World History in a Nutshell

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Okay," began Daniel, standing at the front of the class. "Today, we're going to be looking at the Romans. Or rather, we're going to be discussing them.

There's a handout on your desks.

We're going to be considering a remark made by Napoleon. He said that, "the story of Rome is the story of the world." What do you think he meant by this? How is it that the "western world grew up in Rome's shadow?"

After this discussion was over, he waved at the computers.

"Today's game is Death in Rome. Have fun!"

Comments

Sign in (09/18)

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

=

Discussion on Ancient Rome

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

[[ooc: Discuss amongst yourselves and Daniel'll take pings when I get back from work]]

Play the game!

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Who dunnit?

Talk to Dr. Jackson

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

[[ooc: Again, with the pinging when back from work omg]]

OOC

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

I wasn't kidding when I said I'd be loving and worshipping the BBC website during this course!

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly signed in.

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots signed in.

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron signed in.

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Politics," Cameron replied. "Rome is an example of an empire that grew, conquered and fell apart. I can imagine that Napoleon could relate to how Rome grew from a monarchy, to a republic and finally turned into an empire. He saw for himself how that exact evolution happened in France. I guess he was expecting other countries to follow the example or something."

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair signed in.

Re: Play the game!

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair figured out the answer to the game eventually, but he was pretty sure that the Trader had killed Claudius and his little dog too.

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[senor-chado.livejournal.com]

Chad signed in.

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie signed in.

Re: OOC

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

*snicker* (And there's an archaeology club in the Clubs post-- you up for being faculty advisor on that?)

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Well, not being as aware of the Egyptian dynasties, or the Chinese, it would make sense to him that all empires eventually fall," Evie pointed out. "Whereas they endured in very different forms far longer than Rome did. But Rome's influence extended farther in Europe than Egypt's did, and while China's extended just as far, it wasn't a model that Napoleon would have identified with, being a revolutionary and conqueror himself."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Didn't the whole of Europe get fascinated by Egypte at that point, though?" Cameron asked. "But yeah, he probably thought he was the Caesar of his age or something."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie nodded enthusastically at Cameron. "Yes! There were all sorts of Egyptian influences that were the rage for a while after Napoleon conquered it. Although what his soldiers did some of the antiquities was appalling. But yes, Caesar was looked on as role model and not a tyrant, so I suppose it makes sense that Napoleon would try to associate himself, and his regime, with Rome." She cocked her head, and said, "The Romans *did* accomplish so much, too. Roads, laws, aqueducts... builders as well as conquerors."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron grinned, slightly amused at her enthusiasm. "Napoleon accomplished a lot too."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Well. I suppose." Evie crossed her arms. "I'm British, you can't expect me to approve of the man who kept trying to conquer England. And caused a great deal of trouble in Ireland and Spain. Dreadful suffering for his dreams of glory, really."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but what monarch during that period didn't make people suffer?" Cameron asked. "Don't forget that the reason England hated him so much had more to do with the threat of a country being led by someone who wasn't royalty than anything else."

Re: Sign in (09/18)

[daemonridden.livejournal.com]

Lyra signed in.

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps the politicians felt that way, but I assure you, the average Englishman was more concerned about the blockades Napoleon kept imposing on trade, and the navies he sent out to England," Evie said tartly. "Tell me one thing-- aside from opening Egypt to the world-- which he accomplished that wasn't about conquest."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Law. His code. He turned the freedoms from the French Revolution into law and I believe his civil law is still used today," Cameron replied. "Plus, he finally showed that you had to trust on people's ability and not their family name."

Re: Discussion on Ancient Rome

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Drat." Evie looked rueful. "Right. Although I'd say English law is better, that is a valid point. And I rather think he wasn't the first to prove the ability matters more, but... yes." She looked disgruntled. "Accurate."

Re: Play the game!

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots figured it out quickly, but couldn't get the right combination of clues for a good ten tries.