I thought this weeks reading was interesting. The booklet really showed how violent all of the rulers and people were. They did not hesitate to kill or banish if it ment getting their way or if they felt threatend. I thought the reading on Livia was interesting too. It sounds like she was very loved. By the way this is actually Alicia.
From the textbook readings I conclude that Octavian was a genius. The way he called himself Princeps instead monarch or emperor and when he reestablished the Roman Republic people were probably all for him and at the same time you can see whose running the show. He was also a great politician. He knew that a corrupt government would not work and replaced those hungry for power with those most qualified for the position no matter what their social status. He wanted a government that was well disciplined and hard working and tried to pass many laws to see to these reforms. Under his leadership the Roman Empire grew and prospered especially in trade. P.S This is Rachel
"No Journals or Posts" (aka no graded comments) means no comment section. If you'd like to share something about the week's reading, please do so in this comment section
I have not included a Monday section, as there are no required posts this week. However, if you would still like to comment on the readings, please do so in this comment section.
Mr. Parker, I'm going to post my comment here, as I will not have time on Saturday.
Reading about Octavian and his achievements was quite interesting. His rule brought "peace and prosperity". It (his rule) lasted from 31 BC to AD 180. He was called by two names other than Octavian, Augustus and Caesar.
In 27 BC, he wished to restore the republic. Sharing his rule with the senate, he gave himself the title "Princeps". This name means "first citizen". The common people were especially pleased with this, because it implied he was one of them. This meant he did not lord his power over them.
He replaced many corrupt government officials with hardworking ones. Wanting a better and more equal way of paying taxes, Octavian ordered a census taken every fourteen years. (I think that is a long time, it's almost my whole life, plus almost a year!)
During one of these censuses, Jesus Christ was born. I think that is very "awesome" /awe inspiring how God planned Jesus' birth during a time of peace for the Roman Empire. It seems as if this were a vital time for the spread of the gospel.
Early in his career as an emperor, Octavian came to the conclusion that a country is only as strong as the moral of her people. Unfortunately, he did not realize that the only way for a person's morals to improve (for they can never be perfect, Jesus Christ must invade a person's heart. The Roman's hated the one true God. They were extremely prideful, and, to humbly submit to a god, went against their thinking.
Octavian did bring prosperity and peace during his reign, but he did so with the rejection of the one and only true God.
I have it in my syllabus on Week 23: Augustus Caesar and Livia, that a reading journal is required. You did say in class that any who were in the play did not have to do the reading journal.
What I found interesting in this weeks reading was the census that Augustan established in Rome. From reading the story of Jesus’ birth, the census seams like a sporadic event that occurred for no real purpose, besides counting all of the people in the Roman provinces. Interestingly, the census was used as a system, in order to abolish corruption in the governments of the provinces. I also found that during this time Augustus placed some of the provinces under the Senate and some under his own command. Because of how vast Rome was, this system of the census also increased the Roman governments ability to keep track of everyone and a fairer method of taxing the people. Augustan was a part of the prophecy of Jesus being born in Bethlehem.
In reading about women with husbands in power, I have noticed many of them do anything to ensure that their sons inherit that power. They accomplish this even if it means lying, cheating, or even killing. As I read about Livia, I saw her in a very different light. Though she did try to get her son, Tiberius, on the throne, there are no records that she used criminal means to do so. In her leadership, Livia was strong and assertive but at the same time feminine with a quiet spirit about her. She was also a conservative woman who wore very little jewelry and maintained a simple hair style. Yet her dignified posture and regal drapery signified her as a figure of power and noble birth. Livia was a woman who knew her place, but also knew how to lead with grace and a powerful hand.
I felt that the were a bit heartless they were cruel and easily angered they were horrifying and I know that I would never want to to be one of their subjects even the women they all seemed thirsty for power and it overcame them. Though there were many many people who were blood and power hungry there were some still out there who were great.
It seems to me that Augustus seriously knew what he was doing. Calling himself "princeps" instead of "supreme dictator for life" made him very loved by the people of Rome. He also did not hoard power, he restored the Senate, another thing the Romans loved. He made the tax system more fair and eliminated political corruption by putting a census in place. He made laws to promote family life and to discourage immorality. All of this combined equals a fair, stable, country, which was what the Pax Romana was under Augustus.
Augustus, or Octavian, was my topic of interest this week. Octavian ended a century of civil war, declaring himself "first citizen". His other names were Caesar, and Augustus, his more common name. Rome entered a period of economic prosperity, called the Pax Romana, under Augustus's reign. He established gold and silver currency, making trade easier and bringing Rome to its highest point of wealth. Augustus also picked government officials not based on social status but skill level and efficiency. He then removed the selfish, inefficient men in the ranks and replaced them with officials who knew what they were doing. Fire, police and postal services, along with building programs are among many of the other aspects Augustus established. He strived for social and moral reform, believing that was the answer, but failed in the end. Trying to achieve morality without God is like driving a car without a steering wheel; you will ultimately fail.
If you have an item that you think we should post on this blog, write it up and click here to send it to us. New entries are reviewed at least once a week.
14 comments:
I thought this weeks reading was interesting. The booklet really showed how violent all of the rulers and people were. They did not hesitate to kill or banish if it ment getting their way or if they felt threatend. I thought the reading on Livia was interesting too. It sounds like she was very loved. By the way this is actually Alicia.
From the textbook readings I conclude that Octavian was a genius. The way he called himself Princeps instead monarch or emperor and when he reestablished the Roman Republic people were probably all for him and at the same time you can see whose running the show. He was also a great politician. He knew that a corrupt government would not work and replaced those hungry for power with those most qualified for the position no matter what their social status. He wanted a government that was well disciplined and hard working and tried to pass many laws to see to these reforms. Under his leadership the Roman Empire grew and prospered especially in trade. P.S This is Rachel
Sorry, my comment was accidentally deleted.
Mr. Parker, I can't seem to find the place where the Monday comments are.
"No Journals or Posts" (aka no graded comments) means no comment section. If you'd like to share something about the week's reading, please do so in this comment section
Is there a specific place just for the Monday student's posts, or should I just post my comment here?
I have not included a Monday section, as there are no required posts this week. However, if you would still like to comment on the readings, please do so in this comment section.
Mr. Parker, I'm going to post my comment here, as I will not have time on Saturday.
Reading about Octavian and his achievements was quite interesting. His rule brought "peace and prosperity". It (his rule) lasted from 31 BC to AD 180. He was called by two names other than Octavian, Augustus and Caesar.
In 27 BC, he wished to restore the republic. Sharing his rule with the senate, he gave himself the title "Princeps". This name means "first citizen". The common people were especially pleased with this, because it implied he was one of them. This meant he did not lord his power over them.
He replaced many corrupt government officials with hardworking ones. Wanting a better and more equal way of paying taxes, Octavian ordered a census taken every fourteen years. (I think that is a long time, it's almost my whole life, plus almost a year!)
During one of these censuses, Jesus Christ was born. I think that is very "awesome" /awe inspiring how God planned Jesus' birth during a time of peace for the Roman Empire. It seems as if this were a vital time for the spread of the gospel.
Early in his career as an emperor, Octavian came to the conclusion that a country is only as strong as the moral of her people. Unfortunately, he did not realize that the only way for a person's morals to improve (for they can never be perfect, Jesus Christ must invade a person's heart. The Roman's hated the one true God. They were extremely prideful, and, to humbly submit to a god, went against their thinking.
Octavian did bring prosperity and peace during his reign, but he did so with the rejection of the one and only true God.
I have it in my syllabus on Week 23: Augustus Caesar and Livia, that a reading journal is required. You did say in class that any who were in the play did not have to do the reading journal.
What I found interesting in this weeks reading was the census that Augustan established in Rome. From reading the story of Jesus’ birth, the census seams like a sporadic event that occurred for no real purpose, besides counting all of the people in the Roman provinces. Interestingly, the census was used as a system, in order to abolish corruption in the governments of the provinces. I also found that during this time Augustus placed some of the provinces under the Senate and some under his own command. Because of how vast Rome was, this system of the census also increased the Roman governments ability to keep track of everyone and a fairer method of taxing the people. Augustan was a part of the prophecy of Jesus being born in Bethlehem.
In reading about women with husbands in power, I have noticed many of them do anything to ensure that their sons inherit that power. They accomplish this even if it means lying, cheating, or even killing. As I read about Livia, I saw her in a very different light. Though she did try to get her son, Tiberius, on the throne, there are no records that she used criminal means to do so. In her leadership, Livia was strong and assertive but at the same time feminine with a quiet spirit about her. She was also a conservative woman who wore very little jewelry and maintained a simple hair style. Yet her dignified posture and regal drapery signified her as a figure of power and noble birth. Livia was a woman who knew her place, but also knew how to lead with grace and a powerful hand.
I felt that the were a bit heartless they were cruel and easily angered they were horrifying and I know that I would never want to to be one of their subjects even the women they all seemed thirsty for power and it overcame them. Though there were many many people who were blood and power hungry there were some still out there who were great.
It seems to me that Augustus seriously knew what he was doing. Calling himself "princeps" instead of "supreme dictator for life" made him very loved by the people of Rome. He also did not hoard power, he restored the Senate, another thing the Romans loved. He made the tax system more fair and eliminated political corruption by putting a census in place. He made laws to promote family life and to discourage immorality. All of this combined equals a fair, stable, country, which was what the Pax Romana was under Augustus.
Augustus, or Octavian, was my topic of interest this week. Octavian ended a century of civil war, declaring himself "first citizen". His other names were Caesar, and Augustus, his more common name. Rome entered a period of economic prosperity, called the Pax Romana, under Augustus's reign. He established gold and silver currency, making trade easier and bringing Rome to its highest point of wealth. Augustus also picked government officials not based on social status but skill level and efficiency. He then removed the selfish, inefficient men in the ranks and replaced them with officials who knew what they were doing. Fire, police and postal services, along with building programs are among many of the other aspects Augustus established. He strived for social and moral reform, believing that was the answer, but failed in the end. Trying to achieve morality without God is like driving a car without a steering wheel; you will ultimately fail.
Post a Comment