Ancient History Resources for Homeschool and Personal Study. This weeks topics: Augustus, The Roman Home, Education in Rome, Roman Construction Projects and Travel and Trade

Ancient History is studied through the collection of archeological evidence, written records and oral stories or myths. Just because evidence shows a particular belief or custom was common at a particular time does not mean that everyone in that civilization shared that belief. When you study the topics for this week, you can either go deep on one topic for the week and skip the others or you can do a new topic each day. This outline is just a suggested pace, you can go slower or faster as needed. This outline is intended to provide you with a place to start. You will still need to do your own research.

Germanicus: Famous Roman General

Homeschool Topics for Week 23

Augustus

The Roman Home

Education in Rome

Roman Construction Projects

Travel and Trade

Discussion Questions

Augustus

Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome. Before him, Rome was a republic where leaders were elected by the people. Augustus grew up in a time when politics turned violent as people tried to grab power for themselves. Augustus was born as Octavian but when he took control of the government he was given a new name. He tried to convince everyone that nothing had changed even though Rome now had an Emperor. He gave people in the army money and citizens free grain. He constructed buildings and staged gladiator games. He tried to create a hereditary succession but everyone in his family died before he did except Tiberius who he forced to marry his daughter after she was widowed. When he died, Romans buried him in an elaborate tomb and deified him. Learn more about early Roman emperors here.

The Roman Home

The Roman home was was called a Domus. The wealthy had a Domus and a country villa. In the country, the house was built around a central courtyard called an atrium. The city people lived in high rise apartments which were legally only allowed to go up 70 feet/21 meters. Romans invented central heating with fires in the basement that heated the floor. Many homes had running water fed by aqueducts and a public sewer system that drained into the River Tiber. No town large or small was complete without a public bath. Staple foods were bread, olives, fish and cheese.

Education in Rome

Only boys were educated although Plato thought women should also be educated. Lessons lasted from dawn to midday. The children learned by writing on a wax tablet similar to those used by the Hittites. (see Week 9) Everything was learned by heart as there were no books. Those going into law or government learned public speaking from a rhetor. A boy became an adult at age 16. Careers were chosen by the status of your family and there were very few careers open to women.

Roman Construction Projects

Aqueducts: Aqueducts moved water from sources outside the city by gravity alone. When above ground, they looked like bridges but held concourses for water to flow rather than pedestrians. Romans built the first aqueduct in 312 BC.

Classical Architecture: The Romans (and Greeks) invented a style of columns and arches that continue to set the standard in architecture. They used various types of keystones to transfer the load on an arch down to the ground.

Bridges: The Romans built the first permanent bridge over the River Tiber called the Pons Sublicius. The Romans eventually built bridges over all the major rivers in their Empire. The Danube and the Rhine were the two largest rivers that were spanned by Roman engineering.

Sewer: The Cloaca Maxima was the system that carried waste away from the city to the Tiber River. It also acted as a storm drain to prevent flooding. Eventually all the aqueducts were connected to it.

Travel and Trade

The Romans built 53,000 miles of roads for their armies to move quickly. These roads benefits traders and civilians too. The army kept the roads safe and passable. Merchant ships traded their goods as far away as Britain and Africa.

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