Notes

The Theories of History

Linear history- the timeline works as a ray.

Cyclic history- if you are born, and you die, in linear history, birth comes first. In cyclic history, you are born and you die, and you are born, so you cannot tell which is first, it is a circle, you are born again and again.

Hagelian theory of history

Thesis + Antithesis = Synthesis.

Event 1. John, strongest kid in class doesn't tie his shoes.  +  Event 2. John picks on group of kids, bullying them.

Event 3. John chases the kids, but slips out of his shoe.

Event 1. John sprains his ankle.  +  Event 2. John gets jumped on the way home.

Event 3. John gets a black eye.

Event 1. John comes into school with a black eye.  +  the kids in John's class find out who gave him a black eye.

Event 3. John is no longer the toughest kid in school.

Vortex/Vortextual  theory of history- 

Yeats:  Events go big, and then get small. This happens over and over again. ex: the Roman empire-BIG and then the Dark Ages-small the Renaissance-BIG

 The Neolithic Period 

Neolithic  period

The dog was domesticated originally to be eaten. 

The city of Jericho was, to the best of our knowledge, the first city to ever be developed.

Whenever you look at cities that have been around for a long time…New York, Boston, Baltimore, the Roman Empire, all of them were based on waterways. You will never see an older city that is not on a waterway.

In hunter-gatherer society, the fastest, strongest person will ultimately get the food. In a farming, city community, you breed and domesticate the animals so as to have more. People can trade with a hunter if they cannot afford an animal on their own.

People not only start to trade, but they start to specialize…i.e. best hunter becomes rich and starts a business. Laws and a legal system have to be established.

When people settle down, they start to build temples as a result of their religions. It is organized, and there are set practices and beliefs.

All of these are aspects of culture. l

The Period of Pyramids 

1. Period of Pyramids
1. Neolithic period of Egypt lasted from about 8000 B.C.

2. There were wars between upper and lower egypt, until Narmur Palette came and gained control of both parts. He had total control and power instilled by fear.
3.  Geography

The northern part of Egypt was called "lower Egypt" and the upper part of Egypt was called the upper part of Egypt.

4. In Egyptian statues, you will know that it is real if you can see no real space between the legs. There is just stone there, Egyptians never carved that part out. Romans did, but Egyptians did not.
5. The idea that pyramids were built by slave comes from Archaeologist Mark Lehner. There were work quarters, so just having slvaes was not the whole story. Mortuary cities-cities that's only purpose was to have a tomb for the pharaoh. This was the only reason for Giza to exist.
6. Death is the single most important thing in Egyptian culture.
7. Hieroglyphics were the language that the Egyptians used. They were not pictograms, and they made up an entire grammatical language.
8. Conscription is compulsory enrollment in armed forces.       

The Greeks, Persians, and Athenians 

They said, either you join with us, or we are going to destroy your colonies. (Persians to Greeks).

The Greeks were a proud people, and refused, causing the Persians to destroy their colonies.

The Persians are met by the Greeks on a battlefield, on a pass called Thermopylae. The Greeks were vastly out numbered by the Persians, and had to cut off the pass to keep the Persians from coming through.

The Spartans were a proud people, children were trained to be warriors, they had a very strong military. They were very tough people. Lycurgus was the first of the Spartan leaders to make a system of laws. Lycurgus was a tyrant, but this did not mean he was bad. By the time of the Persian Wars, the Spartans were very powerful.    

Leonidas was the leader who led the Spartans into battle.

Phalanx, which means to go straight at each other, until one side breaks through. The Greeks fought this way.

The Spartan troops meet the entire Persian army, knowing that this is a suicide mission. They are going to hold the Persian army as long as they can, while the Greeks are evacuating Athens. The battle lasts for three days, every  single Spartan there dies, but they bought time, and in this time, Athens was able to evacuate. The Persians burn it to the ground. The Persians try to chase down the Greeks, so they are trapped, and barely get back to Persia, and the Greeks win. This battle is called the battle of Salamis, which happened in 480 B.C

1776, 1492, 480 B.C.                             MOST IMPORTANT DATES!

There is growing resentment from Sparta growing towards Athens. Athens is getting all the glory for the work that Sparta did.

Sparta and Athens  go to war.  This is the first of the Peloponnesian Wars.

The Athenians build two long walls all the way to Piraeus. These were called the Long Walls. Sparta is able to move the Athenians back, and the Athenians move back to their city, and the Spartans have trapped them by staying on the edge of the city. They burn the Athenians' crops.

Then, the plague hits the Athenians. Pericles dies because of this plague. They come to a truce with the Spartans, and the Spartans go home, but the Athenians have suffered great losses.

Alcibiades was blamed for serious vandalism. He was framed by enemies that he had in the city of Athens. He is furious, and decides to give up the Athenian strategy, and tells the enemy what the plan is. The Athenians are waited for, and are wiped out. It was the greatest loss in Athenian history.

Alexander the Great 

Alexander the Great was born to Macedon. His father was the king of Macedon. He had been in a lot of wars, and only had one eye. Philip, his father had many enemies, and was assassinated when Alexander was 19. Alex became the king, and had revenge on the assassins. He swore revenge on the Persians, wants to invade Persia, so he does.

He went to Troy, and landed on the shore, takes a spear, and throws it at the seashore. It lands in the sand, and he says: "By this spear, I claim Persia." He explores and ends up in a place called Gordian.

They have a legend in Gordian. There is an ox cart in a field, and it is tied with a Gordian knot. The legend says that if you can untie the knot, you will become the ruler of the world. Alexander hears the story, and decides to go see the knot. It is a very complicated knot, and Alexander goes out to look at it. Alexander looks at it, and says "It does not matter how the knot is undone." He takes his sword and cuts the knot open, and it falls apart.

Alexander decides to head down the coast, battling Persians along the way, but no serious resistance. He gets to Egypt, and is loved by the Egyptians. They hail him as a king. They loved him because he wants to get revenge on Persia, and they hated Persia. He founded a city in Egypt, which is called Alexandria. He decides to go out into the desert for a week. They go to a place called Siwa.

Siwa is an oasis, and is very far away. He goes to find the Oracle. As soon as he gets there, he is greeted by the people in the temple as the Son of the god Amon. This is their most important god. They enjoy themselves, then travel back to Egypt. He is now ready for war.

Persepolis is the capital of the Persian Empire, which was, at this time, the greatest empire of the known world. Alexander decides to invade this empire. He heads into Mesopotamia. He meets the Persians on the battlefield here. In 333 B.C., Alexander met Darius, the king of Persia, on the battlefield.

This is a fantastic battle. Alexander sees that the best warriors that the Persians have are the mercenaries. He sets up part of his cavalry, and rushes his cavalries at the Orientals.

Rome

We still feel the effects of Rome today, in legal system, art, religious, cultural, effects.

Some Trojans escaped the sack of the city, and they were led by Aeneus. Aeneas and the Trojans traveled and landed at Carthage. Aeneus falls in love with Dido, but he is told that his future is not with her, it is in Italy.

In ancient times, most of Italy was inhabited by Greeks.

When Aeneus lands, he meets the Latin people. When he lands, there is a great war between the Trojans and the people who already live there. Aeneus's son Ascanius, also known as Illus. Illus becomes king, and sets up the capital at a place  called Alba Longa.

Romulus and Reamus grow up, and there is a lot of animosity against them. They declare war on each other, Romulus wins, Reamus is dead, and Romulus founds a city, Roma.

Rome lies upon a river, the river Tiber.

Rome is built on seven large hills. It was founded in 753 B.C. it was just a village when it started.

There were two social statuses in Rome, the Patricians, and the rest of the people were the Plebians. The Patricians had more power than the Plebians. The Patricians are making all of the laws, and everybody else has to follow them. This is what as known as the struggle of the orders.

Rome becomes the first city to have one million inhabitants.

Rome sends their armies north to conquer that area. They are successful. They set up a governor in the new village, the station a Vitalian in the new village, and the people have to pay taxes to Rome and follow several Roman rules, but basically the village can do what they want to. Some of the generals in Greece are questioning who the Romans are, and they set up a fleet ready to go and see what the fuss is about the Romans.
King Pyrrhus of Epirus decided to take on the Romans. So. He invades Rome, and wins almost every battle. But, he does so at such a cost, that he cannot continue a fight. So, Rome is able to fend off its first attacker.

There were never good relations between Carthage and the Romans. The Punic war is the first war between Carthage and Rome. There are three Punic wars. These wars define Roman dominance in the Mediterranean. 264 B.C.-146 B.C.

Important Events in Rome:

1. Aeneus/ Trojans defeat Latium
2. Alba Longa
3. Romulus and Reamus/ Founding on Rome in 753 B.C.

4. Expulsion of the Etruscan Kings/ Establishment of the Roman Republic 6ht century.

Tarquin the Proud

Tarquin the Sixth raped the wife of a Roman Patrician, who was named Lucretia. Lucretia kills herself, and the Romans rise up to the Etruscan kings. They are led by Lucius Junius Brutus.  He founds the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was founded in 509 B.C.

5. Struggle of the Orders/ Tribune of the Plebs
6. Roman Expansion/ Pyrrus
7. 1st Punic War- Rome gets more Power, but no problems between Carthage and Rome are resolved. There is another war.
8. The 2nd Punic War-

Hannibal- Carthaginian general who took war elephants across the Alps.

Hannibal won the first battle, Canine, by using the war elephants. However, he lost the battle of Zama, because the elephants were frightened by horns that the Romans blew. The elephants turned back, and the Romans trapped the remaining ones. Then, the Romans sent their cavalry, and defeated the Carthaginians. 

The Gracchus brothers argued that it was unfair that so many of the Plebians had families in the military, but the Patricians were the ones who benefitted. A battle comes up in the Senate, and both of the Gracchus brothers are assassinated, in two different events in the Senate. These are the first political assassinations in the city of Rome.

Marius and Sulla were two Roman leaders, and both of them had won great battles for Rome and had led to the great expansion of Rome. The butt heads a lot. Marius is involved in what is called the social war. What happens in this war is that the problem between the Plebians and the Patricians, Marius and Sulla are sent to put down these problems. The social war takes place at the beginning of the first century. We see a great buildup of troops loyal to specific generals. This sets a very dangerous precedent. The first civil war is basically between Sulla's army and Marius's army. Sulla threatens to march on the city of Rome itself. Marius is going to defend Rome, and Sulla is going to march on it. Sulla wins, and Marius has to flee Rome.

Caesar and other leaders look back at these things, and things happening early on become precedents. Julius Caesar is the dominant precedent of the first century. He was born on 100 B.C. He lives until 44 B.C. Caesar is from a family called the Julii. They are a Patrician family, who had a glorious past. Caesar decodes to relive the glory of his family. He runs for the Senate. The consuls of Rome are the equivalent of the prime minister. It was considered a great honor to be a consul. The Romance languages evolved from Roman provinces. The only part of the Mediterranean that is not part of the Roman empire is Egypt. Caesar decides to become popular with the people, and goes out into Suburra and meets people, and shakes hands, becoming very popular between the Roman people. We see the rise of two political parties here: the Optimares, and the Populares.  The Optimares gain their power from other Patricians, and the Populares gain their power from the people. Caesar, part of the Populares, wins. This upsets members of the Optimares.

Caesar is sent to Gaul, which is the middle of nowhere. Caesar goes there willingly. The Celtic tribes occupy all the territory that is not Roman. Romans think of them as barbarians. They were, in actuality, were a warrior tribe, very advanced in their society.

Asterix and Obelix are Gaelic tribesmen who live in a village in northern Gaul, and it is the last village to survive Roman occupancy. (As the story says.)

Caesar says "if I am going to go to Gaul, then I might as well do what I can to make a name for myself." Caesar sets up to conquer all of Gaul. He does, in fact, conquer a huge area, stretching all the way past the English channel, into a place known at that time as Britannica.

Back in Rome, the Senators are getting nervous, because Caesar is writing commentaries about what he is doing, and sending them back to Roman people. The people think this is fantastic, but the Senators are nervous. The Roman Senate passes a common condemnation of Caesar, saying that his battles were illegal, because they were done without the permission of the Roman Senate. Caesar is brought back to be tried. He is faced with a decision: either he faces the trial alone, where he has no chance, or he can bring his army, and start a civil war.

Caesar decides to start a civil war. He famously crosses the Rubicon, and says in Latin "The die has been cast." he marches he army across the Rubicon. The Senate freaks out, and they evacuate the city.

Pompey becomes the hero of the Senate, and the civil war breaks out, one side led by Pompey, the other led by Caesar. Caesar respected Pompey very much. Pompey had made his name for clearing the Mediterranean of pirates. Caesar's troops are known for their quickness. They fight throughout the Mediterranean, and the final battle occurs in the Pharsalus. It is the decisive battle of the Civil war, and Caesar's right hand man is instrumental in winning this battle. Marc Antony is a man's man, and an excellent general. He helps Caesar win this battle in fine form. 

Caesar shows up in Egypt, he is presented with Pompey's head. Caesar is horrified, saying it is a sign of disrespect of a Roman general. Caesar goes on to create an alliance with Egypt. He has an affair with Cleopatra. Now Egypt is allied with Caesar. He is greeted as a hero by the people, and is named dictator for life. His power grows more and more, and the Senators get very nervous about him Brutus and some other conspirators plan to assassinate Caesar.

Octavian is adopted by Caesar. When Caesar is assassinated, Octavian swears revenge. Octavian and Antony form an alliance with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, in something called the triumvirate. 

They split up Rome among themselves. Lepidus goes out of the picture, and Antony and Octavian fight a power struggle. Antony has Cleopatra as an alliance, and together they go  to war with Octavian. There is a big sea war, at a place called Actium. Octavian and his right hand man defeat the naval forces of Antony and Cleopatra. Antony committed suicide, and Cleopatra went back to Egypt and committed suicide.
Octavian becomes the sol power in Rome. He is honored by the Senate, who declares him as Augustus. Octavian becomes the first emperor of Rome. The Republic is essentially over. Everything is replaced by a permanent dictatorship. Augustus is the first of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The area where Augustus reigns is called the Pax Augusti. He dies at about 70 years old, and his heirs are not very great.

Augustus himself never treated the Roman senators like they were less than him, but he felt that he was higher. The entire Julio-Claudian dynasty abused power.  There is a statue of Augustus that depicts him as a god.

Tiberius was a good ruler, he kept the peace, but he was cruel. Caligula was insane, he had incest with his sister, had people murdered before him for fun, and tried to have his horse named a senator. He was assassinated. Claudius was a pretty good ruler. Nero was insane too, he burned down a large portion of the city, and had a large golden statue of himself created. Then, he was forced to commit suicide. He was very full of himself. Nero was the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and a few people struggle to take over.

The Romans were very tolerant of different religions, but the Christians soon have problems.

Titus is another ruler. He does two things: completes the Vespasian amphitheater, and builds the arch of Titus. On the inside of the arch of Titus, it shows a scene where the Roman soldiers are carrying a menorah and attacking Jerusalem. Titus has his men attack and destroy the Temple Mount of Jerusalem. After the Jews left, the Arabs came in and built a mosque overtop of the Jewish foundation. It becomes a holy place.

After Titus dies, Domitian replaces him. Dominion is a tough guy, and he builds some public works like a bath complex. He is assassinated, and is replaced by Nerva 96-98, Trajan 98-117, Hadrian 117-138,  Antonius Pius 138-161, and Marcus Aurelius 161-175.

Nerva starts the practice of choosing who his heir is going to be. He chooses Trajan, who is one of the military geniuses of Rome. He creates Trajans column. After Trajan, there is Hadrian. Hadrian is a philosopher, an architect, a world traveler, and the first Roman emperor to be from Spain, not Italy.