Unit 2 Reflection: Rome and Christianity

1. Describe how you prepared/studied for the unit test.
    a) Do you think your studying methods were effective- why/not?
    b) How will you prepare next time?

1. A) I prepared for the unit test by quizzing myself and my friends. I focused on everything from the big ideas to the small facts. The night before the test I quickly looked over my sheet. The Rise of Rome and the Decline/ Fall were the topics I looked at the most.

   B) Next time, I plan to make flash cards pertaining to each of the big ideas.  I will look at and memorize a time line so that I know in which order the events happened. (On this test, I was a bit confused about the chronological development of Rome.) Finally, I will memorize a map so that I am clear on the geography of the time period.

2. What was the most surprising thing you learned about during this unit?

The Rome and Christianity Unit was engaging over all but what struck me the most was the Roman genius. It is interesting to know that the Romans had running water thousands of years before us. Their achievements in building arches, cement, and aqueducts still affect us today. These are the building blocks of modern life. When we watched the Engineering an Empire video  I was fascinated by how the Pantheon was built. Last year I visited the Pantheon and I was amazed by it's beauty. It is interesting to learn about famous Roman buildings I have been to.

Another interesting topic we learned about was Hannibal. I was confused at how he could  get a herd of elephants over the Alps. I have lived in Tunisia so hearing about him and the sacking of Carthage reminded me of the ancient Roman ruins I used to visit.

3. If we had more time to spend on Rome and Christianity what would you want to learn about?

I would like to learn more about the different provinces rather than just the city of Rome. It would be great to compare the different areas such as Britain to Egypt and how they were affected by the Roman influence. I think that learning more about the fall of Rome in the eastern empire would be interesting. Maybe we could even read first hand accounts.

The Fall of Rome

 Summarize the causes of the fall of the Roman Empire. Do you think it was inevitable? Why/not?

      There was no one cause for the fall of Rome. Instead, the mighty empire fell to a multitude of factors. Historians today attribute it to interior and exterior influences. They include: geography, economic decline, growth in government, decline in work force, primitive technology , and military defeat. Because the empire was stretched across the Mediterranean it was vulnerable. Soldiers and resources had to travel for months to reach barbarian invasions. High consumption of luxury goods did not improve a declining economy. As time wore on the government system became more complex. Government officials would use dishonest methods to get rich quick. Senators and generals engaged in civil war to determine the next emperor. This wasted valuable recourses. A combination of high morality and few slaves led to a decline in the work force. The army and labor needed to feed an empire was minuscule. Primitive technology did not increase the overall productivity of farming. Lastly, military defeat from surrounding barbarians pushed Rome over the edge. 

       I believe the collapse of the Roman empire was inviable. Poor management of the government led to invasions which led to high morality and eventually starvation. It was simply too large to run. When one band of invaders had been defeated, another attacked. Perhaps, if another system of government had been established they would have been able to deal with outside attackers. A taste for power meant senators fought over becoming emperor.Government officials were dishonest just to become rich. Luxury items could not be supported by the weak economy.