"He was born in eastern Frank land, in the district that is called Moingewi, and it was the monastery of Fulda, in the school of Saint Boniface the Martyr, that his boyhood received its first training." (source)
Charlemagne was born April 2, 742 in Northern Europe, he was the oldest child of Pippin III and Bertrada of Laon. Throughout his education he read little, if any, books; though the few that he did read were extremely intellectual. Even though he read little, he had the ability to speak old Teutonic and literary; he could also understand Greek. (source)
In 768 Charlemagne and his younger brother, Carloman, bequeathed the entire Frankish Kingdom. Though, in 771 when Carloman died, Charlemagne became the head ruler of the kingdom. During that time though, the Franks had begun to fall into barbarianism due to their neglect of religion and education. (source)
Once Charlemagne was head of government, he decided to expand his territory. In getting more land, he overthrew northern Italy, Bavaria, Spain, and Hungary. Though he had garnered up an empire, he did not give himself the title of emperor; instead, he referred to himself as the King of the Franks and the Lombard's. (source)
"An affecionate man, Charlemagne got along very well with his sister, Gisela, and their mother, Bertrada, treating both with great respect. Gisela was a nun, so she live in a convent, but Bertrada lived with Charlemagne. It was Bertrada who arranged for Charlemagne t omarry a daughter of King Desiderius of the Lombards ( a Germanic tribe whose kingdom was in Italy). But it seems this wife was not to Charlemagnes liking, because he soon ended the marriage and took a new wife named Hildegarde, with whom he had six children, according to Einhard. In 783, Charlemagne was twice bereaved when both Hildegarde and Bertrada died. Before long he found a new wife, Fastrada." (source)
"Charles has become known as Charles The Great or Charlemagne for very good reasons. His long reign changed the face of Europe politically and culturally, and he himself would remain fixed in the minds of people in the Middle Ages as the ideal king. In more recent times, many historians have taken his reign to be the beginning of the Middle Ages 'proper'. Yet in terms of territorial expansion and consolidation, of church reform and entanglement with Rome, Charlemagne's reign was merely bringing the policies of his father Pippin to their logical conclusions." (source)
"In 806, at the age of sixty-four, Charlemagne took measures to provide for the succession of his empire. He divided the realm among his three sons—Charles, Pepin, and Louis. But the death of Charles in April 810 was soon followed by that of Pepin. The remaining son, Louis, later called 'the Pious,' the least warlike and aggressive of the three, was left as the sole heir to the empire. He was crowned by his father in 813. The last years of Charlemagne's reign saw difficult times. Civil disorder increased as did disease and famine (drastic food shortages). Additionally, there were troubles on the frontiers. In many respects, the future looked dark. In 811 Charlemagne made his final will, giving a more sizable portion of his treasures to various churches of the realm than to his own heirs. He died on January 28, 814, and was buried at his palace at Aachen." (source)
Book 1
Book 2
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Justinian I
"Justinian I (Flavius Anicius Justinianus), the nephew of Justin I, was born at Tauresium in Illyria, the son of a Slavonic peasant, and was originally called Sabbatius. Educated at Constantinople, in 521 Justinian was named consul and in 527 was proclaimed by Justin his colleague in the empire. Justin died the same year and Justinian, who was then proclaimed sole emperor, was crowned along with his wife, Theodora." (source)
When Justinian became ruler of the Byzantine Empire, he ordered to have the preparation of the Corpus Juris Civilis. "These works have become known individually as the Code, which collected the legal pronouncements of the Roman emperors, the Institutes, an elementary student's textbook, and the Digest, by far the largest and most highly prized of the three compilations. The Digest was assembled by a team of sixteen academic lawyers commissioned by Justinian in 533 to cull everything of value from earlier Roman law. It was for centuries the focal point of legal education in the West and remains today an unprecedented collection of the commentaries of Roman jurists on the civil law." (source)
"Justinian reigned at Constantinople from 527 until his death. He recognized that Roman law was in a state of confusion—the no-actresses-for-senators law was a minor problem compared with the obfuscations and contradictions among old laws passed in the republic and early empire, subsequent decrees of the senate, and the writings of jurists who had been given the right to declare what was the law. Justinian therefore commissioned a group of distinguished scholars to come up with an imperial constitution free of contradictions. Following the success of this, he authorized a new commission to bring order into the rest of Roman law, publishing their results in 533. The president of the commission, Tribonian, recognized that an outline of the laws was required whereby future lawyers could learn their first lessons, no longer from ancient fables but from the new vantage point of codified legal learning. The result was the Institutes of Justinan, extracts from which follow. This summary of Roman law in the sixth century provides an insight into the type of humanistic principles that had established themselves in Roman society at this late period of the empire." (source)
"Justinian was anxious to end religious disunity within the empire. The chief theological issue of his day was the persisting Monophysite rejection of the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451) regarding the natures of Christ. Since the Monophysite religious dissent was linked with regional unrest, especially in Syria-Palestine and Egypt, the problem had wide political implications. Justinian repeatedly sought to end the dissension, either by some compromise formula or device or by arbitrary pressures. His policies alternated between extremes of conciliation and persecution. At Justinian's behest, the Fifth Ecumenical Council met (553) to ratify some of his measures. Yet, for all his exertions, a resolution of the issues seemed even less attainable at the end of his reign than at the beginning." (source)
"Although ecstatic and hopeful early in his reign, the mood at Constantinople had changed by the end of Justinian’s life to one of angry frustration. Justinian’s funeral pall was embroidered with scenes of his military triumphs in the 530s that must have seemed a grim anachronism to the mourners who laid him to rest." (source)
When Justinian became ruler of the Byzantine Empire, he ordered to have the preparation of the Corpus Juris Civilis. "These works have become known individually as the Code, which collected the legal pronouncements of the Roman emperors, the Institutes, an elementary student's textbook, and the Digest, by far the largest and most highly prized of the three compilations. The Digest was assembled by a team of sixteen academic lawyers commissioned by Justinian in 533 to cull everything of value from earlier Roman law. It was for centuries the focal point of legal education in the West and remains today an unprecedented collection of the commentaries of Roman jurists on the civil law." (source)
"Justinian reigned at Constantinople from 527 until his death. He recognized that Roman law was in a state of confusion—the no-actresses-for-senators law was a minor problem compared with the obfuscations and contradictions among old laws passed in the republic and early empire, subsequent decrees of the senate, and the writings of jurists who had been given the right to declare what was the law. Justinian therefore commissioned a group of distinguished scholars to come up with an imperial constitution free of contradictions. Following the success of this, he authorized a new commission to bring order into the rest of Roman law, publishing their results in 533. The president of the commission, Tribonian, recognized that an outline of the laws was required whereby future lawyers could learn their first lessons, no longer from ancient fables but from the new vantage point of codified legal learning. The result was the Institutes of Justinan, extracts from which follow. This summary of Roman law in the sixth century provides an insight into the type of humanistic principles that had established themselves in Roman society at this late period of the empire." (source)
"Justinian was anxious to end religious disunity within the empire. The chief theological issue of his day was the persisting Monophysite rejection of the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451) regarding the natures of Christ. Since the Monophysite religious dissent was linked with regional unrest, especially in Syria-Palestine and Egypt, the problem had wide political implications. Justinian repeatedly sought to end the dissension, either by some compromise formula or device or by arbitrary pressures. His policies alternated between extremes of conciliation and persecution. At Justinian's behest, the Fifth Ecumenical Council met (553) to ratify some of his measures. Yet, for all his exertions, a resolution of the issues seemed even less attainable at the end of his reign than at the beginning." (source)
"Although ecstatic and hopeful early in his reign, the mood at Constantinople had changed by the end of Justinian’s life to one of angry frustration. Justinian’s funeral pall was embroidered with scenes of his military triumphs in the 530s that must have seemed a grim anachronism to the mourners who laid him to rest." (source)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Two main foundational myths for Ancient Rome
The first myth is about Aeneas. Aeneas was the son of Venus and Anchises. He was raised nt nymphs, and he was taught by a centaur. When he got older, he fought in trhe Trojan War along with the Dardanians, they were allies of Troy. When the city was sacked and burned by the Greeks, Aeneas and his father fled. He sailed away with a group of Trojan soldiers; he was now searching for a new home. It has been said that the gods told Aenes to build his city at the place where his soldiers ate their plates. Though, after deing taunted by the wing god, his ship ended up landing in Carthage, Africa. While staying there, Aeneas fell in love with a woman named Dido who was the Queen of Carthage. (source 1, source 2)
"Aeneas was born from the union of a mortal, Anchises 1, and a goddess, Aphrodite. Some say that it was Zeus himself who aroused in Aphrodite the desire to be joined with a mortal man, so to prevent her to say mockingly that she had joined all the gods with mortals. Aphrodite came to Anchises 1 in the form of a beautiful maiden, saying she was a mortal woman and the daughter of one Otreus. She explained to the incredulous Anchises 1 that she talked his language because she had been brought up by a Trojan nurse. Anchises 1 was taken by desire, but after they had made love, Aphrodite revealed her true identity and Anchises 1 feared the gods would destroy him for having slept with a goddess. But Aphrodite, who herself grieved for having laid in the bed of a mortal man, assured him that he was dear to the gods and nothing would happen to him, provided he would say their child was the offspring of a nymph, for Aphrodite disposed that the NYMPHS would rear Aeneas and that, as soon as he was a boy, he would be restored to his father."
The other myth is that "Romulus and Remus were twin brothers. Their father was Mars, the God of War, their mother was Rhea Silvia, a vestal virgin and daughter of the King, Numitor. Numitor's brother, Amulius, had taken the throne from him and had forced Rhea Silvia to become a vestal virgin so that she would not have any children who might try to take back the throne.
When the boys were born, Amulius seized them, put them into a basket and threw them into the river Tiber. He hoped that they would drown. However, the boys were rescued by a she-wolf who fed the babies with her own milk and cared for them.
They grew up and were found by the shepherd Faustulus, who took them home and looked after them until they were grown up.
The two young men discovered who they really were and decided to kill Amulius and Put their grandfather back on the throne. After doing this they decided to build a city of their own but could not agree where to build it. Remus favoured the Aventine Hill but Romulus wanted to use the Palatine Hill. They could not reach an agreement and so each began to build his own city enclosed with walls.
One day, Remus visited Romulus and made fun of his wall by jumping over it and saying how easily it could be breached. Romulus was so annoyed that he killed Remus and said the he would kill anyone who mocked his city or tried to break through the walls of Rome.
The legend says that Romulus became the first King of Rome in 753BC and populated his new city with runaway slaves and convicted criminals. He stole women from the Sabine tribe to provide wives for the slaves and criminals and to populate his new city.
The Sabine tribe were not happy about this and declared war on Rome. The war went on for many years but eventually the Sabine tribe and Romulus reached an agreement and the Sabines became a part of Rome under the Kingship of Romulus.
The legend ends by telling how Romulus was carried up to the heavens by his father, Mars, and was worshipped as the God Quirinus." (source)
Book 1
"Aeneas was born from the union of a mortal, Anchises 1, and a goddess, Aphrodite. Some say that it was Zeus himself who aroused in Aphrodite the desire to be joined with a mortal man, so to prevent her to say mockingly that she had joined all the gods with mortals. Aphrodite came to Anchises 1 in the form of a beautiful maiden, saying she was a mortal woman and the daughter of one Otreus. She explained to the incredulous Anchises 1 that she talked his language because she had been brought up by a Trojan nurse. Anchises 1 was taken by desire, but after they had made love, Aphrodite revealed her true identity and Anchises 1 feared the gods would destroy him for having slept with a goddess. But Aphrodite, who herself grieved for having laid in the bed of a mortal man, assured him that he was dear to the gods and nothing would happen to him, provided he would say their child was the offspring of a nymph, for Aphrodite disposed that the NYMPHS would rear Aeneas and that, as soon as he was a boy, he would be restored to his father."
The other myth is that "Romulus and Remus were twin brothers. Their father was Mars, the God of War, their mother was Rhea Silvia, a vestal virgin and daughter of the King, Numitor. Numitor's brother, Amulius, had taken the throne from him and had forced Rhea Silvia to become a vestal virgin so that she would not have any children who might try to take back the throne.
When the boys were born, Amulius seized them, put them into a basket and threw them into the river Tiber. He hoped that they would drown. However, the boys were rescued by a she-wolf who fed the babies with her own milk and cared for them.
They grew up and were found by the shepherd Faustulus, who took them home and looked after them until they were grown up.
The two young men discovered who they really were and decided to kill Amulius and Put their grandfather back on the throne. After doing this they decided to build a city of their own but could not agree where to build it. Remus favoured the Aventine Hill but Romulus wanted to use the Palatine Hill. They could not reach an agreement and so each began to build his own city enclosed with walls.
One day, Remus visited Romulus and made fun of his wall by jumping over it and saying how easily it could be breached. Romulus was so annoyed that he killed Remus and said the he would kill anyone who mocked his city or tried to break through the walls of Rome.
The legend says that Romulus became the first King of Rome in 753BC and populated his new city with runaway slaves and convicted criminals. He stole women from the Sabine tribe to provide wives for the slaves and criminals and to populate his new city.
The Sabine tribe were not happy about this and declared war on Rome. The war went on for many years but eventually the Sabine tribe and Romulus reached an agreement and the Sabines became a part of Rome under the Kingship of Romulus.
The legend ends by telling how Romulus was carried up to the heavens by his father, Mars, and was worshipped as the God Quirinus." (source)
Book 1
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Sunni & Shia
"The Shiites (a name derived from the Arabic shiat Ali, "the party of Ali") constitute one of the two major branches of Islam, the other, larger branch being the Sunnites. Following the death of Muhammad, disagreement arose as to the necessary qualifications and exact function of his successors as leaders (Imams) of the Muslim community. The Shiites are those who insisted that only members of the Prophet's clan, specifically, the descendants of Muhammad's daughter Fatima and her husband Ali, could qualify. Although Ali became (655) the fourth caliph, he was murdered in 661, and the majority recognized the Umayyad Muawiya I as caliph. The Shiites, however, supported the claims of Ali's sons: Hasan, who died mysteriously c. 669, and Husein, who was killed by Umayyad troops at Kerbala in 680 (Kerbala, in Iraq, became the major pilgrimage center for the Shiites)." (source)
In 632 A.D., after the death of Muhammad, this whole ordeal started to take place. A position became open after his death, it was to rule and catty out the Muslim nation and faith, so it came down to two people; Abu Bakr and Ali. Abu Bakr was Muhammad's father-in-law and friend while Ali was his cousin and con-in law. When the decision was made, Abu Bakr ended up becoming the new Caliphate. Though, he died soon after in 634 A.D. After many Caliphs had come and gone, Ali finally made it. But he wasn't accepted by Muhammad's former wife, Aisha, who was Abu Bakr's daughter. She thought of him to poor in justice, so both Aisha and Ali fought forces at Camel that same year. After Aisha's forces were stopped, she apologized and let Ali rule in peace. Only a few years later Ali was killed by some of his own while on his way seek a compromise with an enemy. ( source 1, source 2)
The reason for the Sunni and Shiite's split is not because of religious differences but because of political ones. The Sunni wanted Abu Bakr to rule and the Shiites wanted Ali to rule. It was a true dispute because the Shia wanted someone of actual blood lineage to rule, though they didn't get the higher vote they still ended up with their ruler in the end. Ali was Muhammad's cousin, Abu Bakr was related through marriage. Today there is still a dispute between the two nations, but it is due to Uthman, a member of the wealthy Ummayad clan. He was also a former Sunni Caliphate that was killed. I can see why they are upset, over and over they continue to kill each other over something that took place a thousand years ago. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
Technically speaking the Sunni and Shia believe in the same thing; they both believe that the Quran is the Holy Book and they follow the Five Pillars of Islam. However, the Shiites are much more dramatic in prayer when it comes to martyrs. They also pray three times a day rather than five. On the topic of Sunni religious leaders, theyin Aisha and Abu Bakr, ect., to have an impact on the Islamic religion, and the Shia's want in accepting them as "ideal members of the faith." (source)
Book 1
Book 2
In 632 A.D., after the death of Muhammad, this whole ordeal started to take place. A position became open after his death, it was to rule and catty out the Muslim nation and faith, so it came down to two people; Abu Bakr and Ali. Abu Bakr was Muhammad's father-in-law and friend while Ali was his cousin and con-in law. When the decision was made, Abu Bakr ended up becoming the new Caliphate. Though, he died soon after in 634 A.D. After many Caliphs had come and gone, Ali finally made it. But he wasn't accepted by Muhammad's former wife, Aisha, who was Abu Bakr's daughter. She thought of him to poor in justice, so both Aisha and Ali fought forces at Camel that same year. After Aisha's forces were stopped, she apologized and let Ali rule in peace. Only a few years later Ali was killed by some of his own while on his way seek a compromise with an enemy. ( source 1, source 2)
The reason for the Sunni and Shiite's split is not because of religious differences but because of political ones. The Sunni wanted Abu Bakr to rule and the Shiites wanted Ali to rule. It was a true dispute because the Shia wanted someone of actual blood lineage to rule, though they didn't get the higher vote they still ended up with their ruler in the end. Ali was Muhammad's cousin, Abu Bakr was related through marriage. Today there is still a dispute between the two nations, but it is due to Uthman, a member of the wealthy Ummayad clan. He was also a former Sunni Caliphate that was killed. I can see why they are upset, over and over they continue to kill each other over something that took place a thousand years ago. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
Technically speaking the Sunni and Shia believe in the same thing; they both believe that the Quran is the Holy Book and they follow the Five Pillars of Islam. However, the Shiites are much more dramatic in prayer when it comes to martyrs. They also pray three times a day rather than five. On the topic of Sunni religious leaders, theyin Aisha and Abu Bakr, ect., to have an impact on the Islamic religion, and the Shia's want in accepting them as "ideal members of the faith." (source)
Book 1
Book 2
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Islam
"The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quaran. The Holy Quaran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures. "(source)
The religion of Islam was founded by Muhammad, who was believed to have been God's chosen prophet (Corrick 88). The Islamic bible is the Quaran, and Muslims must live and abide by the five pillars of Islam. (Book 1)
The first pillar is Shahada. Shahada says that there is no other true god other than Allah and Muhammad Allah's chosen prophet. (source)
The second pillar is Sal at, or prayer. It says that you must confess your sins, this begins with the purification of your body and finishes with the purification of your soul. Sal at is to be done five times a day, with the first prayer staring at dawn and the last at sunset. (source 1, source 2)
The third pillar is Saum, or fasting. Saum is during the month of Ramadan. So, during this month, Muslims must fast to Allah. In doing so, Muslims give up all of their belongings so that they could worship and cocentrate on Allah. (source)
The fourth pillar is Zakat which means alms or giving charity. In this, Muslims must give to the poor so that they could receicve more holiness towards Allah. The last pillar is hajj whic hmeans pilgrimage and in this part the Muslims must make a pilgrimage or journey around Mecca. (source)
The religion of Islam was founded by Muhammad, who was believed to have been God's chosen prophet (Corrick 88). The Islamic bible is the Quaran, and Muslims must live and abide by the five pillars of Islam. (Book 1)
The first pillar is Shahada. Shahada says that there is no other true god other than Allah and Muhammad Allah's chosen prophet. (source)
The second pillar is Sal at, or prayer. It says that you must confess your sins, this begins with the purification of your body and finishes with the purification of your soul. Sal at is to be done five times a day, with the first prayer staring at dawn and the last at sunset. (source 1, source 2)
The third pillar is Saum, or fasting. Saum is during the month of Ramadan. So, during this month, Muslims must fast to Allah. In doing so, Muslims give up all of their belongings so that they could worship and cocentrate on Allah. (source)
The fourth pillar is Zakat which means alms or giving charity. In this, Muslims must give to the poor so that they could receicve more holiness towards Allah. The last pillar is hajj whic hmeans pilgrimage and in this part the Muslims must make a pilgrimage or journey around Mecca. (source)
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Fall of Rome and a response from Gibbon
"The incapacity of a weak and distracted government may often assume the appearance, and produce the effects, of a treasonable correspondence with the public enemy. If Alaric himself had been introduced into the council of Ravenna, he would probably have advised the same measures which were actually pursued by the ministers of Honorius. 1 The king of the Goths would have conspired, perhaps with some reluctance, to destroy the formidable adversary, by whose arms, in Italy, as well as in Greece, he had been twice overthrown. Their active and interested hatred laboriously accomplished the disgrace and ruin of the great Stilicho. The valor of Sarus, his fame in arms, and his personal, or hereditary, influence over the confederate Barbarians, could recommend him only to the friends of their country, who despised, or detested, the worthless characters of Turpilio, Varanes, and Vigilantius. By the pressing instances of the new favorites, these generals, unworthy as they had shown themselves of the names of soldiers, 2 were promoted to the command of the cavalry, of the infantry, and of the domestic troops. The Gothic prince would have subscribed with pleasure the edict which the fanaticism of Olympius dictated to the simple and devout emperor. Honorius excluded all persons, who were adverse to the Catholic church, from holding any office in the state; obstinately rejected the service of all those who dissented from his religion; and rashly disqualified many of his bravest and most skillful officers, who adhered to the Pagan worship, or who had imbibed the opinions of Arianism. 3 These measures, so advantageous to an enemy, Alaric would have approved, and might perhaps have suggested; but it may seem doubtful, whether the Barbarian would have promoted his interest at the expense of the inhuman and absurd cruelty which was perpetrated by the direction, or at least with the connivance of the Imperial ministers. The foreign auxiliaries, who had been attached to the person of Stilicho, lamented his death; but the desire of revenge was checked by a natural apprehension for the safety of their wives and children; who were detained as hostages in the strong cities of Italy, where they had likewise deposited their most valuable effects. At the same hour, and as if by a common signal, the cities of Italy were polluted by the same horrid scenes of universal massacre and pillage, which involved, in promiscuous destruction, the families and fortunes of the Barbarians. Exasperated by such an injury, which might have awakened the tamest and most servile spirit, they cast a look of indignation and hope towards the camp of Alaric, and unanimously swore to pursue, with just and implacable war, the perfidious nation who had so basely violated the laws of hospitality. By the imprudent conduct of the ministers of Honorius, the republic lost the assistance, and deserved the enmity, of thirty thousand of her bravest soldiers; and the weight of that formidable army, which alone might have determined the event of the war, was transferred from the scale of the Romans into that of the Goths."(source)
There were many reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. They had very unstable leadership, poor economy, invading armies, etc. They just couldn't handle it so they crumbled under the pressure.(source)
In 190 A.D. the Roman Empire began to fall. It started when different people wanted to rule; nobody really liked the way the Emperor ruled. Some of the people that were in the army even wanted to rule, this caused problems; they were killing and splitting legions apart. Whatever the army did the Emperor had to pay for it, the only problem was that he didn't have any money to for it. The Emperor during this time was Diocletian. In order to get money to pay for the army, he had to become a cruel man financially. He had new coins made and raised the tax. Nothing went well after that. (source 1, source 2)
The Vandals crossed the Danube, and the Rhine River, which were the boundaries for the Roman Empire. They swormed the Romans and made their way down and around the empire. The Vandals took an easy way to the empire, they just went through Germany, down to Spain, through Africa, went around and eventually conquered Rome's Western Empire. Rome's Eastern Empire lasted for about 100 years, until 1453. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
Book 1
Book 2
There were many reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. They had very unstable leadership, poor economy, invading armies, etc. They just couldn't handle it so they crumbled under the pressure.(source)
In 190 A.D. the Roman Empire began to fall. It started when different people wanted to rule; nobody really liked the way the Emperor ruled. Some of the people that were in the army even wanted to rule, this caused problems; they were killing and splitting legions apart. Whatever the army did the Emperor had to pay for it, the only problem was that he didn't have any money to for it. The Emperor during this time was Diocletian. In order to get money to pay for the army, he had to become a cruel man financially. He had new coins made and raised the tax. Nothing went well after that. (source 1, source 2)
The Vandals crossed the Danube, and the Rhine River, which were the boundaries for the Roman Empire. They swormed the Romans and made their way down and around the empire. The Vandals took an easy way to the empire, they just went through Germany, down to Spain, through Africa, went around and eventually conquered Rome's Western Empire. Rome's Eastern Empire lasted for about 100 years, until 1453. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
Book 1
Book 2
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Roman Roads
"It is often said that 'all roads lead to Rome,' and in fact, they once did. The road system of the Ancient Romans was one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of its time, with over 50,000 miles of paved road radiating from their center at the miliarius aurem in the Forum in the city of Rome. Although the Roman road system was originally built to facilitate the movement of troops throughout the empire, it was inevitably used for other purposes by civilians then and now." (source)There were many different types of roads, there is a road called an actus and an iter, they were used for travelers on foot. In real life, the roads weren't as popular as many people think because most people wanted to travel by sea. They also formulated a mail delivery system. The Romans always left the door wide open for new innovation ideas, they were willing to listen to any brilliant mind that would make their empire stronger than it already was. (source)
In Rome, there was over 50,000 miles of paved road, it starts in the city and expands out. The Romans made the roads out of paved stone which they layed out in layers. In the middle they were a little bit risen and as they got to the sides, they sloped down so that water could drain down. In our history the Romans were the first to have the concept of the road. The roads were a great way of making trade from across the land; this is because they made it easy for men to roll their carts. The roads were not just in Italy, they spread throughout the entire Ramon Empire. The widespread roads helped greatly not only with the trading of goods but animals as well. The Romans were so powerful that if they wanted something, they got it. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
The Romans were all very creative, they were great at coming up with new ideas. In the making of the roads, they dug trenches, they tightly packed in rocks, pebbles, pieces of jars, but the main ingredient was concrete. They would make their own concrete and lay it down. It worked perfect because the roads are still being used today, even with cars. Though the roads were very efficient, they still took a while to travel on. This is because of the dangers that occured during the night; so to prevent that, the Romans built hotels and motels along the sides of the roads.(source)
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