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| Augustus |
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| Julius Caesar |
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Who was the Greatest Leader? Augustus or Caesar?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Julius Caesar: Dictator or Reformer?
I am a poor plebeian man. I lost my farm to a wealthy patrician a few months ago, and I am now bonded through debt to another patrician. I must slave away to his family, unpaid, for who knows how long. I have a family - a wife and child to support. How can I do this with no farm and me indebted for many years? My future looked bleak until Julius Caesar took power. After that, my life started going uphill.
Caesar is a hero. He helped Rome to defeat foreign tribes and parts of Great Britain, which has helped add strength and wealth to Rome. He also treats the people he conquers fairly. Caesar has let a few of them become government officials, and he grants citizenship to people living in Roman territories outside of the city. He has also restored cities that have been destroyed in battle against our great Roman Republic to their former glory. Because of Caesar, Rome has entered into a time of peace and prosperity. Not only has he been fair to former enemies, but he has also improved the livelihood of the poorer people, like me. This man has provided land for those who have none, and has forced patricians with many slaves to hire free plebeians, too. This means that we do not have to worry about starving, since we can farm our own land, and we do not have to stress so much about money, because we have more job opportunities. Thanks to Caesar, my and my family's future can now be viewed in a more optimistic light.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Geography of Ancient Rome
Explain in detail how the geography and climate of the Italian peninsula affected the development of ancient Rome.
The physical geography of ancient Rome was slightly similar to Greece. It was mountainous, rocky, and had a coastline. Across the north side of the peninsula, a mountain range (the Alps) isolated Italy from the rest of Europe. Spread across Italy, running from north to south is another mountain range called the Apennines. Unlike Greece, however, the Apennines were much less treacherous, and were easier to cross. Because of this, Italy did not develop as many individual, isolated city-states, and instead unified into one great city. Also, the Italian soil was more fertile than Greece, and the land flattened out into plains that were good for growing crops. Since the Italians could produce so much more food than the Greeks, Italy was able to sustain a greater amount of people.
Ancient Rome developed on seven hills that offered protection against enemy attackers, because they were so steep. Also, the city was located near the Tiber River, which became one of its main sources of water, transportation, and travel. Rome was near enough to the Mediterranean Sea that it was not isolated from other Mediterranean cities, but it was far enough away from it to stay safe from pirates. Because of the Tiber River, many travelers and merchants stopped in Rome on their travels to the north or south of Italy. This provided Rome with a steady stream of new ideas, knowledge of the world around it, and people to trade with.
The physical geography of ancient Rome also affected its climate. Because of the mountains, the climate in the center of Italy consists of hot summers and mild but precipitous winters. These conditions made attracted many people to live in Rome because they were so promising.
References:
"Ancient Rome: Geographical Analysis." SPQR.com. SPQR, 1999. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flibrary.thinkquest.org%2F26602%2Fgeography.htm&ei=p3DDTpinG9Ha4QSBjM2pDQ&usg=AFQjCNECfRMsfIe-jlp3mJVplBtDuHJu9g&sig2=CswP8dIr6cB3aOM-imOxDA>.
The physical geography of ancient Rome was slightly similar to Greece. It was mountainous, rocky, and had a coastline. Across the north side of the peninsula, a mountain range (the Alps) isolated Italy from the rest of Europe. Spread across Italy, running from north to south is another mountain range called the Apennines. Unlike Greece, however, the Apennines were much less treacherous, and were easier to cross. Because of this, Italy did not develop as many individual, isolated city-states, and instead unified into one great city. Also, the Italian soil was more fertile than Greece, and the land flattened out into plains that were good for growing crops. Since the Italians could produce so much more food than the Greeks, Italy was able to sustain a greater amount of people.
Ancient Rome developed on seven hills that offered protection against enemy attackers, because they were so steep. Also, the city was located near the Tiber River, which became one of its main sources of water, transportation, and travel. Rome was near enough to the Mediterranean Sea that it was not isolated from other Mediterranean cities, but it was far enough away from it to stay safe from pirates. Because of the Tiber River, many travelers and merchants stopped in Rome on their travels to the north or south of Italy. This provided Rome with a steady stream of new ideas, knowledge of the world around it, and people to trade with.The physical geography of ancient Rome also affected its climate. Because of the mountains, the climate in the center of Italy consists of hot summers and mild but precipitous winters. These conditions made attracted many people to live in Rome because they were so promising.
References:
"Ancient Rome: Geographical Analysis." SPQR.com. SPQR, 1999. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flibrary.thinkquest.org%2F26602%2Fgeography.htm&ei=p3DDTpinG9Ha4QSBjM2pDQ&usg=AFQjCNECfRMsfIe-jlp3mJVplBtDuHJu9g&sig2=CswP8dIr6cB3aOM-imOxDA>.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Legends of Rome
Describe the two legends that tell the founding of Rome. Then describe how and when Rome was actually founded.
There are two legends about the founding of Rome. One of these involves two twins: Romulus and Remus. These two were abandoned by the river Tiber River and were expected to die. However, they were rescued by a female wolf, and were later found by a shepherd, who raised them. At around 753 BC, Romulus and Remus decided to build a city. All was going well until the two brothers began to argue. While searching out different sites of where to begin building, they kept their eyes out for omens that would show which of the sites was best. Remus apparently saw 6 vultures, which was a very good omen, whereas Romulus claimed to have seen 12 - an even better one. They began arguing over the number of vultures they had seen, and during the argument, Remus made fun of the walls Romulus had built. This was the last straw for Romulus, who then killed his twin. This made Romulus the single king and leader of Rome, which he named after himself.
The second legend involving the origins of Rome tells that the ancient city is far older than Remus and Romulus. In the Aeneid, it tells of a hero, Aeneas. Aeneas had been fighting in the Trojan War against the Greeks, and had escaped being killed when Troy was destroyed. He arrived in Rome with a few of his men after many adventures. After a few wars, Aeneas managed to marry the king's daughter and unite the Latins and the Trojans, and creating the city of Rome.
What historians really believe happened in the founding of Rome began with the Latins, as far back as 1000 BC. Originally, there were a few different tribes who grew crops and tended to their herds or flocks of livestock. Later, at around 700-800 BC, they decided to band together for protection against invading tribes. This little town of people grew into what we now know as the city of Rome.
There are two legends about the founding of Rome. One of these involves two twins: Romulus and Remus. These two were abandoned by the river Tiber River and were expected to die. However, they were rescued by a female wolf, and were later found by a shepherd, who raised them. At around 753 BC, Romulus and Remus decided to build a city. All was going well until the two brothers began to argue. While searching out different sites of where to begin building, they kept their eyes out for omens that would show which of the sites was best. Remus apparently saw 6 vultures, which was a very good omen, whereas Romulus claimed to have seen 12 - an even better one. They began arguing over the number of vultures they had seen, and during the argument, Remus made fun of the walls Romulus had built. This was the last straw for Romulus, who then killed his twin. This made Romulus the single king and leader of Rome, which he named after himself. |
| Aeneas |
What historians really believe happened in the founding of Rome began with the Latins, as far back as 1000 BC. Originally, there were a few different tribes who grew crops and tended to their herds or flocks of livestock. Later, at around 700-800 BC, they decided to band together for protection against invading tribes. This little town of people grew into what we now know as the city of Rome.
Works Cited
“The Founding of Rome.” The Roman Empire. roman-empire.net, 4 July 2007. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.roman-empire.net/founding/found-index.html>.
“Myths and Legends - Rome, the Wolf, and Mars.” About.com. about.com, 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/a/mythslegends_3.htm>.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Alexander the Great
Most people believe that Alexander the Great was truly the greatest military leader there ever was. Even his name, "Alexander the Great," shows just how highly people think about him. The thing is, Alexander really isn't as great as everyone thinks. He may have been one of the greatest military leaders of all time, and he may have conquered more cities and built a greater empire than anyone before him, but is conquering other people really considered "greatness"? It is also believed that Alexander helped spread the Greek culture to the city-states he held under his power. However, there is evidence that Greek ways had spread as far as Israel far before Alexander was born.
Alexander the great grew up surrounded by battle. His father, King Phillip had assembled great Macedonian armies, and had started to expand his reign into Greece. As Alexander matured, he was trained mainly by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, when he was 13. With Aristotle as his tutor, Alexander learned about literature, philosophy, science, medicines, and more. At the age of 16, Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedonia, appointed him regent of Macedonia while he was away. When Alexander was 20 years old, his father was assassinated, and Alexander took control of all his armies. He set out to end what his father had begun - creating an empire.
However, there is some controversy about how Philip of Macedonia was killed. Some believe that foul play on Alexander's part was involved, and others believe that it was his wife, Olympias, (Alexander's mother), and more think it had nothing to do with either of them. Apparently, Olympias and Alexander had a special relationship. Olympias was very ambitious for her son, and told him that he was a descendant of the great hero, Achilles. She encouraged him in everything he did, and some believe that part of his ambition was caused from wanting to impress her. Alexander may have killed his father because he was afraid that by the time it came around to him, Philip would not have left his son enough cities to conquer. Also, Alexander or his mother could have murdered Philip because of his disloyalty to Olympias. If Alexander the Great did indeed take part in the assassination of his father, Philip of Macedon, he is not as great as his name implies.
After his father died, Alexander seized control of their armies, and squashed the few revolts that had sprung up when they had learned of their king's death. Then, he left Greece in 334 BC to conquer and control more land. In 332 BC, Alexander defeated Tyre, which was one of Persia's last navy bases. After that, the Persian government gave him their land and money without fighting, because they knew that they could not defeat him. In order to prevent more revolts, Alexander wore Persian clothes, married a Persian woman, and brought Persian soldiers into his Greek/Macedonian army. He hoped that by doing this, he would be more familiar to the Persian people, and they would feel comfortable with him ruling them.
But even Persia was not enough for Alexander the Great. His thirst for power could not be quenched by a mere Persian empire. He needed more. Alexander the Great marched on to to defeat India. He led his army on a particularly difficult stretch called Khyber Pass, where he made them destroy all the treasure they had brought from Persia, because it was hindering their progress. He forced his armies on until 326 BC when they reached they reached the end of their limits at the Indus River. They simply refused to move on. It is said that Alexander moped for three days, and then purposely led his armies home through the Agate Desert to give them a hard time. In 323 BC, Alexander the Great contracted a fever and died. He had ruled for 13 years, and had built the largest empire in the western world.
After Alexander the Great died, Greek culture still flourished in the cities he had defeated. Most people think that it was because of Alexander that all the Greek ways spread and diffused into Persia and Asia Minor, but new studies show that this may not have been true. Scientists at Berkeley have discovered that Greek culture could have spread as far as Israel in 400 BC, long before Alexander came along. These people knew how to make pottery and build boats the same way the Greeks did, although neither literary nor political Greek culture was evident. But if Alexander was not the one bringing all the culture to the cities he conquered, and instead, it had been there already, he is not as great as everyone seems to believe.
Some people also believe Alexander the Great was a megalomaniac, with delusional views of power. There is evidence of this in the fact that he named at least 15 of the cities he founded or renamed after himself. He wanted power and control, and he would keep fighting until he got it. Some of his friends tried to kill him because they thought he was too full of himself. There is a quote by him that goes, "Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters." This means that he believes that earth can only be ruled by one man - himself. Before he came along, the world did fine without his leadership. Just because he is a military genius does not mean that he must be the ruler of the world, because earth "can only brook one master". This idea of power he has, that he must be the master of earth, is rather twisted. Earth can have more than one "master," and it can even be better off with more than one of these "masters".
Sure, Alexander the Great did great things. He built an empire, and he conquered many city-states and countries. But behind all that, was he really that "great"? No one really knows for sure what went on inside his head, but evidence shows that he was not as great as everyone thinks. He was a megalomaniac, he may have taken part in the assassination of his own father, he led people to believe that he was a descendant of Achilles, and might not have spread as much Greek culture as it was previously believed. All in all, Alexander the Great was not as great as he seems.
Alexander the great grew up surrounded by battle. His father, King Phillip had assembled great Macedonian armies, and had started to expand his reign into Greece. As Alexander matured, he was trained mainly by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, when he was 13. With Aristotle as his tutor, Alexander learned about literature, philosophy, science, medicines, and more. At the age of 16, Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedonia, appointed him regent of Macedonia while he was away. When Alexander was 20 years old, his father was assassinated, and Alexander took control of all his armies. He set out to end what his father had begun - creating an empire.However, there is some controversy about how Philip of Macedonia was killed. Some believe that foul play on Alexander's part was involved, and others believe that it was his wife, Olympias, (Alexander's mother), and more think it had nothing to do with either of them. Apparently, Olympias and Alexander had a special relationship. Olympias was very ambitious for her son, and told him that he was a descendant of the great hero, Achilles. She encouraged him in everything he did, and some believe that part of his ambition was caused from wanting to impress her. Alexander may have killed his father because he was afraid that by the time it came around to him, Philip would not have left his son enough cities to conquer. Also, Alexander or his mother could have murdered Philip because of his disloyalty to Olympias. If Alexander the Great did indeed take part in the assassination of his father, Philip of Macedon, he is not as great as his name implies.
After his father died, Alexander seized control of their armies, and squashed the few revolts that had sprung up when they had learned of their king's death. Then, he left Greece in 334 BC to conquer and control more land. In 332 BC, Alexander defeated Tyre, which was one of Persia's last navy bases. After that, the Persian government gave him their land and money without fighting, because they knew that they could not defeat him. In order to prevent more revolts, Alexander wore Persian clothes, married a Persian woman, and brought Persian soldiers into his Greek/Macedonian army. He hoped that by doing this, he would be more familiar to the Persian people, and they would feel comfortable with him ruling them.
But even Persia was not enough for Alexander the Great. His thirst for power could not be quenched by a mere Persian empire. He needed more. Alexander the Great marched on to to defeat India. He led his army on a particularly difficult stretch called Khyber Pass, where he made them destroy all the treasure they had brought from Persia, because it was hindering their progress. He forced his armies on until 326 BC when they reached they reached the end of their limits at the Indus River. They simply refused to move on. It is said that Alexander moped for three days, and then purposely led his armies home through the Agate Desert to give them a hard time. In 323 BC, Alexander the Great contracted a fever and died. He had ruled for 13 years, and had built the largest empire in the western world. After Alexander the Great died, Greek culture still flourished in the cities he had defeated. Most people think that it was because of Alexander that all the Greek ways spread and diffused into Persia and Asia Minor, but new studies show that this may not have been true. Scientists at Berkeley have discovered that Greek culture could have spread as far as Israel in 400 BC, long before Alexander came along. These people knew how to make pottery and build boats the same way the Greeks did, although neither literary nor political Greek culture was evident. But if Alexander was not the one bringing all the culture to the cities he conquered, and instead, it had been there already, he is not as great as everyone seems to believe.
Some people also believe Alexander the Great was a megalomaniac, with delusional views of power. There is evidence of this in the fact that he named at least 15 of the cities he founded or renamed after himself. He wanted power and control, and he would keep fighting until he got it. Some of his friends tried to kill him because they thought he was too full of himself. There is a quote by him that goes, "Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters." This means that he believes that earth can only be ruled by one man - himself. Before he came along, the world did fine without his leadership. Just because he is a military genius does not mean that he must be the ruler of the world, because earth "can only brook one master". This idea of power he has, that he must be the master of earth, is rather twisted. Earth can have more than one "master," and it can even be better off with more than one of these "masters".
Sure, Alexander the Great did great things. He built an empire, and he conquered many city-states and countries. But behind all that, was he really that "great"? No one really knows for sure what went on inside his head, but evidence shows that he was not as great as everyone thinks. He was a megalomaniac, he may have taken part in the assassination of his own father, he led people to believe that he was a descendant of Achilles, and might not have spread as much Greek culture as it was previously believed. All in all, Alexander the Great was not as great as he seems.
Works Cited
“Alexander the Great.” Alexander the Great. www.in2greece.com, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/history/ancient/alexander.htm>.
“Alexander the Great of Macedon Biography.” Alexander the Great of Macedon Biography. historyofmacedonia.org, 2001-2003. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html>.
Alexander the Great Quotes - BrainyQuote. BrainyQuote.com, 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/alexander_the_great.html>.
Dye, Lee. “Study Suggests Alexander Not So Great.” ABC News. abcnews.go.com, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97611&page=1#top>.
Lendering, Jona. “Alexander the Great: His Towns.” Alexander the Great. Livius.org, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander_z2.html>.
“Philip of Macedon.” historyofmacedonia.org. historyofmacedonia.org, 2001-2003. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/PhilipofMacedon.html>.
Simpson, John. “Alexander the Not-So-Great.” ScienceNOW. AAS.org, 14 May 2007. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2007/05/14-01.html>.
Whitten, Chris. “Alexander the Great.” interesting.com. interesting.com, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://www.interesting.com/stories/alexander/>.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A Day in the Life of an Ancient Greek Woman
I am so excited! Today is one of the few times of the year when I am allowed to leave the house and go out in public with my husband! I know that, me being a woman, means that I am inferior to the men, and it makes perfect sense for me to stay in the house all day. I mean, I'm a woman! Who would cook, clean, weave, and look after the children if not for us - certainly not the men! For once, I won't be kept busy all day with my chores. I can go out, watch some theater, and enjoy myself!
The festival in honor of Dionysus starts today, and I will be able to see all sorts of plays, composed by writers from different parts of Greece. I do hope that good tragedies are performed. I absolutely adore a nice, heart-wrenching tale of some sad warrior trying to get home after war and things like that. They are just so realistic! The comedies are o.k, but I don't enjoy them as much. I bet everyone feels the same way as me - that must be why there are three days of festival for tragedies and one day for comedy!
I need to get ready and primp up. I go dress in my best tunic, and when I emerge from my rooms, I find my two children, one boy and one girl, eagerly waiting for me.
"Papa told me to tell you that he is going to have some friends over for dinner, so you cannot eat with him tonight," my elder daughter informs me. I feel a small twinge of disappointment. I had been hoping to dine with my husband, but, as I am a woman, I must do what he tells me, and if he wants company, who am I to complain? However, I am still so pleased about going out today, and I will not let this evening spoil how much fun I will have at the festival. I smile down at my children and take their hands.
"Let's go find Papa so that we can go to the festival!" I say, happily. My five-year-old son cheers, and my eight-year-old daughter breaks into a grin. I am glad that they are so joyful today, just like me. I think everyone should be able to feel this light on a beautiful, sunny day like this. I feel as though I am dancing on light, I am so jubilant.
My smiling husband greets us at the door to our house. He holds open the door and motions for us to leave. I wish that I could jump and leap over the threshold as my children do, but I must contain my excitement. I am a grown woman. We do not do such things. My children release my hands to run ahead of us, and my husband takes my right one. We smile. We walk out into the beautiful, sunny day, to enjoy ourselves.
The festival in honor of Dionysus starts today, and I will be able to see all sorts of plays, composed by writers from different parts of Greece. I do hope that good tragedies are performed. I absolutely adore a nice, heart-wrenching tale of some sad warrior trying to get home after war and things like that. They are just so realistic! The comedies are o.k, but I don't enjoy them as much. I bet everyone feels the same way as me - that must be why there are three days of festival for tragedies and one day for comedy!I need to get ready and primp up. I go dress in my best tunic, and when I emerge from my rooms, I find my two children, one boy and one girl, eagerly waiting for me.
"Papa told me to tell you that he is going to have some friends over for dinner, so you cannot eat with him tonight," my elder daughter informs me. I feel a small twinge of disappointment. I had been hoping to dine with my husband, but, as I am a woman, I must do what he tells me, and if he wants company, who am I to complain? However, I am still so pleased about going out today, and I will not let this evening spoil how much fun I will have at the festival. I smile down at my children and take their hands.
"Let's go find Papa so that we can go to the festival!" I say, happily. My five-year-old son cheers, and my eight-year-old daughter breaks into a grin. I am glad that they are so joyful today, just like me. I think everyone should be able to feel this light on a beautiful, sunny day like this. I feel as though I am dancing on light, I am so jubilant.
My smiling husband greets us at the door to our house. He holds open the door and motions for us to leave. I wish that I could jump and leap over the threshold as my children do, but I must contain my excitement. I am a grown woman. We do not do such things. My children release my hands to run ahead of us, and my husband takes my right one. We smile. We walk out into the beautiful, sunny day, to enjoy ourselves.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Spartan Way
The Spartans were a very unique civilization. They had the best armies, the strictest government, and were the most cruel to their slaves, but they were also very successful. For over 200 years, Sparta was the most powerful city-state in ancient Greece.
Sparta's power came from the strict discipline that made their formidable army. Once a child was born, government officials would come around to inspect it. If it seemed sick or poorly, then it was left up in the mountains to die. When boys were seven years old, they were taken away from their families to live in barracks with other boys their age. They were put into military training under the control of older boys, and known as trainees. Trainees needed to learn how to "obey orders and endure pain". They were made to go barefoot, and were permitted to only wear a cloak, even in winter. They were given the least amount of food possible, and if they did even one thing wrong, they were whipped. Trainees were expected to not show even the slightest sign of suffering through all of this. Boys were encouraged to fend for themselves, and many ended up stealing whatever food they could from other boys, or from behind the backs of lax guards. However, if they were caught, they were given a beating, and their food provisions were taken away.
At the age of 30, men became citizens, which meant they were allowed to vote. However, they still had to serve the army, and they were forced to eat in mess halls, instead of with their family. Spartan food was cooked deliberately to taste awful. They did not believe in luxury of any kind, and thought that deprivation would keep you strong.
The purpose of women in Sparta was mainly to bear children. It was believed that a woman must be healthy and fit to have healthy kids, so Spartan girls were trained to be just as athletic as Spartan boys. They were taught how to throw javelins, wrestle, run, and many other forms of exercise. Unlike other city-states, women were given more freedom and more equality to men. They could own land, do business, and run their own households. They were not permitted to wear perfume, jewelry, or any other nice but unnecessary things, but that seemed to be a small price to pay for the freedom they had.
When men were not at war, they had free time. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted. Some people might wonder at why this was - wouldn't they have to farm their land and look after family affairs? The reason why they had so much time on their hands was because of slaves, called "helots." Like many other Greek city-states, the slave population far outnumbered that of the actual citizens. In Sparta, helots outnumbered the people by 10-1. The helots farmed their master's land, and Sparta depended on their slaves to keep the city going. Because of the large slave population, Sparta was always fearful of revolt. They took extra precautions to keep the helots under control. At night, teenage boys patrolled the roads, killing any traveling slave they came across. A helot was also killed if he or she appeared smarter or stronger than the others. Because the Spartans were so cruel to their slaves, the helots revolted many times. Although some of the rebellions ended up lasting for years, the Spartan government always won in the end. The helots hated the Spartans so much that one person said that they would "eat a Spartan raw".
Sparta had a huge army. A Spartan man was expected to fight to the death, and Sparta conquered Athens in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. After Athens was defeated, Sparta was the ruling city-state of Greece until 371 BC, when it was conquered by Thebes. Thebes had destroyed Sparta's army, and without it, the city-state "collapsed". The Romans finally took it over in 146 BC, and then Sparta was gone for good.
References:
Knight, Theodore. "The Ancient Olympics." The Ancient World. 2010 ed. 2010.
Print.
 |
| Spartan Soldiers |
At the age of 30, men became citizens, which meant they were allowed to vote. However, they still had to serve the army, and they were forced to eat in mess halls, instead of with their family. Spartan food was cooked deliberately to taste awful. They did not believe in luxury of any kind, and thought that deprivation would keep you strong.
The purpose of women in Sparta was mainly to bear children. It was believed that a woman must be healthy and fit to have healthy kids, so Spartan girls were trained to be just as athletic as Spartan boys. They were taught how to throw javelins, wrestle, run, and many other forms of exercise. Unlike other city-states, women were given more freedom and more equality to men. They could own land, do business, and run their own households. They were not permitted to wear perfume, jewelry, or any other nice but unnecessary things, but that seemed to be a small price to pay for the freedom they had.
When men were not at war, they had free time. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted. Some people might wonder at why this was - wouldn't they have to farm their land and look after family affairs? The reason why they had so much time on their hands was because of slaves, called "helots." Like many other Greek city-states, the slave population far outnumbered that of the actual citizens. In Sparta, helots outnumbered the people by 10-1. The helots farmed their master's land, and Sparta depended on their slaves to keep the city going. Because of the large slave population, Sparta was always fearful of revolt. They took extra precautions to keep the helots under control. At night, teenage boys patrolled the roads, killing any traveling slave they came across. A helot was also killed if he or she appeared smarter or stronger than the others. Because the Spartans were so cruel to their slaves, the helots revolted many times. Although some of the rebellions ended up lasting for years, the Spartan government always won in the end. The helots hated the Spartans so much that one person said that they would "eat a Spartan raw".
Sparta had a huge army. A Spartan man was expected to fight to the death, and Sparta conquered Athens in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. After Athens was defeated, Sparta was the ruling city-state of Greece until 371 BC, when it was conquered by Thebes. Thebes had destroyed Sparta's army, and without it, the city-state "collapsed". The Romans finally took it over in 146 BC, and then Sparta was gone for good.
References:
Knight, Theodore. "The Ancient Olympics." The Ancient World. 2010 ed. 2010.
Print.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Olympics
No one knows for sure who invented the Olympics or when they were first established. There are some myths and legends about it, but there really is not any hard-core evidence concerning the origin of the Games. The first written record of the Olympic Games was about a man winning a 200-yard footrace in 776 B.C, and receiving an olive branch as his prize. Archaeologists have uncovered temples and other buildings at the site where it is believed the Olympics were held that date back to before 776 B.C, but there is no evidence that Olympic games were held there until that footrace. From 776 B.C. to 393 A.D, 293 Olympic competitions were celebrated.
In the beginning, there were only footraces. Later, more events were added. These include chariot races, boxing, wrestling, pancratium, and the pentathlon. Pancratium was a sport that combined boxing with wrestling, as well as adding biting, kicking, and strangling into the mix. Many men were injured or killed in this event. The pentathlon combined five sports, including wrestling, throwing the discus and javelin, sprinting, and competing in the long jump. Some of the most popular Olympic sports were wrestling, boxing, and pancratium. According to archaeologists, this may be because of the level of hostility among cities. The Olympics demanded that there be a truce between all warring city-states while the festival was going on, but people could still watch athletes from enemy cities fighting with their own athletes.
Women were not allowed to compete in the Olympic games until the 128th Olympics. They could not even watch, death being the consequence to disobedience. Only men who were citizens of Greece could compete. Although the stakes were so high, some women still risked their lives to see the games by wearing a disguise. Supposedly, a woman who had helped to train her son in running, disguised herself as a man so she could watch him compete. When he won, she was so loud that she was found out, but she was not killed. Even after all these years, scientists still don't know why. Originally, the athletes competing in the Olympics had to come from wealthy families, because they all had to be able to provide transport to and from wherever they lived and Athens. Also, winners of the games were expected to host a large banquet to celebrate their success. Therefore, women, slaves, foreigners, and people of the lower class could not compete in the Olympic games.
While the Olympic festival was at its peak, there were five days of athletic events, feasts, parades, religious rituals. Every day, sacrifices were made to the gods and gifts were placed in front of the statues of past Olympic winners. City-states competed against each other in which one could give the most lavish and expensive gifts to the statues. On the third day of the Olympics, one-hundred cattle were killed and then burned as a special sacrifice to the gods. These were good times for Greece.
However, all good things must come to an end. The Romans conquered Greece in 100 BC, and from then on, the Olympic festivals went into decline. People stopped celebrating the Olympics as a way of honoring the gods, and instead, everyone wanted to win for themselves. Cheating and bribery ensued among the competitors. In 393 AD, around the time Christianity had spread to Rome, the emperor Theodosius declared an end to the Olympics. As said in the text, "After well over twelve hundred years, the festival at Olympia had ended. There would be no Olympic Games for more than fifteen hundred years".
References:
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| Chariot Races |
Women were not allowed to compete in the Olympic games until the 128th Olympics. They could not even watch, death being the consequence to disobedience. Only men who were citizens of Greece could compete. Although the stakes were so high, some women still risked their lives to see the games by wearing a disguise. Supposedly, a woman who had helped to train her son in running, disguised herself as a man so she could watch him compete. When he won, she was so loud that she was found out, but she was not killed. Even after all these years, scientists still don't know why. Originally, the athletes competing in the Olympics had to come from wealthy families, because they all had to be able to provide transport to and from wherever they lived and Athens. Also, winners of the games were expected to host a large banquet to celebrate their success. Therefore, women, slaves, foreigners, and people of the lower class could not compete in the Olympic games.
While the Olympic festival was at its peak, there were five days of athletic events, feasts, parades, religious rituals. Every day, sacrifices were made to the gods and gifts were placed in front of the statues of past Olympic winners. City-states competed against each other in which one could give the most lavish and expensive gifts to the statues. On the third day of the Olympics, one-hundred cattle were killed and then burned as a special sacrifice to the gods. These were good times for Greece.However, all good things must come to an end. The Romans conquered Greece in 100 BC, and from then on, the Olympic festivals went into decline. People stopped celebrating the Olympics as a way of honoring the gods, and instead, everyone wanted to win for themselves. Cheating and bribery ensued among the competitors. In 393 AD, around the time Christianity had spread to Rome, the emperor Theodosius declared an end to the Olympics. As said in the text, "After well over twelve hundred years, the festival at Olympia had ended. There would be no Olympic Games for more than fifteen hundred years".
References:
Knight, Theodore. “The Ancient Olympics.” The Ancient World. 2010 ed. 2010. Print.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Ancient Greek Values
1.) What values were most important to the early Greeks and why were they considered so important?
Based on what we have learned from listening to excerpts from the Odyssey, I would assume that ingenuity, loyalty, and athleticism were the top three most important values to the early Greeks.
At least 3/4 of the stories show ingenuity. Odysseus uses his wits to outsmart the cyclops, the sirens, and all the other obstacles in his path. Penelope, Odysseus's wife, uses here ingenuity to stall against marrying one of her suitors. In other Greek myths, there are many more examples of cleverness being a major value. For example, there is one architect, Daedalus, who turns up several times. He makes the labyrinth in which the Minotaur is kept, and when the king who hired him to create the maze imprisons him, he escapes by making wings out of bird feathers. Another example of ancient Greek heroes being clever is when Hercules needs to pick a golden apple from Hera's garden of Hesperides. Atlas tricks Hercules into holding up the world on his shoulders forever and almost leaves the hero there, but Hercules tricks the titan into taking the world back again.
The second value that I think was pretty important to the ancient Greeks was loyalty. All over tales from the Odyssey, loyalty is demonstrated. Penelope stays loyal to her husband while being pressured into marrying a suitor; Odysseus is loyal to one of his men who died and travels back to give the man a proper burial, etc. Everyone is loyal to people they love. I think that the ancient Greeks valued loyalty because it is so honorable and the "right" thing to be. How can anyone like a hero who doesn't stay loyal to his wife? How can anyone respect a hero who isn't loyal to his allies? Like today, the ancient Greeks probably believed that being disloyal was despicable.
Lastly, the ancient Greek people believed that athleticism was a quality to be admired. Examples in the Odyssey are when Penelope says that she will only marry the man who can string and shoot from Odysseus's bow, and when Odysseus kills all of Penelope's suitors. Odysseus is part-god, so he is extra-strong (another example of the Greeks valuing physical strength and fitness). Because he is so strong, no one else can use his bow. This proves that none of the other men are worthy to marry Penelope. This idea that the strongest man gets the woman also emphasizes how highly thought of athleticism was by the Greeks. Also, Odysseus ends up using his awesome strength and skill to kill all of Penelope's suitors. This also demonstrates the hero of the story being strong and fit.
Of course, there are many more Greek values that are demonstrated in the Odyssey. Loyalty, ingenuity, and athleticism just popped out at me the most.
2.) In what ways are the early Greek values found in modern society?
There are many, many examples of where early Greek values can be found in modern society. All three values I mentioned above are still valued today.
It is very obvious that people still value athleticism. The winter and summer Olympics (which were invented in ancient Greece) still go on every two years. The point of the Olympics is for different countries to compete in athletic events. The strongest, fastest, and most skilled competitors are honored with medals and trophies. The Wimbledon cup for tennis, the men and women's World Cup for soccer, the NBA...all of these are more examples of us valuing good athletes. Even at school, sports teams exist. The best players get picked for A team, and the rest for the B and C teams. Everyone strives to reach the A team. Everyone wants to be a good athlete.
Modern-day humans still value ingenuity as well. There are National Spelling Bees in the US, there are book competitions, there is jeopardy, there is Math Counts - there are so many competitions out there for people with brains. Awards are given to the students in school with top grades. The Valedictorian of each senior year is honored. Even grading systems show that we still care about being smart. In visual arts, people are complimented on how creative, how ingenious their work is. In performing arts, you are admired if you can use your ingenuity to improvise, or to make a script come alive. People still value cleverness.
Lastly, loyalty is still valued. You are shunned if you cheat on your wife, husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend. You won't have any friends unless you stay loyal to the ones you have. Most people are patriotic, which means that they are loyal to their country. Everyone values loyalty, too.
So as you can see, the ancient Greek values that were valued thousands of years ago are still valued today. Their legacy still remains with us in modern times. We believe what they believe. Their beliefs have lasted through the ages. The ancient Greeks were more similar to us than we think.
Based on what we have learned from listening to excerpts from the Odyssey, I would assume that ingenuity, loyalty, and athleticism were the top three most important values to the early Greeks.
 |
| Odysseus Outsmarts the Cyclops and Blinds Him |
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| Penelope Tricks her Suitors about her Weaving |
Lastly, the ancient Greek people believed that athleticism was a quality to be admired. Examples in the Odyssey are when Penelope says that she will only marry the man who can string and shoot from Odysseus's bow, and when Odysseus kills all of Penelope's suitors. Odysseus is part-god, so he is extra-strong (another example of the Greeks valuing physical strength and fitness). Because he is so strong, no one else can use his bow. This proves that none of the other men are worthy to marry Penelope. This idea that the strongest man gets the woman also emphasizes how highly thought of athleticism was by the Greeks. Also, Odysseus ends up using his awesome strength and skill to kill all of Penelope's suitors. This also demonstrates the hero of the story being strong and fit.
Of course, there are many more Greek values that are demonstrated in the Odyssey. Loyalty, ingenuity, and athleticism just popped out at me the most.
2.) In what ways are the early Greek values found in modern society?
There are many, many examples of where early Greek values can be found in modern society. All three values I mentioned above are still valued today.
 |
| Ancient Greek Olympics |
Modern-day humans still value ingenuity as well. There are National Spelling Bees in the US, there are book competitions, there is jeopardy, there is Math Counts - there are so many competitions out there for people with brains. Awards are given to the students in school with top grades. The Valedictorian of each senior year is honored. Even grading systems show that we still care about being smart. In visual arts, people are complimented on how creative, how ingenious their work is. In performing arts, you are admired if you can use your ingenuity to improvise, or to make a script come alive. People still value cleverness.
Lastly, loyalty is still valued. You are shunned if you cheat on your wife, husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend. You won't have any friends unless you stay loyal to the ones you have. Most people are patriotic, which means that they are loyal to their country. Everyone values loyalty, too.
So as you can see, the ancient Greek values that were valued thousands of years ago are still valued today. Their legacy still remains with us in modern times. We believe what they believe. Their beliefs have lasted through the ages. The ancient Greeks were more similar to us than we think.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations
1.) Briefly describe both civilizations:
a.) Minoan
The Minoans were a very peaceful group of people. They worshiped a mother goddess who protected animals, fish, and plants, and they conducted their religious rituals outside and in caves. The Minoans had portable bathtubs, flushing toilets, and an advanced underground drainage system. They did not make weapons with their metal, and instead focused on creating jewelry and tools. Another example of how peace-loving the Minoans were is that they had no locks our walls around their castles. Someone could easily just walk in and murder the whole royal family. The Minoans also had beautiful paintings and painted on their palace walls and their pottery. This civilization had a type of writing called Linear A, but it has not yet been translated.
b.) Mycenaean
In contrast to the Minoans, the Mycenaean civilization was much more war-like. They worshiped the same mother goddess, but not only did she protect animals - she protected human warriors, too. The Mycenaeans used their metals to produce weapons and armour, and their palaces were used as military bases and centers of defense. Like the Minoans, the Mycenaeans also had an advanced pipe system, but they did not develop flushable toilets, and their bathtubs were attached to the walls and the ground. The Mycenaean civilization also painted their pottery, but they did not have as many colors as the Minoans. They had a type of writing called Linear B, which has been translated.
2.) What aspects of both civilizations would you expect to survive in later periods of Greek history?
I would expect that the drainage systems and the art of both civilizations would survive in later periods of Greek history. Both civilizations, especially the Minoans, had such good pipes that I believe it would have been a big mistake of other groups of people not to copy them. Also, I believe that art lasts for long periods of time because everyone admires it, and that civilizations coming after the Minoans and Mycenaeans might replicate their styles in their own art.
a.) Minoan
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| Minoan Art |
b.) Mycenaean
In contrast to the Minoans, the Mycenaean civilization was much more war-like. They worshiped the same mother goddess, but not only did she protect animals - she protected human warriors, too. The Mycenaeans used their metals to produce weapons and armour, and their palaces were used as military bases and centers of defense. Like the Minoans, the Mycenaeans also had an advanced pipe system, but they did not develop flushable toilets, and their bathtubs were attached to the walls and the ground. The Mycenaean civilization also painted their pottery, but they did not have as many colors as the Minoans. They had a type of writing called Linear B, which has been translated.
 |
| Mycenaean Pottery |
2.) What aspects of both civilizations would you expect to survive in later periods of Greek history?
I would expect that the drainage systems and the art of both civilizations would survive in later periods of Greek history. Both civilizations, especially the Minoans, had such good pipes that I believe it would have been a big mistake of other groups of people not to copy them. Also, I believe that art lasts for long periods of time because everyone admires it, and that civilizations coming after the Minoans and Mycenaeans might replicate their styles in their own art.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
End of Year Reflection
At last, it is done. I have completed my time machine. Now, I will be able to travel from time to time, anytime. This historic day shall be written down in history books forever into eternity. The day man traveled through time. First, I will travel to prehistoric Kenya. I would like to see for myself what ancient hominids look like.
I have arrived. Kenya is a beautiful place. Long grasses wave in the wind. A herd of zebra graze quietly nearby. Some water buffalo drink from a waterhole. The sun shines overhead. A cool breeze caresses my face. I look around, searching for what I have come to see: some ancient hominids called homo erectus. Homo erectus lived about 1.8 million years ago, and thrived for around 1.5 million years. Cautiously, I start forward - careful not to step in anything nasty, or disturb any unfriendly animal. It's then that I see them. A tribe of what seem to be half-monkey, half-men creatures lope out of a small forest and onto the open savanna. Homo erectus. These ancient beings had developed enough to be bipedal, but some still had the tendency to walk on all fours. I grinned, wishing that I had brought my camera. I was the first human from the 21st century to ever see a live homo erectus. I can hear them grunting and see them gesturing with their hands. This is unreal. This is unbelievable. I can't believe that I am seeing creatures that are supposed to stay in history books for real. I watch them, enthralled by their alien-ness. I saw a few start to use tools, and others went away to hunt. I watched, and I learned. It was amazing until I felt myself sliding away from this time. Oh no! My time machine wasn't working! I anxiously glanced at my watch. I had been in ancient Kenya for exactly 60 minutes. I was being pulled. Away, away, away. Where would I end up next?
Ancient Sumeria. I am now in the middle of the Fertile Crescent. I can't say that I am unhappy by this twist of events. The Sumerians invented many wonderful things such as the wheel, cuneiform, chariots, and sailboats. I look around and breathe in deeply. I am on the crest of a small hill. I can see what I assume to be the Euphrates River maybe about a mile ahead of me, but I may be wrong - it could be the Tigris River. Behind me, there is a city. The buildings are all made of reddish mud/clay bricks, and there is one, especially impressive piece of architecture that catches my eye. A ziggurat, probably built in honor of the ancient Sumerian goddess, Ishtar, stands tall and proud. Although the buildings may seem old and crude now, in 2011, I know that they probably took ages to build, and am quite impressed by what the Mesopotamians have managed to create. I feel proud of the human race, for what we were, for what we have become, and for what we can still be. Uh-oh...I feel that tugging again. I check my watch. I have been in Sumer for exactly 60 minutes. I'm starting to feel like there's a pattern. I wonder what will happen next?
Now I stand in ancient Egypt. The heat of the sun burns my skin. I am right next to the beautiful blue Nile River. Some pyramids stand in the distance. Something else does, too. What is that? I squint, trying to discern what that shape might be. Then, I realize that it is a pyramid that is being constructed - it is only half completed now. I can just barely make out the small, moving figures that are slaves, hauling the humongous rocks used to build the pyramids. As I stand, gazing at the pyramids, a beautifully crafted boat sails by. Its sail is loosely hanging down, but I see some slaves or servants rowing it upstream. A richly clothed man, who must have been the owner of the boat shouts at me, and I look away. It is then that I realize how rich and black the soil of ancient Egypt is. I can understand why people would want to settle here. Just by looking at it, you can tell that it is full of vitamins and minerals - nice, fertile soil for a farmer. Aagh! Oh no! I can feel myself leaving again! I don't need to check my watch to know that I have been standing in Egypt for only one hour. I sigh and resign myself to another adventure.
I am now in ancient India. I am standing on the bank of the Ganges River, watching a sobbing family giving one last farewell to their 15-year-old son who died of sickness. They are giving him one last drink of the holy Ganges water, and bathing him in it before they cremate him and throw his remains into the sacred river. This is a very sad scene, and I have no wish to watch it. I look away. I see the Taj Mahal. It looks as if it is coated with pink icing from the orange-pink sunset. The four pillars of that enormous tomb stand up, straight and erect. I know that the straightness of the Taj Mahal pillars is really just an illusion, but I find it hard to believe. I give the architects of the Taj Mahal credit. I don't really want to stay here very long, so I sit and watch the sun turn into a glowing orange ball and sink into the towering Himalayas. I don't know why, but ancient India has never really interested me, and it's cool and all, but right now, I just want to go home. I feel it. I'm about to leave India and go somewhere else. I hope it's somewhere in my time.
Yes! I am on an archaeological dig in 2011. The people here are looking for more evidence of homo floresiensis, because they want to prove that this species of hominid was not just a weird mutation of homo erectus or homo habilis. They want people to know that homo floresiensis was its own species of human entirely. Oh, I am so glad to be back home in my own time.
I have arrived. Kenya is a beautiful place. Long grasses wave in the wind. A herd of zebra graze quietly nearby. Some water buffalo drink from a waterhole. The sun shines overhead. A cool breeze caresses my face. I look around, searching for what I have come to see: some ancient hominids called homo erectus. Homo erectus lived about 1.8 million years ago, and thrived for around 1.5 million years. Cautiously, I start forward - careful not to step in anything nasty, or disturb any unfriendly animal. It's then that I see them. A tribe of what seem to be half-monkey, half-men creatures lope out of a small forest and onto the open savanna. Homo erectus. These ancient beings had developed enough to be bipedal, but some still had the tendency to walk on all fours. I grinned, wishing that I had brought my camera. I was the first human from the 21st century to ever see a live homo erectus. I can hear them grunting and see them gesturing with their hands. This is unreal. This is unbelievable. I can't believe that I am seeing creatures that are supposed to stay in history books for real. I watch them, enthralled by their alien-ness. I saw a few start to use tools, and others went away to hunt. I watched, and I learned. It was amazing until I felt myself sliding away from this time. Oh no! My time machine wasn't working! I anxiously glanced at my watch. I had been in ancient Kenya for exactly 60 minutes. I was being pulled. Away, away, away. Where would I end up next?
Yes! I am on an archaeological dig in 2011. The people here are looking for more evidence of homo floresiensis, because they want to prove that this species of hominid was not just a weird mutation of homo erectus or homo habilis. They want people to know that homo floresiensis was its own species of human entirely. Oh, I am so glad to be back home in my own time.
Friday, May 27, 2011
The Taj Mahal
Summarizing the Story:
The Taj Mahal was built as a monument to eternal love. It all started out when Prince Khurram was 15 and Arjumand Banu was 14. At the time, Khurram was looking for a wife. He visited the Meena Bazaar during a festival to celebrate the New Year. He saw a beautiful girl his age selling candy at a stall. He went over and they started a conversation, which then led to marriage. At first Prince Khurram wasn’t sure whether or not his father would allow the marriage, seeing as Arjumand Banu was the daughter of the Prime Minister and not a princess. However, Emperor Jahangir asked the royal astrologers what they read in the heavens, and they told him that the marriage would result in a very good match. On the day of Arjumand and Khurram’s wedding, Jahangir saw how beautiful Arjumand was, so he gave her a new name: Mumtaz Mahal, which meant “Jewel of the Palace”. Mumtaz Mahal and Prince Khurram were very much in love, and whenever he led his troops into battle, she rode in alongside him. Whenever he was
accompanied by his wife, Khurram never lost a battle. He defeated so many enemies that when he arrived back at the palace, his father, Emperor Jahangir, gave him a new name: Shah Jahan, which meant “King of the World”. Eventually, Emperor Jahangir passed away, leaving Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal in charge of India. They were good, fair rulers, and every year, Shah Jahan would put himself on a scale, and give his weight in gold, silver, jewels, and other riches to the poor. The people of India loved their emperor and empress. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal had many children. One day, when Shah Jahan was marching out to battle
again, Mumtaz Mahal told him that she was pregnant with another child. He thought that she should stay in the palace, but she refused, and they left the city together. As Shah Jahan won his fights, Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to a baby girl. Her husband was overjoyed, but when he went to visit her, he noticed that she was very pale. Mumtaz Mahal was very sick. Before she died, Mumtaz made Shah Jahan promise that he would make sure that their love would never be forgotten. Then, she passed away. Shah Jahan was desolate with sadness. He stopped eating and drinking, and he couldn’t think of what to do to make sure their love wasn’t forgotten. Then, one night, he had a dream in which Mumtaz Mahal was walking around in a beautiful white palace. Then, he knew what he needed to create. He called in architects and calligraphers from all over the world. He had them design and build a great tomb that would show his love to Mumtaz Mahal. White marble, gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, obsidian, and all sorts of wonderful and precious jewels were used in the making of the Taj Mahal. After a few years of construction, it was finished. The Taj Mahal was the most beautiful building in India. Shah Jahan wanted to be buried alongside his wife in a black tomb when he died, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. He grew ill, and his third son took advantage of this and imprisoned his father in the Red Palace, where he was held captive for eight years until he died. His son buried him with Mumtaz Mahal, though not in the way and place Shah Jahan had envisioned it. The Taj Mahal still stands today as a monument to the love between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, as well as true love all over the world.
The Taj Mahal was built as a monument to eternal love. It all started out when Prince Khurram was 15 and Arjumand Banu was 14. At the time, Khurram was looking for a wife. He visited the Meena Bazaar during a festival to celebrate the New Year. He saw a beautiful girl his age selling candy at a stall. He went over and they started a conversation, which then led to marriage. At first Prince Khurram wasn’t sure whether or not his father would allow the marriage, seeing as Arjumand Banu was the daughter of the Prime Minister and not a princess. However, Emperor Jahangir asked the royal astrologers what they read in the heavens, and they told him that the marriage would result in a very good match. On the day of Arjumand and Khurram’s wedding, Jahangir saw how beautiful Arjumand was, so he gave her a new name: Mumtaz Mahal, which meant “Jewel of the Palace”. Mumtaz Mahal and Prince Khurram were very much in love, and whenever he led his troops into battle, she rode in alongside him. Whenever he was
accompanied by his wife, Khurram never lost a battle. He defeated so many enemies that when he arrived back at the palace, his father, Emperor Jahangir, gave him a new name: Shah Jahan, which meant “King of the World”. Eventually, Emperor Jahangir passed away, leaving Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal in charge of India. They were good, fair rulers, and every year, Shah Jahan would put himself on a scale, and give his weight in gold, silver, jewels, and other riches to the poor. The people of India loved their emperor and empress. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal had many children. One day, when Shah Jahan was marching out to battle
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