Today in class we took our Rome test; this is our last test we will take in western civ. Well except for the exam. The test was very fair, and was easier then expected. I didn't do as well as planned on the test. Now I have to review the questions for the essay part of the exam tomorrow. I plan to do a great job on the essay as well as the Scantron portion of the exam.

Today, Friday 5/22 I was not in class because my sister had surgery. The surgery went as planned, and she is home resting now. Here are the notes I got from Chris.

Crossing the Rubicon
-Julius defied the Senate and did what he want - he took his soldiers over the Rubicon
-Brutus and the Senate murdered Julius on March 15 (Ides of March) 44BC
-Brutus was Julius' friend but he thought he had too much power

-Octavian, 18 at the time, took Julius' power
-Lepidus and Mark Antony worked with Octavian
-Octavian changed his name to Caesar Augustus

-Caesar Augustus
-period that came after Caesar Augustus - Pax Romana - Roman time of peace 

In class we finished up the projects. After we just sat around and talked about the upcoming weeks. Our test got changed to Wednesday, which I'm happy about because we have more time to study.

Today in Western Civ Nikki, Chris and I presented our project on the Roman Colosseum. We had to go first because the originally scheduled group wasn't ready. I think we did okay on our project, just have to wait to see what we got.

Today in Western Civ we watch three people present their projects. All of the projects were appealing, but some weren't as great as others. Tomorrow is the day we present our project, I am a little nervous; but i think we will do okay.

Today in West Civ we took notes and continued watching the video.
Below are my notes ....

Poor plebs (literally)

• The poet Juvenal said the people "anxiously hopes for two things: bread and circuses"
• bread (free grain from the state) and entertainment (Circus Maximus, Colosseum), partly to keep them alive, and partly to keep them quiet

A change in rule 

• Tiberius Gracchus recognized the advantages of courting the plebeians (even though he was ultimately unsuccessful) 
• Military generals worked that angle - lead an army that conquers a land, then give them a share in the spoils
• soldiers' loyalty was to their military leader, not necessarily to Rome or the Republic

Nobody did that better then Caesar 

• Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BCE) 
• a highly successful general 
• he conquered the huge territory of Gaul 

He could play the game (of politics) 

• made common folks happy 
• made friends in high places 
• Pompey (a general who conquered Syria and Palestine) 
• Crassus (the richest man in Rome, one of the richest men in all history)
• these three men formed the First Triumvirate ("rule of three men")

Today in West Civ we had a pop quiz. I did okay, on the quiz. Whatever I feel that these pop quizzes are crap.