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Hadrian. He was one of the five good emperors, he helped keep the Pax Romana, he built up Rome’s defenses, including the famous Hadrian’s Wall, and made the wise decision to abandon an economically wasteful area of land.  

Hadrian. He was one of the five good emperors, he helped keep the Pax Romana, he built up Rome’s defenses, including the famous Hadrian’s Wall, and made the wise decision to abandon an economically wasteful area of land.  

2. Describe what the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire were, including approximate dates.  

2. Describe what the Roman Republic and the [[Roman Empire]] were, including approximate dates.  

The Roman Republic existed from 509 B.C.– 46B.C.  A mostly reasonable and just system compared to some of the forms of government in history and even compared to dame that are seen today.  Not entirely fair, however, as the patricians, who only made up a small portion of the population, occupied most of the government offices. As the Republic continued, though, the plebeians were given more power, and the Republic became more democratic.  The government was not always a Republic during this time period, though it is called the Republic. There were a few years of dictatorship. In times of great military struggle a dictator would be appointed for a time, because the Romans recognized the fact that the Senate could be slow and that swift, confident decisions were needed in such times.

The Roman Republic existed from 509 B.C.– 46B.C.  A mostly reasonable and just system compared to some of the forms of government in history and even compared to dame that are seen today.  Not entirely fair, however, as the patricians, who only made up a small portion of the population, occupied most of the government offices. As the Republic continued, though, the plebeians were given more power, and the Republic became more democratic.  The government was not always a Republic during this time period, though it is called the Republic. There were a few years of dictatorship. In times of great military struggle a dictator would be appointed for a time, because the Romans recognized the fact that the Senate could be slow and that swift, confident decisions were needed in such times.

The West had been war ravaged; the East did not see much conflict after it was conquered by the Romans and became part of the empire.  The Eastern side’s military was less important as attackers tended to go for Rome.  The East side also was more economically stable, with a tendency to be wealthier.  The primary language in the Western side was Latin; in the Byzantine Empire the language of trade was Greek.  Also the Eastern Empire continued to expand, while the Western Empire was to busy trying to hold on to the land it had to gather more territory.   

The West had been war ravaged; the East did not see much conflict after it was conquered by the Romans and became part of the empire.  The Eastern side’s military was less important as attackers tended to go for Rome.  The East side also was more economically stable, with a tendency to be wealthier.  The primary language in the Western side was Latin; in the Byzantine Empire the language of trade was Greek.  Also the Eastern Empire continued to expand, while the Western Empire was to busy trying to hold on to the land it had to gather more territory.   

4. Comment on the significance of the Roman language, Latin.  

4. Comment on the significance of the Roman language, [[Latin]].  

Latin became the common language of trade in the Western Roman Empire, while the Eastern side tried to adopt Latin as their trade language, but eventually reverted back to Greek, as the Greek influence in that area was still very strong.  Latin was a very precise language that could express ideas very quickly. Later, it became the official language of the Church.  Still studied today, Latin became the root for many languages that are still spoken today, including French, Spanish, and Italian.

Latin became the common language of trade in the Western Roman Empire, while the Eastern side tried to adopt Latin as their trade language, but eventually reverted back to Greek, as the Greek influence in that area was still very strong.  Latin was a very precise language that could express ideas very quickly. Later, it became the official language of the Church.  Still studied today, Latin became the root for many languages that are still spoken today, including French, Spanish, and Italian.

5. Explain what Pax Romana was.  

5. Explain what [[Pax Romana]] was.  

Pax Romana was a time of peace, prosperity and relatively good rulers, from 27 B.C. until 180 A.D.  There were some minor wars, the Jewish rebellion and Diaspora, but all things considered, it was a fairly peaceful time, especially after the dictatorship of Julius Caesar and the bloody Triumvirate.   

Pax Romana was a time of peace, prosperity and relatively good rulers, from 27 B.C. until 180 A.D.  There were some minor wars, the Jewish rebellion and Diaspora, but all things considered, it was a fairly peaceful time, especially after the dictatorship of Julius Caesar and the bloody Triumvirate.   

6. Current events question: What about the decline of the Roman Empire reminds you of the United States today? (Possibilities could be: in-fighting for government positions like the Illinois Senate seat, moral decay, economic decline, weakness to attack by foreign enemies, etc.)  

6. Current events question: What about the decline of the Roman Empire reminds you of the [[United States]] today? (Possibilities could be: in-fighting for government positions like the Illinois Senate seat, moral decay, economic decline, weakness to attack by foreign enemies, etc.)  

Vulnerability to foreign attack.  With the laxness of guard on both of America’s borders, we are just as exposed to attacks as the Romans were when they could not defend all of their borders because there were simply too many.  If the average Mexican can get in with such ease and in such numbers, why not the intelligent, scheming terrorists, too?  They have even more resources to help them, and they are persistent, and won’t give up.  I think that the attitude towards the border, especially the southern one, is too laidback.  And who is to say that the Mexicans can’t be terrorists too?  Who determines that only people from the Middle East are dangerous?  The people illegally immigrating could be criminals.  Although the barbarians were blatant in their attacks against the Romans, I think it bears much similarity to terrorists today.  

Vulnerability to foreign attack.  With the laxness of guard on both of America’s borders, we are just as exposed to attacks as the Romans were when they could not defend all of their borders because there were simply too many.  If the average Mexican can get in with such ease and in such numbers, why not the intelligent, scheming terrorists, too?  They have even more resources to help them, and they are persistent, and won’t give up.  I think that the attitude towards the border, especially the southern one, is too laidback.  And who is to say that the Mexicans can’t be terrorists too?  Who determines that only people from the Middle East are dangerous?  The people illegally immigrating could be criminals.  Although the barbarians were blatant in their attacks against the Romans, I think it bears much similarity to terrorists today.  

7. Challenging question (choose "a" or "b"):  

7. Challenging question (choose "a" or "b"):  

(a) All of world history so far in this course can be attributed either to God paving the way for Jesus, or the devil creating obstacles for Him. Discuss.  

(a) All of world history so far in this course can be attributed either to [[God]] paving the way for [[Jesus]], or the devil creating obstacles for Him. Discuss.  

I think that is entirely possible, but how would you know what events are obstacles, and which pave the way?  Was the fall of Rome helpful or hindering to Christianity?  And WWI?  We don’t know what would have happened if things had occurred differently, we can only guess.  Maybe Christianity would have spread to the Middle East faster and been stronger there if Rome had not fallen.  But maybe Rome would have become more immoral and would have hindered the spread of Christianity.  Some things are easy to tell.  I would say that WWII was a hindrance, that communism is a hindrance.  But maybe it encourages stronger faith. Maybe there are more Christians than there would be if the government was fair.  Studies have shown that Christianity grows faster under persecution.  I would say that, yes, everything is either furthering God’s plan or hindering it.  But I would also say that it can be hard to differentiate.

I think that is entirely possible, but how would you know what events are obstacles, and which pave the way?  Was the fall of Rome helpful or hindering to Christianity?  And WWI?  We don’t know what would have happened if things had occurred differently, we can only guess.  Maybe Christianity would have spread to the Middle East faster and been stronger there if Rome had not fallen.  But maybe Rome would have become more immoral and would have hindered the spread of Christianity.  Some things are easy to tell.  I would say that WWII was a hindrance, that communism is a hindrance.  But maybe it encourages stronger faith. Maybe there are more Christians than there would be if the government was fair.  Studies have shown that Christianity grows faster under persecution.  I would say that, yes, everything is either furthering God’s plan or hindering it.  But I would also say that it can be hard to differentiate.