Sub Day 4

Sub Day 4: Comparing Mr. Schicks's rap to the textbook info

I will break the rap down and briefly explain what correlates in the textbook to compare.

1. Well, you got the Etruscans and the Greeks

But the Latins came first

To the shores of the River Tiber

They drained a swamp

Next thing you know

Livin’ in Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome

Now Tarquin’s kinda proud

But he got a little loud

They turned around and ran that tyrant outta town

Next thing you know

No kings no more

Happened in Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome

 The Etruscans were native and they strongly influenced the Romans. Rome grew and was under the reign of Tarquin the Proud. He was a harsh tyrant. The Romans declared he could never be king again.

2. Hey, we got three governments rolled into one

Patricians and plebeians havin’ some fun

Two consuls gotta be better than one

Brand new republic ready to run

Democracy

Aristocracy

Plus monarchy

Not a tyranny

Ho-o-o-old up, wait a minute, do I see what I think I… hey!

That’s a Roman legion clear as day

5000 soldiers (not in it for pay)

Group of eighty’s a century

On horseback is the cavalry

Shield, sword, dagger, and armor and tunic

Fightin ’gainst Carthage in wars that are Punic

Hannibal riding on elephant back

Crossing the Alps just to launch his attack

 The patricians and the plebeians were struggling for power. Rome had two consuls that commanded and directed the government. Then Roman struggled the Punic War against Carthage. Hannibal was a brave military strategist who wanted to avenge Carthage's defeat.

3. So now you get the picture

All the rich are getting richer

And they’re livin’ on the latifundia

Farmers can’t cope

They’re low on hope

They moved to Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome

I can hear the brothers Gracchus

Sayin, “Rich, please don’t attack us!”

“We got a feeling that the senators will whack us”

They hit the floor

Next thing you know

It’s civil war, war, war, war, war, war, war, war

The farmers were plebeians. They struggled for their voice to be heard in government. The Gracchus attempted to help Rome's impoverished people. The brothers made enemies with several senators because they felt threatened by the Gracchus' ideas. A period of civil war started within the groups.

4. Hey, let me take you back to 60 BC

It’s the start of the rise of Julius C

He grabbed two dudes and he formed a team

It’s a triumvirate -- that’s a group of three

“Crassus (come on), Pompey (come on), I’m JC! (come on)

We three will rule!

What you think I'm playin, baby girl?  I'm the man!

I'm conquering Gaul!”

All of his soldiers gave him their devotion

That’s why he swept over Gaul just like an ocean

Pompey couldn’t understand all the commotion

When he crossed the Rubicon, he kept up motion

It’s just like a potion

Caesar had self-locomotion

Power’s an ambitious emotion

Dictator is not a demotion

It’s a promotion

Julius Caesar was elected consul with Crassus and Pompey. The men dominated Rome as a triumvirate. They led a successful campaign to conquer Gaul and won his soldiers' loyalty and devotion.

5. But in 44 BC

On a day called March 15 (Ides of March)

Brutus and the Senate murdered Julius C

He hit the floor

Next thing you know

Caesar’s no more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more

You know he’s so depressed

23 stab wounds in his chest

He saw his friend and he raised one last protest

“Et tu, Brute?” (Et tu, Brute?)

That’s what he say

Cuz he felt low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low

 Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March by Brutus and the Senate. His death led to a civil war.

6. Only eighteen, Octavian makin’ the scene

He says, “I tell you what,

Got a new triumvirate

Here’s my boy Lepidus

And Mark Antony I trust”

(‘Til Marky met this chick

Cleopatra from Egypt)

Octavian was freakin’

Lust for power started peakin’

“Don’t try to play me or my navy,

At Actium you won’t slay me”

“O” won that game

Did explain

Now Augustus was his name

All his subjects did proclaim

He’s in the Roman Hall of Fame

Three of Caesar's supporters banded together to crush the assassins. They became the Second Triumvirate. Octavian became the unchallenged leader of Rome and accepted the name Augustus, meaning exalted one.

7. Twenty-seven BC

For a couple hundred years (207)

Pax Romana is the word that brings the cheers

They’re on a roll

They built some roads

Leading to Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome

Slaves don’t have many rights and

Then there’s gladiator fightin’ (Ow!)

People find the Circus Maximus excitin’

Blood on the floor (knee-deep in gore)

And now you know

All about Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome

(C'mon!)

 Pax Romana meant Roman Peace. During this time of peace the Roman Empire included more than 3 million square miles. Slavery was a significant part of Roman life. It was widespread for the economy. There were also gladiator fights where the crowd contributed to the "show" of what was happening.