Forms of Government in Ancient Rome: Monarchy, Republic, and Empire
Forms of Government in Ancient Rome
1. Monarchy
In its early history, Rome, like Greece, was a monarchy. Tradition holds that between 753 and 509 BC, Rome had seven kings, from Romulus to Tarquinius Superbus.
The king (rex) held social, political, and military authority. Like a god, the king rode through the city in a chariot while others walked, carrying a scepter and gold crown, symbolizing his ownership of the city. He was accompanied by lictors carrying fasces, a symbol of royal power, used to
Read MoreEpic and Novel in Latin Literature: A Historical Overview
Epic Poetry in Latin Literature
The Origins of Epic Poetry
Epic poetry tells stories of war or deeds of heroes or mythical characters. Most cultures have a great epic that chronicles the adventures of their national hero. This primitive epic, of oral character, was a conglomerate of poems which the rhapsodies sang. However, there came a time when some of these songs were written down by one or more authors. Two great Greek epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are attributed to Homer. From that moment,
Read MoreRoman Theatre: Origins, Genres, and Plays
Origins
Roman youth improvised and composed songs for short, scenic pieces called “saturae.” Satura is the combination of music, dance performances, and dialogue. The Fescennine verses, religious dramas, and wedding songs were improvised with burlesque characters and dialogue. The Atellan farces were short, improvised farces with a satirical and comic tone, equipped with a rudimentary plot and fixed characters. The mimes were performed during the Floralia, in honor of the goddess Flora. They were
Read MoreLatin American Economic Organizations and Trade Agreements
Latin American Economic Organizations and Trade
System of Latin American and Caribbean Economic (SELA)
The System of Latin American and Caribbean Economic (SELA) is a regional intergovernmental organization headquartered in Caracas, Venezuela, composed of 28 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Created on October 17, 1975, through the Panama Convention, SELA currently comprises: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Read MoreThe Rise of the Middle Ages: From Roman Decline to Islamic Ascendancy
The Beginning of the Middle Ages
The End of the Roman Empire
Germanic peoples, who lived in villages and practiced pastoralism, inhabited the north of the Roman Empire. The Romans called them barbarians (foreigners), believing they were less civilized.
From the third century, these Germanic peoples began to enter Roman lands, sometimes peacefully and other times violently.
In 395, the Roman Emperor Theodosius divided the empire between his sons Honorius (West) and Arcadius (East).
The problems continued,
Read MoreAnalysis of Bécquer’s Rhymes
Rima VII
Metric: Bécquer utilizes assonance in these Rima verses. With the exception of the last lines in the first two stanzas, each verse consists of ten syllables. The rhyme scheme follows a pattern of three quatrains, structured as:
- 10, 10, -10, 10
Theme: “Hidden Talent”
Stylistic Devices:
- Hyperbaton: “From living in the dark corner, (v 1) of its owner perhaps asleep” (v 2).
- Metaphor: “How much sleep in their string note, (v 5) As the bird sleeps in the branches “(v 6)
- Personification: “(the genius)