We had to tell him who we were working with and what we were doing. Me and Kacey are doing our project on culture so we are going to cook some food, show or make some art, and maybe even bring in some of the clothes they wore. We think it will turn out very well if it works out.

Baltimore Riots

Today in class we talked about the Baltimore riots where people are burning things and robbing stores. Everyone shared their opinions on the situation and we talked about what was happening and watched videos. We also discussed the riots that are supposed to happen on Thursday but decided that we don't think they will happen. The discussion took up the whole class.

Circus Maximus and Aqueducts

Mr. Schick had us do research today about 4 topics: Colosseums, Circus Maximus, Roman Forum, and Aqueducts. I worked with Kacey and she researched Colosseums and Roman Forum, I took these notes on Circus Maximus and Aqueducts.

Circus Maximus

• First Celebration of the consualia in honor of Consus, the Roman god of granary
• Could hold a quarter of a million people
• It was used primarily for chariot racing but sometimes for hunts and mock battles 
• Built in the 6th century B.C 
• It was twice destroyed by fire and the stands collapsed at least twice, killing many people
• 620 meters long and 120 meters wide 

Aqueducts

• Local governments decided to build 
• Bridge that brings water in and out
• First built in 312 B.C
• Used for indoor sewage 
• Brought water in and out of Rome 
• Was used to carry waste out and bring drinking water in
• Miles long

Colosseum 

• Seated 50,000-80,000 people
• Largest Amphitheater in the world 
• Construction started in 70 AD
• It takes up 6 acres of land
• Slaves and woman were seated in the upper bleachers and senators were seated near the floor area
• A place of honor was reserved for the editor - person who funded and arranged the games (often the emperor) 

Project day

Today in class we were allowed to work on our projects. Me and Kacey decided that we were going to do our project on Roman culture. We are going to recreate some of the Roman art, make some Roman food, and maybe show how the Roman woman dressed. We haven't planned it out completely but we should be able to start working on it soon.

Chi cago

In class today, Mr. Schick brought in Chi cago as a special guest. He made up his own lyrics to the song Low and it was all about Rome. We can use the lyrics to the song to study for our test. We also took some more notes about Rome. We learned about a leader named Tiberius who was run out of Rome because he was a tyrant who was becoming too powerful. Since Mr. Schick's song took up most of class, we didn't learn much new material.

Roman Expansion

In class we talked about how the Romans used to take over areas and most of the time, instead of kicking them out, they would become allies. Rome was a military culture who conquered many areas around Italy. We also talked about the Punic wars and Hannibal who invaded Rome with his soldiers. They went around and through the mountains so they could attack the Romans from the back but eventually the Romans destroyed them.

Rome

• Ninth Century - Etruscans move to Italy 
• The Etruscans, Latins, and Greeks were the first to settle in Italy
• There were Greek colonies in Italy 
• Indo-European tribes settled along the Tiber River
• Remus and Romulus were in a myth where they were raised by a wolf. There was an argument and Romulus won which is where the name Rome came from
• Etruscans were an early influence on the Romans
• Romans were also influenced by Greeks (alphabet, and city-state organization)
• Rome was originally a Monarchy 
• they had a council of elders called the "Senate" 
• each year, the senate elected two rulers "consuls" who served for one year
• Romans would appoint a dictator in times of war/conflict
• Patriarchs - rich men who were in charge (aristocrat men)
• Plebians - Middle class citizens
• The Roman republic: the Senate and the People
• Plebians gained power in the Senate by electing "tribunes" 
• Twelve Tablets - laws that were written and posted in 450 B.C
• Republican Values: 
• Romans had strong values and a connection to the gods
• it was every citizen's duty to participate in government and war (except women) 
• Married women were revered and highly honored and called "matrons"

Allegory of the Cave Discussion

In class we finished the video about Plato's Allegory of the cave. It is about prisoners who sit in a cave and their heads are chained so that they can only see one way. They only see what the people who control them want them to see. One of the prisoners gets released and can finally see things differently in the world. He tries to tell the others of his enlightenment but they don't believe him because they are stuck with their own perspectives. We related this to Socrates and many social issues because people aren't willing to look at various perspectives and sides of a story or subject.

The Allegory of the Cave

We didn't do that much in class today. For most of the time, we talked about and looked at the films that Mr. Schick has helped with. We also talked about the people he has met and he told us some stories. After we did that, we watched a short video to finish class which was about Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The video prepared us for what we will learn about in class tomorrow.

Greek Test Review

Today in class we went over the test on Greece that we took before Spring break. We went around the room and had to say the answers without our scantron because Mr. Schick wanted us to use our brains. I remembered more information than I thought I would when it was my turn. I did well on the test but not as well as I would have liked. I will need to use this test to study for our final.

Test on Greece

Today was our test on Ancient Greece. Some of the things that were on it were about Homer, the Greek gods and goddesses, and about life in Ancient Greece. I think I did well on the beginning and on the part about the Greek Gods. But I don't think I did well on the part where we had to match up the statement with the philosopher. I didn't study the information on the philosophers very well. Overall, I did my best and I hope I got a decent grade.