Here are 3 potential responses to the assignment questions based on the information provided: 1. Roman influence can still be seen today through concepts like divide and rule, assimilation of conquered peoples, and expansion of empire and culture. However, modern globalization allows for more cultural exchange and diversity compared to ancient Rome. Shakespeare's description of Caesar as a "Colossus" overshadowing others is apt but in the modern era no single power dominates as Rome once did. 2. The inhabitants of Matambu are not entirely powerless - they maintain aspects of culture and identity despite challenges. While assimilation pressures exist, it is an oversimplification to say minority cultures will inevitably disappear. With recognition of rights and support for cultural preservation,

1. “Literature gives voice
to issues and themes
that transcend time
and place.”
{

2. What are these
words in Spanish?
Imperialism
{ Empire
Colonialism
Colony
Proconsul
Procurator

3. Where do they come
from?
{ Rome!

4. What else are they
associated with?
{ Power!

5. Empire
{ Supreme power in governing

6. Imperialism
{ The policy of extending the rule
Of a country/empire over
foreign countries.

7. Colonialism
{ Set of unequal relations between
one country over a dependent
nation

8. ‚Words are pale shadows of forgotten
names. As names have power, words
have power. Words can light fires in the
minds of men. Words can wring tears
from the hardest hearts.‛
{ ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

9.  An important theme in Julius
Caesar is the relationship
between words and power.
 The ability to make things
{
happen by speech alone is a
powerful type of authority.
 Early in the play, it is established
that Caesar has this type of
absolute authority.

10. ‚When Caesar says ‘Do
this,’ it is performed,‛ (I.ii.10)
Divide and Rule: The Legacy of
{ Roman Imperialism

11. Background
History
 After Caesar died Rome continued to prosper and expand for
several centuries with the Empire being ruled by an emperor,
who had complete control over the people, with power no
longer in the hands of the people.

12.  They willingly and
freely incorporated
newly conquered
people into their
{ own society.
 Freely giving
citizenship to
outsiders in order to
Romanize them
The Romans were unique among ancient people.

13. Roman approaches
towards conquering
{ and administrating
territories and
individuals provided
the blueprint, for later
European expansion
and rule.
The ancient Romans cast
a long shadow over the
peoples of Europe.

14. Divide and Rule:
 Gaining and maintaining power by breaking
up larger concentrations of power into chunks
that individually have less power than the one
implementing the strategy.

15. • Rome is often seen as
‚rescuing‛ savage
peoples to its own
{ superior level of
culture
Or
• Ruthlessly destroying
indigenous cultures
and reshaping them
in its own tyrannical
image.

16. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
{ Cassius (I.ii. 136-138)

17. How great was his legacy?
{ It crossed the Oceans!

18. New World
• Spanish and
Portuguese used
same techniques of
assimilation.
{ • Divide and Rule:
manipulated the
political situation
between the
indigenous tribes.
• Replaced religious
structures with
those of
Catholicism.

19. Costa Rica - Matambú
 Nearly 1,000 years ago, the
Chorotegas were one of the
first ethnic groups in Mexico
that decided to migrate
southwards to the Nicoyan
Peninsula.
 According to legend, the
Chorotegas were drawn to
the Nicoyan Peninsula
because the Gods told them to
‚live near to a fresh-water sea
that has an island with two
tall peaks‛.
 They found this location
when they arrived to the
Island of Ometepe and the
Nicoyan Peninsula.

20.  The arrival of the Spanish changed
the balance of this ethnic group.
 According to one theory, the
Spanish took the majority of male
Chorotegas to Peru as labourers.
Few women and children were
left behind.
 This has been argued as the start
of the assimilation of the
Chorotega tribe and the loss of
language / culture.
 According to a study in 2003, the
Catholic religion and education
also contributed to the loss of
Assimilation language /culture.

21.  In 1977, Costa Rican law created 22
reservations
 Acknowledging the existence of eight
indigenous ethnicities
(Chorotega, Bribri, Cabecar, Huetar,
Guaymi, Maleku/ Guatuso, and
Brunca).
 The State created reservations in sites
inhabited by self-identified
indigenous peoples and in places
described by historical writings as
having been inhabited by indigenous
peoples at the time of conquest.
Reservations

22.  According to one theorist, the
purpose motivating the
creation of reservations was:
 "to convert the Native
Americans into more
standard peasants, and
to ignore the problem of
helping them to find
ways to retain their
lifestyle" (Murillo cited
in Adams 1991: 203).
Modern day assimilation?

23.  According to Costa Rica's
National Commission on
Indigenous Affairs, known
as CONAl (Comision Nacional
de Asuntos Indigenas), the
reservations were created
with the express goal :
 ‛to elevate their conditions
of life and to integrate the
aboriginal communities to
the development process"
(Matamoros Carvajal 1990:
69)
CONAI

24.  Some authors argue
that the inhabitants of
‚Matambu‛ are no
longer ‚indigenous
enough‛ and that
other tribes are more
‘legitimate’
 Some academics argue
that this has left
inhabitants feeling
‚empty or undefined‛,
or as one community
member noted ‚"sin el
santo ni la limosna‛
Limbo

25. Assignment – In pairs or individually:
1. From what you have seen and experienced, does today’s society still reflect elements of
Roman rule, (divide and rule, assimilation, colonialism, empire, imperialism). Was the
influence of Roman rulers similar to ‚Colossus‛ as Shakespeare states?
2. ‚Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars. But
in ourselves‛
Examine the quote - Are the inhabitants of Matambu* powerless as to their fate?
Is it inevitable that minority cultures will indeed get smaller or even disappear?
3. Do you feel connected to the heritage of Costa Rica?
*For those students not attending the field trip, please investigate the general situation of
the Costa Rican indigenous population.
Collect evidence! photographs! talk
to residents! record feelings!