Roman Thesis Statements:
*Please compose one thesis statement per category and bring that sentence (4 total) to class on
Wednesday. This must be typed, no exceptions.
Comparison
Roman and Greek history are often the subject of comparison given their proximal geography, and
congruent time frame. Consider any three of the following themes and analyze how the civilizations
either compare or contrast.
 Cultural Traditions
 Economic Basis
 Social Class Structures
 Political Culture
 Religious Traditions
The Roman emphasis on pragmatic philosophy and science, economic gain through geographic conquest, and
republican or empirical government differs greatly from Greece’s reliance on an emphasis on abstraction, peaceful
commerce, and direct democracy.
Free Response
What factors made Rome an ideal candidate for a strong, enduring, global civilization?
Rome’s ability to adapt philosophy and science for practical use, conquer, and display tolerance made it an ideal
candidate for a global civilization.
-orWhat do the experiences of the Gracchi Brothers as well as that of Marius and Sulla say
social tensions in Rome?
about the
Despite the victory over oppression and social tension that saw the end of the struggle for orders, the political
mayhem instituted by the assassination of the brothers Gracchi, and the civil war of Marius and Sulla illustrated the
deep rooted social inequality of the Roman Empire.
Change Over Time:
Discuss the economic changes that took place in Rome’s transformation from a Republic to an Empire
from 44 BCE to 180 AD.
Rome’s transition from a republic to an empire is directly correlated to her development as a regional economic
power that saw conquest facilitate the rise of specialized economic regions.
-orAnalyze the constantly changing religious world of the Roman Empire.
The staggering array of religions throughout the Roman world was a by-product of the decaying Hellenistic age, and
the increasing complexity of social problems that promoted religions of salvation within the Mediterranean world.
What If?
Compare the Punic Wars to the Persian Wars, in what ways were both events pivotal, and what might
have happened had the outcomes had been different?
Defeat in the Punic Wars and Persian Wars alters the fabric of Mediterranean history as without victory neither
Rome nor Athens secures the confidence to pursue an empire in the region.