Videos

CHICANO History of Mexican American Civil Rights Movement

Added Jan 28, 2022 •

Copy this URL:
Embed code:	<iframe class="edlio-embed-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="//www.hollywoodhighschool.net/apps/embed/?v=333444" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Change dimensions

PBS Documentary. Uploaded for individual educational purposes only.

Show Transcript

orange pet friendly words like you additional funding provided by the Texas committee for the humanities in the 1960s generation of Mexican-American created a militant social movement in response to the anger and frustration that have been building for so many years within their community in California to Texas the Humane treatment in the fields where they labor New Mexico they fought to reclaim Land once owned by their ancestors it became clear that without political power Mexican Americans would remain second-class citizens Houston dressing up timer 20 party call South Texas town a new political party to a shame that it threatened to change the political landscape of Erica needed to Ghana people here you've never met us we're not in the dictionary it's a brand new ballgame you don't have to relearn all your stereotypes and all your BS because we are about to begin creating human top 10 messages to learn fast why not as the nation watched Chicanos took on the most challenging quest of the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement and Los Barrios Memphis in the 1960s Mexican Americans made up the majority of the population of South Texas most were migrant Farm Workers with little education after picking the winter crops many of them travel across America in search of yet another Harvest this part of the country has been built on the back to the Mexican Americans so you had every bit as much segregation on you. Education so forth as the African American kid in the Deep South the few wealthy landowners were angle the huge majority of the population was locked into a labor pool Reserve labor owners of businesses were all the angles I don't recall in the downtown area a single Mexican-American business when I was growing up in Crystal City where Jose Gutierrez grew up 1940s and 50s mexican-americans accounted for 85% of the population but they had no political representation for years Mexican Americans have been denied the right to vote by obstacles like poll tax literacy test and gerrymandered voting districts you take a county where we might be the majority of the population well what what the angle establishment had done was to divide the county in such a way it was simply impossible for a Mexican Americans who really gain political power we have the poll tax back then most people did not have the money and if it did they they have the same not to spend it on on the privilege of voting because it was always white candidates and that that was always the results the situation was people work in many cases denied the right to vote because they didn't speak English in other cases they they were entered peonage to two a boss or Patron and were required to vote is he wanted a tattoo he would pay the poll taxes and they would vote for who he said to vote for that was really yeah you know of an archaic system for the first time in more than 100 years mexican-americans put up their own candidate and challenged Anglo politicians for control of city government we had to be ingenious soon and better Kate walks in tamale sales and and dances where you would pay supposedly for the cake where the tamales are the dance but end up getting registered to vote although only a student with the artist was active in the campaign making speeches registering voters organizing rallies the five candidates known as most single surprise political observers by defeating the Anglo mayor and the all'angolo city council the victors quickly learned that long standing Traditions do not change easily First Texas Ranger ayle refused to turn over the keys to City Hall a phone call from Texas governor John Connally forced him to accept the new officials with the local business Community was more effective in its strategy lose your job your stressful day Countryside if that then I'm going to $35 a week I don't know how long I go to stand it but I'm doing it right now. One of the members of the council for a check that had bounced do they tried to remove one or two search for being late and payments of utilities and they run a slate against us the next time I didn't beat us the rise and fall of Los Cinco echoed a long history of conflict between Mexican Americans and South Texas power structure in the history of Oppression of a Nikon those are Chicanos and in in the United States of Texas was probably the worst you have more of a history of conflict you have more of a history of land grabbing outright land grabbing you are more of a history of just outright physical oppression of the Mexican population in Texas back in the twenties the New York Times have an editorial as saying that the end killing of Mexicans in Texas it reached the proportions of being a scandal the Texas Rangers were created in 1823 to protect settlers from Outlaws they had a reputation for intimidation and violence toward Mexican Americans I wish I could come help Military Road today with a Carly hit car and they gave us a big Patriots had a full Mexican hanging by the neck kernels his baby I guess the Rangers have been through here in the face of this Frontier Justice terrorize Mexican Americans were reluctant to fight for their civil rights down there private purposes they were acting private police force for some of those farmers down their employers down in the valley is as back in the Moon 6970 somewhere somewhere in there and certainly for the years and years before that no action was brought against the Rangers they were just a law unto themselves Ranger Ali in the Anglo Council worth second power it was business as usual in Crystal City I never forgot those those kinds of dynamic then go on in and come in on the game isn't that it's not just important take power you've got to be able to hold power and govern effectively so so I learned it by watching Jose Angel Gutierrez went on to graduate school at Saint Mary's University in San Antonio there he met Willie Velasquez before long they were working together to bring change to Mexican American politics we had a regular studies article we read about King and we go look for him you probably planning several times repeated by Stokely Carmichael and then a snake the activist and we track them down we learn about Corky Gonzales and blessed evening and we'll go find a job as we we we actually and then went out and got informed First painting with the others rode his pieces on the conditions for revolution in South Texas what he meant by Revolution was fun. change in electoral economic and social context remember at this time in South Texas Mexican Americans were legally barred in many ways from taking part in politics only attempt to organize Mexican Americans began in the 19th century some successes came in 1929 with the formation of lulac the league how did Latin American citizens lulac was very much aware of the oppression which Mexican Americans were experiencing in South Texas they're very successful in breaking down the discriminatory barrier in the area of Education in the area of employment in the area of health services by the mid-forties Mexico American servicemen and women returned from World War only to find that discrimination was still part of everyday life these conditions led to the creation of the American GI Forum what galvanized the the organization was an incident where they returning our war hero was refused burial in his own hometown by the angle and the mortuary funeral home Felix Longoria from Three Rivers Texas died a hero during the liberation of the Philippines the idea that I did a hero cannot be buried in his own Hometown angry people so much that it would be it is to symbolize a lot Aaliyah the concern Hyundai the Grievances that these Latino or Service Manhattan intervened arranging for long do you have to be buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery many Mexican Americans remembered Johnson's support at election time 1860 John F Kennedy's presidential campaign recognized the potential power of groups like lulac and the GI Forum and solicited Mexican American voters John F Kennedy and the doctor. $5 presidency Americans primarily because he was Catholic I'm primarily because he capitalized on that phallicism by reaching out to the Mexican American population which was something prior presidential candidates did not do political Act this form of Eva Kennedy clubs throughout the Southwest Kennedy won Texas by 20,000 votes the state's Mexican Americans voted for him 10 to 1 Kennedy's election gave Mexican American political activists a newfound sense of power and raised their expectations but they were soon disappointed very small crumbs of the political pie with pants down to the Mexican American comedian and so there was this disappointment text me through the sixties on the part of Spanish-speaking youth where the Democratic lack of fulfillment of promises and intentions Chicano activists inpatient 4chan believe they had better strategies for getting political power than those of the previous generation there was a great dissatisfaction building within the community especially among the youth the line organizations like the GI Forum like lulac who had by this point has been reduced to Social Clubs that did a little they would go out and they would never really protest anything because they didn't want to compromiser dignity my 1968 Gutierrez and other students from St Mary's formed a more militant alternative can you can't be an activist you can't risk everything but don't bother join us join the GI Forum join the lulac because we were looking for people that would go out take on tactics that were in every way confrontation we were convinced that we were the general it was going to recover the land in the southwest not by taking the long but by taking political control of the institutions in the land has began organizing the Mexican-American is Crystal City determined to win back the government that have been denied to go single at the right place at the right time we'll need to change but we weren't quite sure how to go about it Gutierrez targeted the schools where young people were fed up with negative stereotypes people say talked about me he got knows it was a bad thing Mexicano Van Diesel know all of the bad things and then he kind of scared and we were seen as lazy I still remember I seen in the history books the the Americano with a sombrero over the top and I mean asleep and that's what we had to deal with me image that they had of us there and that was projected onto us and it was hard to overcome image that they had and then on the sidelines of high school football this anger found a common cause in these small towns the whole Civic life revolves around High School football the cheerleaders were always the most popular the most beautiful the most whatever to succeed and so far Crystal City High School mexican-americans outnumbered Anglo 8 to 1 but school officials would only allow one Mexican-American on the cheerleading squad when she was tested that policy she was rejected by the teachers to me that's when when we already sort of opened her eyes and looked around and realize that all these things have been going on and and we had just sit back and let it happen students threatened to walk out unless given Mexican-American cheerleaders teachers and counselors they also demanded the courses and Mexican American history and something that had long hair appointment the right of speech fan in school I have been caught a speaking Spanish and one of the rules was you do not speak Spanish not in the Halls not in the recreation or anywhere and one of the teachers goody principal's office and I got cattle with a boy cause eminent organizers hope to get parents involved we went and asked them to support us because if they came they would do all these principles and teacher in the movie and I don't understand your daughter's ugly she can't be a they only want the pretty ones with the white legs now there's no father who thinks he's got an ugly daughter School Board in south of Benton so they had no way out they said you know you kids are right Mama you're right I mean they don't listen to anybody won't even listen so you do what you got to do so the kids started chanting and screaming walk out walk out walk out on December 9th 1969 700 students walked out of Crystal City High School the fact that state that the Mexican American students walk out over a cheerleading position is there it was very very significant and took amount of Courage at that time it went directly to the whole hierarchy down there try to change that around representatives of the United States Department of Justice intervened to mediate the crisis agreement has been reached between the school board the parents and the student some of the students have returned. afternoon and it's my understanding that the rest of them will return in the morning the school board agreed to all of the demands three months later Diana Palacios was loaded head cheerleader of cities Varsity Squad building on this success Mexican Americans in Crystal City created their own political party La Raza Unida the United people no longer accept the fact that we are powerless and needs to be complaining about our policy we know we're powerful we know we can go tonight we know we can Triumph we know that our destiny is not tried the holes in Phoenix the tides in the craters and loftier goals and levels are only take a step in that direction Anthony there's an example of this kind of Step it was very clear in the minds of everybody there that a political party was important because you know when you come to the conclusion that the Democratic party and Republican it was a animal with two heads for the first time since the defeat of most single large numbers of Mexican Americans register to vote in Crystal this time they registered for the rest of Anita party the party found its greatest support among women 95% of the people that were registering voters and getting people out to the polls were with and yet we didn't have a say so in the decision-making process we actually had a a walk into one of their meetings and said hey we don't want to be the tamale makers in the workers and we don't want them to be the The Busy Bees you know we really want to be part of the decision-making process and it at that time half the men broke off of harassing me there and they said they didn't want to be part of it at the women were going to be involved split because of that has the party launched its campaign women proved to be strong organizers when women came into the party they fell into this crater contact stuff so when we organized or went out to recruit people at we went out to recruit wives mothers girlfriend's sister sisters in law and cost of the context of political power it was easy for us to women by participating in the decision-making process women of La Raza Unida set a precedent the change the way men and women work together in the movement that's the only the campaign to take back control of the crystal city government working not only to win but the win decisively I need a platform was bilingual education regulation of Public Utilities Farm subsidies an inequitable tax structure all of the issues that appeal to A working class population was essentially the backbone of regressive need a platform I want election day in April 1970 out of 16 possible races that we could win School Board in the city council we 115 it was a total Wipeout just about the business Community denounced by sonido the local newspaper that the charge rasa Elite has brought nothing but hate this trust turmoil and complete Financial irresponsibility start the only way to stop is disruption in the destructive force that is attempting to gain complete control over people's lives and live good is to refuse to vote for candidates who are supported by the Raza Unida dangler population reacted with with horror and recoiled from this Prospect they after all have been at the top of the Heat and all of a sudden the levers of political power were removed and can other people had them and not only did they they have them but they were almost turning the tables and trim as the anglos perceived no they were now separate discrimination map 3235 Stanley Martin Martin here in Nevada County that both ball around and the other 67% are not going to rain why are they afraid to vote are favored nation but in fact Crystal City leaders couldn't stop the rest of the party which was gaining some throughout Texas in 1972 Ramsey Moon he's a former football star at Baylor University and an attorney announced that he would run for governor under the vicinity the banner but we just don't want the keys we want the keys for the whole Space, Nothing Like Us Ramsey movies was a very attractive candidate and he was very able he was tireless and he went out and camping day and night he is with the people wanted to be like that he made you proud of being a Mexican America did he tell you I went to fight for my country tell her we going out to die for the country we going out to get an education at first the Democratic party of Texas was unconcerned I don't think that we took the party that seriously we didn't think in terms of impact in terms of numbers that they were making this describe that they hope to make and that it was still important that we addressed the broad Mexican-American community of Texas to win elections and that's what we did the Ramsey Moon campaign brought widespread attention to the Raza Looney the party registered voters in the state so that we can get on the ballot chapters appeared in Nebraska Mexico Michigan and Arizona before long the last Monday the party was registering voters and Fielding mexican-americans candidates in 16 States the best way to party Crystal the sense of nationalism or a combination of nationalism at the put it that way and allow me to Winterfest our movements vision and goals in art form I'm talking about politics and talking about struggling I'm talking about art form and poetry and talking about riding in on it it was a very psychological liberating Forks but I call Didi Conn rising over mine do not only promoting my dinner Gianni's more or you know who we were as individuals people but more importantly as creators but we discovered in Colorado Corky Gonzales so his dream of a third political party for Chicanos envisioned at the Denver youth conference becoming a reality lost no time organizing a Denver chapter what in Los Angeles bus do I need to produce division in the Mexican-American War and you seen the conditions remain the same for 50 years. The idea of leaving the Democratic party for this new organization was too radical for many Mexican American voters but she kind of act to this site differently electoral candidates for the first time we had our own party however was what happened with it after I was released and Rich electoral electoral campaign in Los an which was pretty Mexican against Mexican we're tired of everybody saying it's not our jurisdiction assemblyman Richard Alatorre was the incumbent and the reason that we ran in this race was primarily to challenge the Democratic party is Raul Ruiz a young college professor who was a blasphemy. and the party of the democratic party at not historically been responsive to our needs so we knew that me and we saw the logic in The Virtue and taking on a another check on the Democrat the idea of a third party was particularly offensive do those of us who have been working for change within the Democratic party or the Republican party party then some of us who have been around and charity g.i. Forum lulac folks Lewis lost but his rest only the campaign took a substantial number of votes from the Democratic party for the first time in decades. Democrat had lost to a republican in the 48th Assembly District of Los Angeles do you feel that the next America is going to Desert the Democratic party this time around not at all I don't think so why should they Democratic Party play parties ever done anything for the Mexican-American on the city council Los Angeles minimum 15 members not a single Chicano of the five members of the County Board of Supervisors there has never and its 100-year history been a member from a minority Community State Legislature numbers 120 yes you will find only two Mexican Americans both in the lower house we have no US senators in congress and only a single Congressman sits in the House of Representatives established Mexican American politicians were part of the problem in the eyes of young chickens just barely getting our feet wet and comes up at this time, very angry illusion that everything got to represent it to the institution not to trust anybody who represented the system and that we thought that they had not done enough and if they had in fact that sold out back in Texas Jose Angel Gutierrez and the Russian leader who increasingly militant book bags with the barriers to our of integrating into the society and is going to uplifting herself is the Bengals and bath house with an Anglo group called committee denounced Gutierrez advocated killing of Gringos does this mean only a certain age group of Gringos or does it extend to the children to what age does one draw the line where does the Insurrection begin Henry B Gonzalez first Mexican American from Texas elected to congress also had something to say these false and mistaken voices of hatred I feel that I fought against those in the majority who were preaching the same hatred 12 years ago in a different context that I have the same responsibilities to expose even if it is a minority from which animals are the game the central part of my life and to be an elephant to be an activist and the radicals and design of solution because if you're anything less than radical in Genesis are you part of the problem and it's early if you're not engaged and involved then you are the problem Gutierrez friend Willie Velasquez from st. Mary's days left to pursue the more lottery strategy of voter registration with an existing parties trying to get people elected him suppose the notion of the creation of a third political party of specifically set up for mexican-americans he was a very tactical kind of choice of saying that's not going to work that's what we can't go towards the third political party it wasn't that he was trying to be apart from that I also need up I just didn't believe in the NFL party so violated our sense of integration of sense of trying to build a a pluralistic multi-ethnic multi-racial society that the to try to set up barriers was never with a bow bow do is do not these barriers down the very existence of the restaurant either party raised a fundamental question is it better to work within the existing political system or the totally independent of it Corky Gonzales believe that they have a real voice in politics Mexican Americans needed their own party we're having a party that would serve its people not a party that is serving a governor serving some Senator serving the the United States to serve their people wait had civil rights legislation for many years now but we have also had so many amendments to it that they're not worth the paper it's Corky Gonzales was adamant that there nothing to be gained from supporting Democrats or Republicans despite his past rhetoric of value in the possibility of forcing concessions from the Democrats and Republicans he believed votes could be used to gain leverage within the two major parties people who run for office need to be asked what you going to do for me and what have you done lately as a prerequisite before I give him my vote Richard Nixon and George McGovern or no different we ask them of those questions them Republicans Or democrats they were both wrong bed both creative damage against De La Raza nearest 24-hour Independence not for some Tony politician to make deals you could have made it home with you a dramatic confrontation between blue and Gonzalez was fast approaching 1972 president election year members of Russian leader met in El Paso Texas to hold their parties First National Convention for me the way I opening experience was that then what you got holes all over the country I mean places that you would typically didn't think in those days you would find chicken but I think for the most part we were just excited about the fact that we were actually that we actually had a convention that we were going to this is a real political party and for a lot of whether it was it was educational and it's been said most of us had no clue about how our political convention works we knew we know the word delegates but we didn't necessarily know what that means in terms of a convention it was a wonderful experience when he we are out with our movement with with with our own party and we're making history unfortunately we had not responded by people I'm leaving our own families and we had a lot of confusion about I know right and we have to explain to our own families why we were Chicano because we were we were proud of our cultural heritage we were proud of our indigenous that's what you got in the next to us it was it was a very very exciting moment in my life and it was a very scary moment to him anyways because by that time we knew that there were he's out there we knew that the party was a definite threat as perceived by those in power what's going on I understand we know that the party was under surveillance by the CIA and FBI they feared a separatist movement analogies were drawn between that I so need a party in the separatist movement that was going on in Canada at the people feared that we would somehow form an alliance with Mexico and the Mexico with somehow then coming claim its land back from the United States and its so neither would be the instrument by which that plane would be made people simply feared the rise of of radicals tomorrow we've been called Everything communist and people believe that even your own families and some thought that you were some kind of lunatic you know some kind of radical and then there was a personal things like people who fed and both in the mail and in the phone at all hours of the day and night when you call you know basically said they were going to get rid of you somehow around the convention floor delegates debated The age-old Dilemma of the Mexico American community to work within the traditional two-party system or to go its separate way to me that was a dream of an independent party of people that believe alike who are not represented by either Republicans Or democrats and then we would make our own decisions about our own needs even if you still need that activists were debating the two party system a group of Chicano legal activist won a landmark court case that would have a profound impact in the Years Malden the Mexican American legal defense and education fund was formed to address through the legal system civil rights issues affecting Mexican Americans in 1972 they challenged the at-large voting policy in Bexar County Tech that have traditionally prevented Mexican Americans from becoming elected to State office white versus registered set a legal precedent in subsequent years many city county and state government opted to change voluntarily rather risk losing the court battle with Mom and Dad address of the convention delegates debated issues that would make up the national party platform I guess the NRA gun control navigation golden record that the 40-minute withdrawals own involvement in Vietnam honor Original Mexican Spanish land grant station of the land I'm against that because all you're doing is giving it to a rich and you know standard to go out and tell the truth would have gone in campaign with really use and take real positions positions at the other two parties would never dare take we had no special interest supporting us we had no self-interest that we had to guard you know we wound up taking Suburban incredibly Progressive positions Angola Police Department Auto places where I need to lay on when there's a sheriff in the LA video really I'm sorry I never make no sense at all 500,000 people with the anglos running them all of the favors and 5:59 bye-bye say no the national position of the party on the First National Convention support none of the two candidates for president of the United States the voting therapy demonstrated the delegates preference for their own political party and endorse Corky Gonzales the separatist the convention now face the job of electing the party leader I don't think we should limit ourselves and certain we should happen immediately pull back our heads under the shell like turtles when they're little bit of reaction from whites turn the bar why Oreo song video put on within our own people you know it was clear that he was making a big move to be the only person elected at the convention and I decided then to run against him so then I turned to a fellow from California by Will grease to take charge of the convention so that I could have time to organize against Missouri you have two men both were very capable. For good organizers that both men were very proud and both of them were pretty confident in their positions that they were right and we cannot afford the luxury Petty bickering and fight on minut rhetorical point in this dimension we must display the fact that he had our position and Inlet Corky also wanted to be the chair is good I mean it's just it's just like any other political party it's better to have more than one person interested cuz you mobilize the people we're assuming that we're fighting against a stacked deck so what if we want or not we're going to give it as good a fighter as we could this decision that the method of voting Central States and we had made the decision earlier would be left up to the states we did not say at this time that we would now go counter to that decision the debate centered around whether to vote by delegation or devoted individually Gonzales supporters were convinced that he could win if States voted in blocks Gutierrez would have the advantage if votes were cast individual how could we not conference not count everybody's book salsa father was against your interests or this person for somebody else so basically as chair I am I allowed to feel emotionally go through it will give the vote to everybody to cast your vote you are we born I will come to the platform the California boat with split and as I recall there was even a half a boat some places God knows how we got the half a vote but anyway but she did have those for Jose angel 48 and a half. What time do does anti Quattro Cancun intention 256 and 16 volt for Jose Jose Angel Gutierrez scammer we change the nature of politics and certainly from the perspective of mexican-americans is never going to be the same again the fact that we it was okay to take power and to control your own destiny we're pretty radical thoughts then now it's pretty much accepted what you mean is that we want on that one or working in Under Armour open in two months later Ramsey when he has lost the governor's race in Texas to Democrat Dolph Briscoe but by receiving more than 200,000 votes we need to deny the Democratic party a majority for the first time 20th century he got about a quarter of a million votes in 1970 to be in Frisco and almost caused the briscoes. Clay County that race till very late at night by golly that was closed at night and now and he almost pulled off for what I think was the plan in that is if we can't win we're not going to let the conservative Democrat win six months after the convention in El Paso called for tighter surveillance of Corky Gonzales is Crusade for justice Denver thought he believed the creepy members were armed and dangerous on March 17th 1973 / 230 Denver police officers surrounded The Crusade for justice headquarters within minutes a confrontation erupted last name for over an hour and a half for each killed a 20 year old Tuesday member my best friend was killed over 50,000 people were arrested I was shocked four police officers were shot numerous people were hurt later that evening a crusade for Justice building was Bob fearing for their safety remembered again leading the organization The Crusade for justice would never fully recover in Texas but I still need that continue to field Canada with little success by 1974 the South Texas town of Crystal City was the last stronghold of the Russia reader party defy Detroit live the Russian leader party succeeded on most expectacion it brought inspiration to a generation of political activist who went on to organize within the Democratic and Republican parties it introduced to the American public brand new generation of leadership I think it destroyed Forever The Stereotype of a pathetic passes people are afraid to speak out Among those in stores rocking M with Willie glasses in 1974 he created the Southwest voter registration education project which encouraged many mexican-americans to register to vote the mirror followed the last his work with the Mexican American legal defense and education fund the challenge voting laws and policies that kept Mexican Americans from political power it is an interesting. Because it is a time when people descent are beginning to mobilize their and are beginning to have impact in the American political process during the next two decades more than 2 million new Latino voters register within twenty years it would be almost 5,000 Latino elected officials in the United States half would come from Texas the victories of the Chicano movement became the lasting Legacy of Decades of Mexican American activism Unite Farm Workers made Americans aware of the plight of workers who brought food to their table inspired labor activists in the city I think the Farm Workers movement was one of those I think the infinite health peaceful many of us the power that lies within each one of us sell the walkouts challenge educators the community needs and served as a catalyst for bilingual instruction in grade schools and the creation of Chicano studies programs at colleges and University students at yalla we can think we can speak more than one language we can we do can ride we can go on to college we can be professionals we can contribute not only to this decide if it to our community in ways that they told us we can't do it that generation of Mexican American Artist writers poets and musicians reclaim their Heritage and gave new definition to American culture I think that's a grand alert had a very very important role within the going to move me because if not only said what was going on but he also questioned things and that's what made it as rich as it is now when were young demanding our civil rights in our place in society demanding access to education demanding all of if we were entitled to as citizens of the United States Acumen being Chicano with a passion for social justice and help bring about changes that expanded and inspire the meaning of civil rights in America to learn more about the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement on the TDS home page at the address on your skin problems in Rome thousands of miles stones were quarried carved and hauled all over the empire it says of course it's no rugby to row if the Romans brought me from Rome Roosevelt from Rome in order to control from Vampire and the mouth. Which was directed by a Augusta it was a great huge impact not made out of the door but Marvel Milestone with the distances to the Empire from Knoxville what are the reasons that Augustus chose this part of the city in particular this part of the form to erect a milestone was that it's the political Center at The Forum this was the part of the four where the Senate negotiated visions of War and Peace where all the laws were made and Pat and so it made sense and in that way to have the center of the Roman World be there but in a sense it's metaphorical the roads don't really converge in the center of Rome play converge only at the gate so they converge at the wall but for Augustus Rome had to come capital city of an Empire and he needed it for his political agenda a physical Center a metaphor we will never know exactly what was inscribed on the golden Milestone it disappeared shortly after the fall of the Empire probably ravaged for its bronze plaques which could be removed and melted down when we returned travel and traffic in the style of the empire elsewhere in the world during the height of Roman building a great astronomical calculator with 31 interlocking wheels and differential gears was the most sophisticated mechanical device in the ancient world in China an average of one pair of a month was crossing the still broke bringing silks across Persia to the west and the Revolt of the Gladiators play the name Spartacus was crushed by the Roman wait history's Mysteries will return in a month here on the History Channel Roman we're walking dedicated and named in honor of the powerful Emperors of Rome even though they were important militarily they were built for everybody to use people use the roads like rest of us temples visiting oracle's going to Athens for a bit of education but of course the way that the rose penetrated people's Dives where his projects from all over the empire the roads connected roll to India on the spice trade and the grain that went into the bread the people that wasn't grown next door at came by sea from Africa and Egypt up the roads to Rome is a customs parrot from Africa which is all the things that has everything from fish paste to Slaves coming up with is now a desert horses mules animals call purple dye anything that you could buy was likely to have traveled alone one of the Grape Road at its peak Rome had over a million citizens and it had to be constantly supplied by the local farmers on an average day in the first century ad charioteer would have much rarer sight than Farmers taking their goods to market the Curious Thing is that with all the effort and building and maintaining a magnificent Road system it was not the best way to transport bulk Goods the Romans never perfected a type of harness that enabled horses to pull heavy carts or wagons they were originally designed for slow-moving oxen and would press on a horse's windpipe pulling a heavy load or going uphill of course when possible the more practical way to transport Goods was my water votes were often much faster than us much less expensive it was only the Romans fear and suspicion of the sea that kept shipping from becoming the main method of transport to far-off destinations one of the most interesting Commodities being shipped along the roads astounding menagerie of wild animals then being captured all over the Roman world some became pets or parts of collections of the Rich and Powerful by majority of these exotic species and open the spectacles being staged at the Roman Amphitheatre is sometimes hunts would be re-enacted often different species would be pitted against each other many times it was man against Beast battle to the death the death penalty for criminals was often carried out by ravenous animals for the entertainment of the spectators Christian suffered the same fate during the. Of the Great persecutions the emperor Claudius had a division of praetorian guards battle Panthers during Euros rain 400 Tigers faced off bulls and elephants in one day 5,000 animals lost their lives as part of the colosseum's opening ceremonies the streets of Rome are prone to try play Jamz today and the same was true during the height of the Empire success noisy crowds combined with the deafening sound of wooden Wheels clattering over Peyton Stone more than once laws passed forbidding or at least limiting daytime traffic within the city after the disastrous rule of Nero and the three Emperors that came and went within a year this patient's 10-year rule help reorganize an empire in disarray new roads were built in Asia and Spain he then commissioned the overseer of the road to make a survey of the entire Highway system from which many maps called itinerary were made a specific itinerario would show the route between cities mileage rest stops and other detail helpful to Travelers is the boy in your table it was it's a medieval poppy of a much earlier Roman map

Uploaded by Ernesto Villarreal.

Videos

CHICANO History of Mexican American Civil Rights Movement

More videos from Ernesto Villarreal