Type of unit needed:




A Roman Military camp was a very complicated and well built organization. The emperors throughout the years had created soldiers for almost any given situation. They had many soldiers for battle as well as many to do things around the camp. Shockingly, there was one unit that was needed and wasn’t included. A unit that would have been advantageous in Roman times and throughout their reign in the Roman regions, is a spy unit. A spy would have changed history if Romans had them. Before I go any further, there was a type of spy where there were citizens who would listen in and find out information about other nations, but they weren't actual Roman soldiers. These were people who just wanted to serve their country. Romans had almost every element that was needed in their camps including medics and trumpeters. A type of spy unit could have helped the Romans gain a stronger offensive battle plan. Spies would have been able to tell weak spots of camps and could have relayed this info back to the Romans giving them the necessary knowledge of how and where to invade. Spies would have been able to know when people were going to invade and also know the weaknesses of other nations. Knowing when their enemies were going to attack would have allowed them to be on the upper hand when it came time for them to strike. However, having spies also would have applied a risk for Rome. If a spy was captured or discovered they could be tortured and give out information. Also, it could give the other nations the idea of having spies. These spies could then infiltrate Rome and in turn give the other nations an advantage allowing them to take over easily. There would be a lot of equipment that this soldier would need. They would need to have hidden weapons to defend themselves if something went wrong while they were on a job. A spy might also want something to hide their identity like a cover for their face. Being a spy would be a hard job for any soldier. Being a spy takes a lot of skill. A spy has to be very convincing and would have to be able to get information without putting themselves or their nation in danger. We today don't know what could’ve or would’ve happened to the Romans without having technology that is out of our current knowledge. For all we know, a spy unit could have changed Roman history drastically both for the good and the bad.

The Armies of Agricola

My project detailed a story from the perspective of one of Agricola's soldiers or officers. It centered on the general's invasion of Britain during C.E. 78-84. Before my narrative took place, Agricola had been a strong supporter of the emperor Vespasian when he fought to take control of Rome. Following the principle of "quid pro quo," or giving "something for something," Vespasian rewarded Agricola with command of a legion in 69 C.E.

If there was one thing Agricola disliked, it was disorder. He was the guy who actually followed the pool rules. Soon upon arriving in Britain and securing a position of power, the general struck against rebels. Ironically, the legion Agricola commanded had been used by the previous commander to rebel against the ineffective governor. Nevertheless, Agricola quickly achieved control. I used those rather interesting circumstances to begin painting a picture of the general. He was able to take take a bizarre, chaotic situation and add Roman ideas of logic and order. In the process, I extrapolated that the native cultures probably wouldn't have been very significant to a person so confident in his civilization.

Commanding a legion was a vast responsibility. As Agricola must have known, armies were made and broken by strong leaders (Dando-Collins). For instance, a weak leader caused the Twelfth Legion Fulminata to lose their eagle standard, while strong leadership caused a legion to rescue Marcus Aurelius from far superior numbers of Germanic tribes. But no one ever doubted that Agricola was strong.

Later in my narrative, I skip forward a few years to when Agricola used his armies to destroy the Ordovices. They were an ancient tribe, having stood against Nero and lived, carrying strength. Unfortunately, the Ordovices were not content with Roman rule, so Agricola virtually obliterated them on the battlefield. To the general, rebellion was a disease that had to be treated with the utmost severity.

Caledonians vs. Romans

After putting down that rebellion, Agricola faced the Caledonians, a far greater threat. Their forces were much larger than Agricola's. They knew the land. They were fighting for home and country. In the end, though, they didn't stand a chance. Roman tactical abilities, augmented by Agricola's undoubtable expertise, and carefully positioned armies led to a total rout. No one could have argued that a few hundred casualties suffered compared to the Caledonians' tens of thousands was anything but a success. And yet, Domitian recalled Agricola soon after, at the height of his glory. Why? I asked myself. What could prompt an emperor to lose one of his most valuable clients? The answer may have been the Roman way of ambition and betrayal.

The narrator of my project was an officer close to Agricola. But every Roman had the emperor as the ultimate patron. One possible explanation of Agricola's removal, supported by Tacitus, was that someone realized how powerful Agricola was growing. Popular among soldiers, experienced with governing, and able to gain power and manipulate a political situation deftly, Agricola could have been a legitimate threat. The narrator of my story related that information to Domitian in the hopes of a reward.

Whether Agricola was truly a threat to the emperor, or the general was recalled for sinister reasons, or betrayal and greed played a part in his campaigns has been lost to history. All we can do is wonder.

Dando-Collins, Stephen. Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Roman Legion. St.
    Martin's Press, New York, New York. 2010.
Johnson, Ben. "The Romans In Scotland." Historic UK. Web.
"Julius Agricola." Biography on Undiscovered Scotland. Web.
Tacitus. De vita Julii Agricolae. Rome. 98.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Gnaeus Julius Agricola."
    Encyclopædia Britannica. Web.

Curse Tablets

Curse Tablets are a very serious offense. Let's be honest anytime you wish someone would die you obviously are a little crazy. Crazy enough to then write it down and show people. If someone were to do that today it would be a serious offense.  However back in the time of the Romans it was not a serious offense. It was much more common and accepted. People would curse events and other citizens. They would inscribe different curses on a tablet with a plea to gods that would help their dream come true.
Curse Tablets were made of lead and would then be inscribed with a saying. You can the attempt my group made to replicate this delicate process. My group chose to stay away with cursing an individual we cursed our midterms with bad weather. Take a look.

Unlike other Latin literature which was mostly written by groups curse tablets are written by slaves, women voices anything you name it.  No matter where you were in the social ladder you could create a curse tablet. Most of the curse tablets that have been found have been found throughout England in cities like Bath and London. You can read about a recently found Curse Tablet HERE.  They are very interesting pieces of history considering how many people actually made them. You have to take into account how many people actually wanted others to be physically harmed and the aggressors would even go to the extreme limits to achieve their goal.

We don't see Curse Tablets today. For the most part people wont go around appealing to the gods that another person would get hurt. Maybe today the closest we get in my opinion is libel although its not a physical offense it publicly attacks someone.

For more on curse tablets look HERE












"Curse Tablet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
"Curse Tablets from Roman Britain: Cursing for Beginners." Curse Tablets from Roman Britain: Cursing for Beginners. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
"Roman "Curse Tablet" Discovered in England." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.

Influence of a Region of World on Weaponry

Influence Of Region of World on Weaponry-Joe Murray & Max Moss



Weaponry vs. Region of World, How Ancient Roman Weaponry Supports That


Throughout time there are many civilizations that come to power. These world powers dominate there territory of living throughout the course of mankind by building an amzing millitary. Almost all of the millitaries that exist have certainly been unique and individual. Each millitary has some sort of aspect that sets them apart from the other failed nations. This uniqueness in particular is very specific to the region and climate of which their territory is located. Many millitaries have adapted and developed their own strategy in order to survive and dominate in their respective time periods. For instance, the Russian army will have much different weaponry and armour than and African country or a tribe in South America.






My partner, Joe Murray and I, researched the affect that each region of the world has on a specific armies weaponry and armour, and how Ancient Romans connect to this based on their region. We not only researched Ancient Roman weaponry and that specific time period, but other militaries and empires that were dominent throughout the history of time that were in various regions of the world.









Soviet Union (1939-1945)


The Soviet Union of Russia was a prime example of a dominating millitary that adapted to its conditions. During World War II this Russian empire became one of the most distinct millitaries of the modern day. The first issue that had to be delt with was the weather. This was most prominent influence on The Soviet Unions Weaponry and Equipment. Russia is certainly no carribean vacation spot. The winters are deathly cold with tempertures as low as nearly -30 degrees celcius! These temperatures were also their biggest advantage during the war. Not only was their weaponry and equipment revolving around the weather but, Their opponets had never faced anything like this weather before. While fighting against Finland in 1939-1940 in their home territory, The Soviets were disguised in all white winter suits and painted their tanks white to disguise themselves in the snow. Not only did they use the weather for disguise, they also used skiing as a sufficient way of transport. The weather also benefited tank warfare because it is easier for tanks to travel on snow. The Soviet Union clearly took advantage of their surrounding and modeled their weaponry, armour, and strategy around it.













Native Americans (1622-1700)






The Native American type of warfare is second to none when it comes to originality and making the best of their environment around them. The equipment and weaponry used by the Indians was widely influenced by their surroundings and weather conditions. During the early 1600’s Native Americans were faced with a new species of human on their turf and these humans had much more advanced weaponry. The only way to survive was through out smarting the enemy by using a type of warfare that was aided by their surroundings. This warfare was none other than guerilla warfare. The main strategy of the Indians was short and quick attacks on their enemies and to keep moving while fighting on their own terms. The Native American technology during the time was far behind the rest of the world. With rifles being as foreign as the people of Jamestown, the Indians surely had to improvise by using what they had around them. The main weapon that most indians would use is the classic bow and arrow. This was great for the battle field because of its stealth yet lethal ways of attacking. The Native Americans were also able to hand craft most of their weaponry by using the wood from trees around them to make their arrows and bows. Native Americans would also use spears which were also hand crafted from their surroundings.









Ancient Romans (27 BC-476 AD)


The Ancient Romans were influenced by the climate aroudn them as well. In particular, the warmer climate. This climate caused the armour that they wore to only cover the most essential parts of the body. This includes the Chest, Shoulders, the crotch area yet often the legs were left unguarded. This type of Armour led to maximum mobility for the Roman soldiers. They would only wear sandals which although did not provide much protection but allowed the body to stay at a reasonable temperture in the scalding heat. If too much Armour was worn during the "heat" of the battle, the soldier would pass out of dehydration as it was just too hot to be wearing an immense amount of protection. This also called for the soldiers to have fewer weapons than usual soldiers. Many soldiers fought with a "pugio." This was a small dagger which was built for mobility and quickness. The Romans also had a fair amount of darts that were attached to their shields. The most important technological advance of the Roman army was the "Lorica Hamata." This was essentially interlocked metal rings that provided chain armour and was very light and effective. It is clearly evident that Roman armour and weaponry was directly affected by the temperture of the region around them.









Conclusion






To conclude this presentation, ancient weaponry essentially would depend on the weather, technology, and the area in which the civilization lived in. For example, The russians had to mostly adapt to the climate around them but this would also aid them cause no one could wage war in their territory. Native Americans were able to survive amongst the British because of their use of the area around them and using different techniques that were enhanced by the terrain around them. With the Romans they were influenced by the hotter climate which called for lighter weight equipment and a good amount of skin showing so they would not overheat. As one can see, organized militaries throughout humanity have been directly influenced by their region in the world and the Romans appropriately speak to that point.






Bibliography






"American-Indian Wars." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.






Glanz, David (1998). Stumbling Colossus: The Red Army on the Eve of World War. University Press of


Kansas






"Roman Military Equipment." Roman Military Equipment. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

Three Religions

Three Religions


As I've studied the differences between different religions of ancient societies briefly, I've come to discover overarching trends that seem to connect humanity as a whole, leading me to believe that humans will almost always come to the same conclusions. One of the first patterns I began to notice was in how gods were worshipped, the way they would praise them or pay them back for protecting and providing for them. While sacrifice was common, it varied in form. Romans would sacrifice animals and Aztecs would sacrifice people, and yet that was considered an honor among them. On a lighter end of the spectrum, Shinto sacrifice was much more docile, with offerings of rice, saki, and other crops they would grow in order to appease the kami, or spirits. In addition to these, they fervently worshipped certain gods who were thought to bring life, and in different religions they were different gods, however a common trend is worship of a chief sun god. This differs in the Roman and Greek pantheons, as they worship a god of storms, which could just as well bring life through rains. Below is an example text of a fictional 'immortal traveler's journal' that shows more clearly a comparison between the three major religions mentioned above.






Fictional Journal: Immortal Traveler






"Rome;


I have been living in a small wooden apartment deep in the city for a few weeks now. The light seeps in through cracks in the walls like it would a forest, light streaming through the trees, not so nice when it rains though. The people next door are nice enough, they showed me around the neighborhood, gave me food for a night. I was more interested in the temple of Jupiter, however. I go by every day and see people sacrificing animals at the foot of a large statue, tearing out the innards and studying them. Upon closer inspection and further research it seems they seek to see the future using certain organs, and sacrifice the rest to their gods in a pyre. An interesting practice indeed, I intend to study these people further.






Ise;


The architecture of the people here in the nation of Japan are far different than anything I have ever seen, and the religion even more diversified from many other cultures I’ve seen. As compared to the Romans who, sadly, fell a century or so ago, the god they worship as the leader of their kami, their name for gods, is a god of the sun, her name is Amaterasu-ōmikam. When I visited the shrine to this kami, I found many different offerings left, though I must say they were much less visceral than several others that I’ve seen. It was mostly rice from the first harvest, a unique wine called saki, and small amulets, all left for the kami to eat and wear, and to ward off other spirits, rather than to appease their wrath. These gods seem to be slightly more peaceful than some others I have seen.






Tenochtitlan;













I am one of the first to reach this ‘New World’, and I can only hope others won’t arrive for some time. I fear the violent nature of these Aztecs would clash with the violent nature of Europeans, but who is to say. Even the gods of these warriors are violent, hungering all the time. Their pantheon is led by a god of the sun, Huitzilopochtli, also their war god. It is said that they must always sacrifice, perhaps the darkest of the ones I’ve encountered, human hearts, taken from the warriors of the tribes that they’ve conquered. After all these years of travel and study, I can finally see human nature more clearly, the nature of the world in fact. We cling to what provides life, what is the epicenter of that life as well, and we make them gods. And these gods, we sacrifice to them, either to stay their wrath or to ask them to provide us with protection, or sustenance. This is human nature, to cling onto life whatever the cost, even if it means sacrificing things dear to us. "












Roman Practices: (pg. 57)


Aztec Practices: http://www.aztec-history.com/ancient-aztec-religion.html http://www.ancient.eu/Aztec_Sacrifice


Shinto Practices: http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/category.php?categoryID=16


http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm

Cursed Tablets

Cursed tablets were used in the Roman Times to curse something they disliked. In their age they would usually curse someone they didn't like. They usually not only cursed the person but went into excruciating detail as to what they wanted to happen to them. Nowadays openly cursing someone is less common. Yes, sometimes people will passively curse someone, but they never pray to Gods death or illness upon them. These "spells" that they cast they believe will make the Gods favor them and curse their enemy.

Roman Military Strategies

The Romans were the strongest military force on the face of the earth from its rise and fall from power. It had advances in its recruitment system, weaponry, and its greatest advance is its strategy. Romans had some of the greatest militarily strategic minds in the whole world during the empires glory. They came up with many strategies to render an enemies forces helpless. They had strategies to take out the defensive units of an army and stir chaos on the battlefield. If their forces were weaker than another army, then they use the terrain to their advantage. They had many maneuvers to take on any threats to the nation.

Type of unit needed:

A Roman MIlitary camp was a very complicated and well built organization. The emperors throughout the years had created soldiers for almost any given situation. They had many soldiers for battle as well as many to do things around the camp. Shockingly there was one unit that was needed and wasn’t included. A unit that is needed in roman times throughout the region is a spy. A spy would have changed history if romans had them. Before I go any further, there was a type of spy where there were citizens who would listen in and find out information about other nations, but they weren't actual Roman soldiers. These were people who just wanted to serve their country. Romans had almost every element that was needed in their camps including medics and trumpeters. A type of spy unit could have helped the romans gain a stronger offensive battle plan. Spies would have been able to tell weak spots of camps and could relay this info back to the Romans giving them the necessary knowledge of how and where to invade. Spies would have been able to know when people were going to invade and also know the weaknesses of other nations. Knowing when their enemies are going to attack will allow them to be on the upper hand when it comes time for them to strike. However having spies also applies a risk for Rome. If a spy was captured or discovered they could be tortured and give out information. Also it could also give the other nations the idea of having spies. There would be a lot of equipment that this soldier would need. They would need to have hidden weapons to defend themselves if something went wrong while they were on a job. A spy might also want something to hide their identity like a cover for their face. A spy would be a hard unit type for the soldier. Being a spy takes a lot of skill. A spy has to be very convincing and would have to be able to get information without putting themselves or their nation in danger. These spies could then infiltrate Rome and in turn give the other nations an advantage allowing them to take over easily. We today don't know what could’ve or would’ve happened to the Romans without having technology that is out of our current knowledge. For all we know a spy unit could have changed Roman history drastically both for the good and the bad.

The Planets, Stars, and Rome

From the beginning of the world to it’s end the stars have hung in the sky lighting both night and day. It’s origin speculated, Astrology has been passed through hundreds of cultures. The idea of Astrology was introduced to the Romans through conquest. 

      From Egypt to Asia to Rome, the ideas of Astrology took a heavy root in all cultures across the world. The Romans didn't accept astrology at first, thinking it would take away from the gods. They went so far as to ban it and arrest anyone who studied it. They didn't have control over this type of idea. As a result the roman aristocracy kicked out any astrologers. Even though they were kicked out many astrologers snuck back into Rome and, as time went on, astrology rooted into itself in the culture. using the previous knowledge of astrology while adding the famous Roman twist, they used ideas from Greeks and their own culture to predict the future through the stars. Using the positions, angles, and houses of planets and stars people like the Romans could predict births, deaths, and other significant events. Many Military leaders funded astrologers and soothsayers to keep their positions. Many of the roman emperors such as Tiberius, Augustus, and others were interested in the tabooed astrology. As time passed Rome accepted the ideas of astrology, even they limited the use. Even as they tried to limit it soon Astrology was thought to serve as dialogue to the Divine.

      This type of divination continued throughout thousands of years and is even used today. While we don’t take it as seriously as they might have, but most newspapers and some websites have horoscopes for the twelve signs. This proves that Astrology has a permanent place in our history and our future. You don’t need an astrologist to know that.

Find Your Astrological Sign

Work Cited
"Astrology in Ancient Rome." Astrology in Ancient Rome. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.
"Greece and Rome." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.
"Tour Egypt :: Pharaoh." Pharaoh's Signs of the Zodiac. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.
"Ancient Astrology - Roman Contribution, Roman Contribution to Astrology, Roman Astrological System." Ancient Astrology - Roman Contribution, Roman Contribution to Astrology, Roman Astrological System. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.
Project, North American Cambridge Classics. "Haruspex." Cambridge Latin Course Unit 3: North America Student's Book. S.l.: Cambridge Univ, 2004. N. pag. Print.

Defixio- Part 2

When I think of Curses I think about Louisiana style voodoo, however this has not always been the case in history. The main area that I will be focusing on in regards to curses is Roman Era curses. These were called Defixio in Latin and were widely used throughout their empire. Defixio when broken down, has the word “fix” in it, which essentially means the curse “fixes” the one it was written to. Typically the curse was written on a stone tablet, however this was not always the case as there have been curse tablets found that were engraved in lead sheets or even in the sides of buildings (talk about vandalism).

Roman Swords

The Roman gladius was mostly a stabbing weapon, unlike the slicing single edged katana of Japan and hacking broadsword of Great Britain. The double sided spatha was a longer sword that was used in a cutting motion (Southern). (This is not the same as the katana’s slicing.) The spatha was the longer sword, on average a foot longer than the gladius. Worldwide, the double sided gladius can be classified as a stabbing weapon, where strength and opportunity was more important than mobility and technique. The spatha was used more for ranged attacks. The cuts with this double sided weapon were meant to aim at the organs of the gut or any other exposed area. The Roman weapons were designed for maximum damage in a single strike, not precision. Similar to this was the double sided British broadsword, also called a Claymore in Scotland and sometimes Ireland, was a designed to combat the heavy armor of the era (Sword). The broadsword was between the length of the gladius and spatha. The Japanese katana was a slicing weapon designed to make the most contact possible while also optimizing mobility and formality.

Structure of the Imperial Roman Army

"The greatest military machine in the history of the universe."

"What is? The daleks?"

"No, no no no no no. The Romans!"

-The Doctor and Amy Pond, ¨The Pandorica Opens,¨ Doctor Who


     For this project, I researched the structure of the jobs in a Roman legion. My product can be found here. As well as the legions, which were composed of Roman citizens, the Roman army included auxiliary troops from the empire's various territories. A legion was structured into ten cohorts, each of which consisted of five or six centuries. A century contained either 80 or 160 men. The commanding officer of a century was known as a centurion. Although life in the army was hard and the death rate was moderately high, there was rarely a shortage of men willing to enlist. The prospect of earning wages was appealing to poor citizens who had grown up on farms that produced only enough to feed one family. Additionally, soldiers who completed their service would receive generous payment in money and land, and there was always a possibility of a promotion, bringing increased money and honor.

Roman Baths in Antarctica

Roman baths were extremely popular during the Roman Empire's reign on Europe and part of Africa. But what would one of those baths look like, if it was built during the modern times in Antarctica?

First off, the baths I created were based off of the one in Aquae Sulis. This was a small town in the Roman province of Britannia. Today the town in known as Bath in Somerset. The town's most famous aspect was its baths which began being built in the AD 60s. ("Aquae Sulis"). "From the thermal spring flowed the sacred water of the Celtic spirit Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva, the goddess of healing" (Watney 13). These baths are dedicated to Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. Roman and Celtic mythology relate to each other, which shows just how close the two groups of people have become. These baths, by a Romano-Celtic collaboration, is just one of many other key additions to the Roman lifestyle. The impact these baths had was so prominent, there is even a resort and spa named after it.

Influence Of Region of World on Weaponry-Joe Murray & Max Moss

Weaponry vs. Region of World, How Ancient Roman Weaponry Supports That






There have been a profuse amount of organized militaries (to say the least) throughout the course of mankind. Nearly all of the militaries that have ever existed have been unique and individual, every single one with a different aspect of their military that sets them apart from others. In particular, it is quite evident that militaries often vary based on the region of the world the they are situated in. For example, a Russian Army will be commanded and have different type of weaponry and armor than an army in an African country, or a South American country.






My partner, Max Moss and I, researched the impact of region of the world versus the weaponry and armor, and how Ancient Romans fit into that statement. Not only did we research Ancient Roman weaponry and that specific time period, but other militaries throughout the history of time that were in various regions of the world.









Soviet Union (1939-1945)






The Soviet Union during World War II had one of the most distinct militaries of modern day. What was the biggest influence on their weaponry and equipment? Weather. The Soviet Union was known to having brutal temperatures and deathly cold winters, specifically speaking, temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius, but they actually used this to their advantage. Not only did the Soviet's prepare for the weather, but capitalized when they gained knowledge that their opponents lacked in preparation. When they fought against Finland from 1939-1940 in home territory, the Soviet's wore all white winter suits and painted their tanks white to disguise themselves in the white of the snow. Not only did they use color and disguise to their benefit, but they additionally used skiing as an efficient way of transportation and utilized tanks more effectively because tanks travel easier on snow. As one can clearly see, the Soviet Union's region of the world entirely influenced their weaponry, armor, and strategy.













Native Americans (1622-1700)






During the early 1600’s Native Americans were faced with a new species of human on their turf and these humans had much more advanced weaponry. The only way to survive was through out smarting the enemy by using a type of warfare that was aided by their surroundings. This warfare was guerilla warfare. The main strategy of the Indians was short and quick attacks on their enemies and to keep moving while fighting. The Native American technology during the time was far behind the rest of the world. With rifles being as foreign as the people of Jamestown, the Indians surely had to improvise by using what they had around them. The main weapon that most indians would use is the classic bow and arrow. This was great for the battle field because of its stealth yet lethal ways of attacking. The Native Americans were also able to hand craft most of their weaponry by using the wood from trees around them to make their arrows and bows. Native Americans would also use spears which were also hand crafted from their surroundings.









Ancient Romans (27 BC-476 AD)






Ancient Romans were primarily influenced by the hot climates. They wore light armor that did not fully cover their body. They focused on the chest, shoulders, and crotchal area, while the legs went often unprotected. They walked in sandals, which did not provide much protection, although were beneficial in preserving a healthy body temperature. One must remember that the armor and weaponry had to be limited to ensure the individual could efficiently fight. With that being said, they travelled light in terms of weaponry as well. For example, many infantry soldiers fought with small daggers called a “pugio.” It was light and used not only for fighting but also for surviving in nature as well. Romans also efficiently used space by carrying “darts” on the back of their shields, which had an effective range of 30 feet to harm and physically disrupt opponents. One of the best technological advances in Ancient Roman weaponry that was effective both in terms of temperature and combat was the, “Lorica hamata,” which were essentially interlocked metal rings that served as light body armor, often associated with the middle ages but used in Ancient Rome as well. As evident, Roman weaponry and armor was directly influenced by the region of the world they were in and the temperatures they endured during battle.









Conclusion






To conclude this presentation, ancient weaponry essentially would depend on the weather, technology, and the area in which the civilization lived in. For example, The russians had to mostly adapt to the climate around them but this would also aid them cause no one could wage war in their territory. Native Americans were able to survive amongst the British because of their use of the area around them and using different techniques that were enhanced by the terrain around them. With the Romans they were influenced by the hotter climate which called for lighter weight equipment and a good amount of skin showing so they would not overheat. As one can see, organized militaries throughout humanity have been directly influenced by their region in the world and the Romans appropriately speak to that point.







Bibliography






"American-Indian Wars." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.






Glanz, David (1998). Stumbling Colossus: The Red Army on the Eve of World War. University Press of


Kansas






"Roman Military Equipment." Roman Military Equipment. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

Curse Tablets

In today's world, we expect people to speak their mind if they are feeling aggravated or annoyed. We expect them to talk to others and find healthy ways to move past difficult times. This can not be said for the people of ancient Rome and ancient Greece. During those days people would write curse tablets.  The main purpose for these tablets was for humans to send their wishes to the spirits and Gods for them to work on their behalf, to do them a favor by bestowing illness on their hated ones. This magic was used every day and by almost everyone. These curse tablets were used to put "spells" on others. These "spells" could consist of wishing illness upon others as well as death. Curse tablets can be dated back to 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. 

This one seen above would be your typical curse tablet.

Usually the curse tablets were made of lead and the people who wanted to use them would inscribe their wishes upon the lead. Then after doing that they would travel to the baths and toss them in and pray to the Gods for their help and support. For example, in 1979, curse tablets were found at Aquae Sulis, better known now as Bath, England.

It is clear that times have changed since ancient Roman times but have they really? Even though people today may not write on curse tablets, they still from time to time wish they could bestow evil on the ones they dislike. So, with that being said, people today can not look at these curse tablets and think "How could they do such a thing?" we are all victims. Just as most people do this today, 1,000s of people did the same thing years ago. It was been recorded that over 1,600s curse tablets were found all over Europe. You can check it out for yourself here. Some tablets were more extravagant than others. Some tablets go into more detail about the evil they wish upon others and other tablets had more details on the tablets themselves. Some of the more elaborate tablets would specifically curse people who took part in theater, legal professions, lovers, and more (Project MUSE). 

Above you will see a modern curse tablet made by three juniors at East Greenwich High School. The translation comes out to be "We call upon the devil, whoever you are and wherever you lay to curse our mid-term. We ask for floods and snow storms to make the attendance of this dreaded exam impossible."

Thank you. 

Works Cited

"Aquae Sulis." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

Bradley, Colleen M. Romano-British Curse Tablets: The Religious and Spiritual Romanization of Ancient Britain. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

"Curse Tablet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

Gager, John G. Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World. New York: Oxford UP, 1992. Print.

The Roman Forum

Temple of Concord

What would Rome be like today if the Roman empire had not fallen? Would it be a bustling city as it was during the peak of the Empire years ago? Would the technological advances they would have made propelled society further than we could ever imagine? We will never know due to the course that history took, but we can imagine.

I believe that if the Roman empire had not fallen and had developed with the rest of the world, the forum would have become a shopping mall. Ginger and I did some research on the forum and found out much. The forum was very important in the everyday life of Romans. Ginger and I paid close attention to the Forum Romanum, which was the first forum, in the heart of Rome. The forum was home to many temples. These temples included the Temple of Venus and Roma, Temple of Divine Julius, Temple of Romulus and many more. These temples were dedicated to people and gods, and the Romans would pay tribute to the multitude of gods they worshiped here. The forum also held many Basilicas, or halls used to hold court and meeting places for wealthy Romans. The Rostra was a speaker's platform from which speakers addressed crowds. From this platform many of the great and famous speeches in Roman history were delivered.

The product Ginger and I made was us imaging what the forum would look like if the Roman Empire had not fallen. The Romans were very technologically advanced and would have continued advancing into today. We made the forum into a giant shopping mall consisting of all the aspects of the original forum, in addition to some stores that would be in this mall. The forum was already like a giant outlet store with market places and temples and basilicas, but as time progresses we imagine they would add stores since it would be the central aspect of Rome.

Bibliography: 

"Forum Romanum." Forum Romanum. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

"Forum Romanum." , Rome. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

Watkin, David. The Roman Forum. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2009. Print.

Olsen, Madeline. Roman Architecture. Orlando: Harcourt School, 2006. Print.

Roman Army

https://docs.google.com/a/student.egsd.net/document/d/1BR7loFxt6qiuIe-S3axyPIhfiFXxspu1UhWT58Lep-Q/edit

Over their history, the Romans faced off against a plethora of enemies who used widely varying tactics. They were forced to improvise to defeat their foes on many occasions. Due to this improvisation, the Romans would have been ready to defeat any number of unknown foes. This raises the question, how would the Romans have dealt with fantasy armies, or armies that emerged too late for them to fight. To answer this question, one must analyze Roman tactics, and the tactics of those they never faced.


The Roman army fought in an organized fashion, which allowed them to defeat their early unorganized enemies. They used a modified version of the Greek Phalanx, which gave them infantry power, but more mobility. They used javelins and stabbing swords, but rarely used bows, and placed little importance in cavalry. The Romans would first throw their Javelins in battle and then march forwards in an organized fashion, driving back the enemy. Other tactics included the tortoise (pictured above), which kept the Romans safe from ranged attackers.

The Imperial Walkers, seen in The Empire Strikes Back, were siege machines used by the empire to attack fortified rebel positions. These monstrosities were used in a similar fashion to elephants, as a shock weapon, as well as massive army breaking weapon. They could fire long distances, but had little mobility, and were very slow. This allowed the rebel alliance to eliminated them at the Battle of Hoth by flanking and surrounding them.

The Orc armies in The Hobbit were similar in nature to the barbarian armies the Romans faced during the early empire. The orcs had an overall strategy, but little organization after the battle began. They charged en mass at their enemies, and would attempt to fight individual soldiers on the enemy side. Some more complex tactics used by the orcs included attacking a city left undefended, and use of flying creatures to harass their enemies from above. The orcs used overwhelming numbers to their advantage when at all possible, in addition to surprise tactics.


Finally, the Viking armies of the middle ages used raiding tactics to harass the European coastline. This allowed them to terrorize the continent for hundreds of years. They would raid unprotected areas like monasteries, and then dissapear back into the sea. On land, the Vikingsused a shield wall to protect their forces, similar to Roman tortoise tactics.

Sources

"Viking Weapons and Warfare." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

The Empire Strikes Back. Dir. Irvin Kershner. By Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. Perf. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, 1980.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Warner Brothers UK, 2014. Film.

Watkins, Jack, ed. The Encyclopedia of Classical Warfare. N.p.: Metro, 2011. Print.

Santon, Kate, and Liz McKay, eds. Atlas of World History. N.p.: Parragon, 2011. Print.

The Roman Forum

The forum was a very crucial aspect of Roman life. The forum was the heart of the every Roman city, containing many important buildings. Ella and I decided to focus our attention of the very first forum, Forum Romanum. This was usually a large, open area. This area was usually used as a marketplace, or a meeting place.

In the center of the forum held the Colosseum, along with temples. These temples were used very often by everyday people to pray to Gods, which were very important in their everyday lives along with honor high officials in Rome. The Colosseum was used for entertainment through gladiator battles and other public spectacles.

The right of the forum held more temples, a Basilica, and Triumphal Arches. The basilica was a long hall used as law court and a place for wealthy merchants and Romans to meet. Arches were used as a way to commemorate victories. For example, the Arch of Titus was used to commemorate the victory in the Jewish War. 

To the left of the forum held more temples, Basilicas, and a Curia. The Curia was the location where the Senate met. 

At the far end of the forum held the Rostra, Tabularium, and even more temples. The Rostra was used as a speaker’s platform. This was where Rome’s leaders could address the people. The Tabularium housed the senate archive. 

The Forum held many temples, used to pray to the many Gods that the Romans lived to please, along with honor past emperors and figureheads in Rome. An example of these temples was the Temple of Romulus, which honored Valerius Romulus, the son of the Emperor Maxentius. Another Temple was the Temple of Vespasian, made to honor Emperor Vespasian. 

For the product Ella and I made, we wondered what the Roman Forum would have looked like if the Romans were still around today. Due to the Romans being very technologically advanced for their time, we figured that they would most likely have what resembled a large shopping mall. In the end, Ella and I decided to make a large Roman shopping mall which held these important buildings, along with many other shopping places that the Forum would most likely have. While we only included two levels, there would most likely be many more, including many more shops and buildings from the original Forums.

Works Cited 

"Forum Romanum." Forum Romanum. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

"Forum Romanum." , Rome. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.

Watkin, David. The Roman Forum. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2009. Print.

Olsen, Madeline. Roman Architecture. Orlando: Harcourt School, 2006. Print.

Defixio Part 1: The Story Behind the Tablet

This blog post is a creative writing piece about Michael Kowalski's hand made curse tablet. Mike will be writing the formal blog post about my "modernized" curse tablets, while I (Ryan) will write about the curse tablet that HE made and add a little story behind it. This is to show my application of what we learned about the subject.

So without further ado, let us begin, shall we?

Flaws in Armor

Okay so Allison and I did our project together. She looked at weaponry-which she demonstrates in the video. I studied the armor of the three different cultures we've looked at in class (Roman, Egyptian, and British) and constructed my own armor based off of their flaws (also in the video). It did not turn out as well as I would have liked, given the time limit and lack of proper materials on my part. However, during my examination of traditional armor, I found some major flaws.