Working Bibliography and Log #3

~CURRENT WORK TO DATE~

Bibliography:

Social Structure in Rome. http://ancientrome.wikispaces.com/Social+Structure+in+Rome. (Accessed 27 April 2014).

Social Class and Public Display. http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/socialclass.html. (Accessed 27 April 2014). 

Cartwright, M., Ancient History Encyclopedia: Gladiator. http://www.ancient.eu.com/gladiator/. (Accessed 09 May 2014).

History on the Net.com, The Romans Gladiators. http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/gladiators.htm. (Accessed 10 May 2014).

Shmoop, The Hunger Game Allusions and Cultural References. http://www.shmoop.com/hunger-games/allusions.html. (Accessed 10 May 2014).

Encyclopaedia Britannica Blog, Bread and Circuses: The Hunger Games and Ancient Rome. http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2012/03/bread-circuses-the-hunger-games-ancient-rome/. (Accessed 10 May 2014).

The Amphitheater at Pompeii. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/pompeii.html. (Accessed 11 May 2014)

Mariamilani. http://www.mariamilani.com/colosseum/gladiators_julius_caesar.htm. (Accessed 10 June 2014).

Arena: Gladiatorial Games. http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/arena.html. (Accessed 10 June 2014).

Roman-Empire.net. http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/nero-index.html. (Accessed 10 June 2014).  

Historynet.com. http://www.historynet.com/spartacus.htm. (Accessed 10 June 2014).

Bio, Julius Caesar Biography. http://www.biography.com/people/julius-caesar-9192504#awesm=~oIhMrNkpSp4JFu. (Accessed 12 June 2014).

Roman-Empire.net. http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/commodus.html. (Accessed 12 June 2014).

Film

Gladiator. (DVD) DreamWorks SKG, California. 2000.

Video

Popperslist. Colosseum – A Gladiator’s Story, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0fRqc_pChY. (Accessed 10 May 2014).

Mghinto, The Fall of the Roman Republic, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjpzDiqb3xo. (Accessed 10 May 2014).

Text

Adkins, L and R., Introduction to The Romans. Sandstone Books, Leichardt. 1996.

Perowne, S., Death of the Roman Republic. Hodder and Stoughton, London. 1969.

Koutsoukis, A.J., History of the Ancient World Ancient Rome. Logman Cheshire, Melbourne. 1989.

Deary, T., Horrible Histories: The Ruthless Romans. Scholastic Children’s Books, London. 2003. 

Work Log:

Wed, 23 April: 

Brainstormed ideas and updated blog.

Sunday, 27 April: 

Researched the Ancient Roman social class system and updated my bibliography.

Tuesday, 29 April:

Watched Gladiator and observed possible ideas and questions and updated my blog and bibliography.  

Thursday, 01 May:

Went to the school library and borrowed, History of the Ancient World Ancient Rome, Death of the Roman Republic, Introduction to The Romans, and Horrible Histories: The Ruthless Romans. I shall look through them further on the weekend.

Wednesday, 07 May:

Read through and took notes on Introduction to The Romans (especially the chapters on the rise of the republic and gladiator fights).

Friday, 09 May: 

Continued to take notes on Introduction to The Romans and investigated further on the emergence of gladiator fights (using the internet). 

Saturday, 10 May:

Researched allusions from The Hunger Games to Ancient Rome, watched documentaries on gladiators and the fall of the Roman Republic, updated my bibliography and blog.

Sunday, 11 May:

Further researched the world of the gladiator and the timeline of gladiator battles. Updated my bibliography and blog. 

Tuesday, 13 May:

Read and annotated sections of Horrible Histories: The Ruthless Romans.

Thursday, 15 May: 

Further read and annotated sections of Horrible Histories: The Ruthless Romans and History of the Ancient World Ancient Rome.

Monday, 19 May:

Researched on the political uses of gladiators and updated blog.

Wednesday, 4 June: 

Did some thinking. Nothing really came to me.

Tuesday, 10 June:

Researched the Spartacus Revolt and it’s possible place in my study (how did the Empire respond?)

Thursday, 12 June:

Honed in on the possibility of gladiatorial displays of Julius Caesar’s reign.

Tuesday, 24 June:

Researched further into Nero’s reign and both the positives and negatives the game’s posed to Rome.

Thursday, 26 June:

Updated blog and bibliography.

The Point of No Return

Continuing to appear fresh and rosy-fingered, Dawn never ceased to impress.

I have, as of now, passed the point of no return with my essay; having finalized my topic of Ancient Roman gladiators, and (hopefully) my question of, "To what extent did the gladiatorial displays of the Roman Empire perform important social and political functions rather than just being entertainment?"

With this essay, as it is a "to what extent" question, it is important I look at both sides of the argument, and analyse the positives and negatives of the gladiator games. Opinions from individuals such as Seneca, Stoic and Nero (though he also supported the games on occasion) will help assert negative views, while Vespasian, Titus, Julius Caesar (though he predates the Empire) and other supporters of the games will provide useful contradictory points. This study will look in depth as to the pros and cons of such games and evaluate their social and political benefits to the Emperors of the time. Important events such as the building of the Colosseum, the banning of the games, for 10 years, in Pompeii, and (possibly) the Spartacus Revolt will be some of my historic reference points.

Below is the basic structure of my essay for the moment:

INTRODUCTION

PARAGRAPH 1:
How gladiatorial games were considered, by many higher-class Romans and philosophers, to be pointless entertainment, serving no real purpose in the community.

PARAGRAPH 2:
How gladiatorial games were used for social purposes (eg. manipulate public, increase moral etc.)

PARAGRAPH 3:
How gladiatorial games were used for political/economic purposes (eg. increase income, gain votes etc.)

CONCLUSION

"Salus Populi, Suprema Lex." - The greatest law is the health of the people.