Establishment of the empire and way of living

Social sciences: history

Grade 5

The ancient roman civilization: 5oo b.c. to 500 a.d.

Module 13

The establishment of the empire and the manner of living of its people

Before we begin it is important to understand what an ancient civilisation is.

Those eras which are farthest away from us in time, are referred to as ANCIENT times. Those close to us, are called contemporary.

We speak of a CIVILIZATION when the evidence indicates that the way of life of people of the time show distinct qualities of development and refinement.

THE PEOPLE OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR MODERN CIVILIZATIONS.

This module tells the fascinating story of the Roman Empire – one of the earliest and greatest civilizations ever known! Roman history covers a period of more than 1000 years and extended into most of the known civilizations of that time! However, that's not all. Their unbelievable contribution to society reaches into modern times.

Welcome to the Roman Empire!

Activity 1:

To be aware of various views on the establishment of, and life in rome

[lo 1.3]

ORIGIN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

In 800 B.C. there were only a few thatched huts on the hills surrounding the Tiber River. Most of the people who lived there were farmers who cultivated wheat, olives and grapes in the fertile valley. In time the villages that developed on the seven hills started trading and eventually united. By 753 B.C. Romulus, according to the legend, founded the city of Rome. The united Roman villages could offer each other protection against attacks, especially from the Etrurians. The people from the different villages also worshipped together.

Thereafter the Empire developed as follows:

In the beginning priests brought sacrifices on behalf of the people. By 50 B.C. the Romans were conquered by the Etrurians, but the Etrurian king was later banished from Rome by the Romans.

After this, the Romans decided never to have a king and Rome became a republic. Two consuls were elected annually to rule over them. The consuls were supported by a senate of older, wise men.

Rome expanded rapidly. Tribes were conquered and a mighty empire was established to the East and the West and in North Africa. The provinces were governed by generals, e.g. Julius Caesar. The consuls eventually lost control over the generals and revolts and wars occurred.

When Julius Caesar attacked Rome in an effort to become king of the Empire, he was stabbed to death by his opponents in the senate hall in 44 B.C. Thus the republic came to an end. In 31 B.C. Octavianus (called Augustus) became the first emperor of the great Roman Empire.

But endless wars eventually brought the mighty Roman Empire to a fall. In A.D. 455 the Empire was attacked and conquered by a strong tribe, the Vandals ...

a) Now you know how the Roman Empire expanded. The following lovely legend tells you how the capital, Rome, received its name ...

Mars, the god of war, had to leave his two sons (Romulus and Remus) in a cradle next to the Tiber River. There a she-wolf found the two babies and fed them with her milk. One day a shepherd found the two babies alone a field. He took them and raised them as his sons. When they became adults, they built a city on the spot where the shepherd found them. The twins had a bitter quarrel one day and Romulus killed Remus. Afterwards Romulus named the city Rome, after himself.