Commodus Report
From ThePlaz.com
Latin 3 Report on Commodus. Make a handout with important facts; map, poster, or PowerPoint as a visual aid; 2-5 minute presentation; have 3 sources; 3 discussion questions; activity is extra credit (I didn't do an activity)
Contents |
Worksheet
A Microsoft Word version of this work is available here: Image:Commodus Handout.doc
A PDF version of this work is available here: Image:Commodus Handout.pdf
Powerpoint
A PowerPoint slideshow of this work is available here: Image:Commodus.ppt
A PDF version of this work is available here: Image:Commodus Powerpoint.pdf
Basics
- Son Marcus Aurelis and Faustina
- Born in Lanuvium 161 CE
- Spent teen years on the frontlines with his father
- Educated intellectually, not militarily
- After father’s death, surrendered to tribes, people had high hopes, thought he would rule like his father
Ruler
- Coins showed him as warrior
- Popular for most of his rule
- Generous
- Taxed the Senatorial class
- Made him popular with the people
- But disliked in the Senate
Megalomaniac
- Obsessed with Hercules
- Carried lion skin and club
- Fought in the Coliseum (always won)
- Considered scandalous
- Charged 1 million sesterces/fight (lots of $$)
- Great archer
- Refounded Rome (so he could claim himself as the founder)
- Renamed the months to correspond with his titles
- Renamed the population Commodianus
- Made the years correspond to his age
Titles
- Caesar age 5
- Germanicus age 11
- Imperator age 16
- Co-Augusts age 17
- Emperor age 19
- God age 29
- Dead age 31
Death
- Several attempts made on his life
- On 31 December 192, an athlete Narcissus strangled him in the baths
- Senate rolled back most of his changes
- After him the year of the five emperors
Questions
- Why was Commodus murdered?
- Why do you think he was crazy?
- Did his intellectual education cause him to rebel?
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