Week 7 - February 21-23
The World of the Romans

Roman forum

The Roman forum
Roman colosseum  

The Roman colosseum


Read:
  • Duiker/Spielvogel: pp. 89-113.
  • Diamond: pp. 195-238.
Written Assignment 7: Due on email by Sunday, 6 pm, February 19.  In a few paragraphs - though this one may take more than the earlier ones - answer the following question.
  1.       In what ways were the Roman Empire and the Chinese Han Empire similar, and in what ways were they different?
Up to now, I have asked you to compare a variety of subjects - creation stories, and implied comparisons when you have been asked to write about influences of geography, etc.  In this assignment, the comparison should be clearer and more organized.  You should consider forms of government, size of the state, dates of establishment and longevity, economic systems, society and class, intellectual life, religion, etc.  Obviously you do not have sufficient information to "write a book" on this subject!  But do the best you can.  We will spend some time in class this week discussing this question.

Primary Source Questions for Week 7
Jennifer Carr also sent in this website.
Roman Maps
Digest of the Roman World
Etruscan Writing
Roman Law
Roman Technology
Some Roman Sites