Homework from 3/17

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

We ended with the Pontifix Maximus. That's where we'll begin.

In 12 BC, Octavius was named the people's Pontifix Maximus (meaning "the bridge builder").

He began work on bringing back the Roman Republic. He wanted justice to be administered quickly and more efficiently. And for the first time in a long time, the Republic began to run like a well-oiled machine.

Octavius was a brilliant organizer. He could control very well. He was able to manage many locations and could rule over them all in his head alone. He was an effective person. Several key points about his character we will focus in upon.


First, he was a faithful man. He didn't stray easily and was focused.

Second, he had a certain sense of glory around him. It was also a sense of authority and power just surrounding him...a presence.

Third, he had dignity. Dignity cannot be trained. It is a sign of a bearing of nobility.

And Fourth, he was marked by organization as we mentioned before. It was so natural to him that it seemed ordinary. (I actually found out that the word ordinary actually came from the word organization due to Octavius).


People always either loved him, or hated him. He was a black-and-white type of person. He did not hide his beliefs and therefore everyone knew what he lived by and either hated him or loved him for it. There were no lukewarm feelings for him. But even those who hated him had respect for him.

In 27 AD, he was officially named Augustus.

He was a genius even in his personal life.

He was followed by four men:
Tiberius - a megalo maniac
Caligula - a mad man
Cladius - an utter fool
And Nero - a foul monster

These men, when it came time for them to rule, had complete control. These were cruel half-wits and *still* the empire did not fall apart but grew stronger. This is mainly because these men had relatively short terms. In all, they served not only 10 years. The lesson which we can take from this is that a culture is measured most by its society, not by its government.

When we learn about Pax Romana, we must understand that it took its origin and root from Julius and Augustus Caesar.

Rome was not established so much on the brilliance of rulers. It was more of the stability of a strong society set up by Augustus.

The whole of Rome would have broken down had those four rulers ruled for longer. The damage was only for short-term.

Octavius tied Rome together. Him making decent roads helped do this. He connected the city to itself. He organized it like military legions. Octavius also made it well-designed so that the army could travel unimpeded. It wasn't needed to be repaired often, because it was so well built. This shows us that the Romans were solid and strong builders. Octavius also built aqua-ducts so that the city could have fresh water from the mountain.

And once again, the mainly lesson we must see from all of this is that a strong society does not rely on any government. Government must be irrelevant.

Rome: Cultural Achievement

Social stability overcomes the smothering of a corrupt government.

Weltanschauung is a German word roughly translated as "a life perspective or a way of seeing." I also found something that broke it up a bit more. Weltanschauung is the combination of the German words Welt meaning “world” and anschauen meaning “to view.” So basically a way in how you view the world.

Everyone has a way of seeing. The way you see is based on what you believe. You listen, say, do, or whatever according to whatever it is you believe. All writers write their beliefs. When you sit down to read a book, you need to realize that whatever it is you're reading is based upon someone's worldview and beliefs. And you can't always believe the first source you find. You must go looking for more opinions.

A culture's symoblos show the majority worldview. Any problems within a nation is because of warring worldviews. Immigration does nothing to help this. Then, the government steps in and "helps" fix this warring worldview problem. Of course, here they push whatever worldview they want and they say it will fix everything (which turns out to make the problem worse).