1. ROME

2. MAIN THEMES Etruscans- there before Rome was built.
-Ruled the Romans as kings, until the Romans overthrew the kings.
Built around hills.
Formed Republic (democracy)
-2 Consuls, 300 senators,
1 dictator (only if necessary)

3. Problems between social classes, plebeians and patricians
-settled with the Laws of Twelve Tables
Civil war allowed for Julius Caesar to come in and become dictator for life.
-Senators killed him that same year because they did not want to share power with a dictator.
Civil War again…until Augustus.

4. Augustus crowned emperor with blessing of the people.
Expanded empire…allowing conquered people to keep part of their own culture.
Bad emperors: Nero, Caligula, and Commodus
5 good emperors in a row
-Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius

5. Colosseum- where gladiator matches were held.
Aqueducts- one of the first types of plumbing in the ancient world. Made Rome flourish (grow larger)
Religion- Polytheism, Jupiter head god. “Borrowed” gods/goddesses from Greece.

6. Christianity Christianity starts in Roman Empire
Believed Jesus was the Messiah
Paul (or Saul) most devoted follower…spread the message of Christianity to many areas.

7. Emperors in Rome afraid of religion…Nero, after a fire he blamed on the Christians, had them rounded up.
Jesus and his disciples brought the idea of monotheism to Rome.

8. FALL OF ROME Roman emperor Constantine encouraged Christianity. BUT…
Bad/Greedy emperors…
Money problems…
Too much land for 1 person to rule…
Invasions…
ROME FALLS

9. Mayans MAIN THEMES AD 200-900. Most know for being farmers:
Slash and Burn method
Maize important crop
Polytheistic
Had there version of hieroglyphic writing
Mayan Civilization declined because of overuse of natural resources

10. Aztecs MAIN THEMES 1100’s- 1500’s Polytheistic
Achievements: had schools (and university), calendar, hieroglyphics,
Crops grown by bringing water to them (irrigation ditches)
Empire ended when Spanish came.

11. Incas MAIN THEMES From about 1200’s-1500’s.
Lived in high plateaus in the Andes Mountains.
Capital City- Cuzco- center of government and religion.
Polytheistic religion
Achievements: paved roads, stone cut walls, Terraces (steplike ledges cut into mountians), aqueducts
Fell to Spanish

12. Ethiopia Northeast Africa and southern Arabia.
Aksum (city) is the center of trade
Merchants and traders brought goods and ideas (Christianity).
King Ezana, after learning this religion, made the official religion Christianity
Conquered by the Muslims ended the trade