You only need a few simple supplies to do the drawings in this book Ordinary paper pencils a sharpener and some kneaded erasers will do the job And if you want to paint your drawings any type of watercolor paint and brush will get you started 1 Guidelines help you to draw figures with natural looking proportions Take a little extra time to make sure yours follow those in the drawing lesson before you add basic shapes 2 Add muscle curves to legs Notice that the soldier is shown holding his shield It’s important for artists to know such details even if they later cover or remove them 3 Draw details of the plate armor This type of body armor came into use at about a.d. 40 Before that Roman soldiers wore ring mail which was heavier and gave less protection against spears and arrows The metal studded leather straps protected the lower body Finally erase the arm holding shield and add decorations to shield add the spear point to shaft Painting To paint one of your drawings first transfer it to heavier paper Here is a simple way to transfer your drawing First rub the underside of your drawing with a soft 3B-4B pencil Then tape the drawing to the heavier paper Trace your drawing with a sharp pencil Now and then lift a corner to see if the transfer is working You can also use carbon paper
When using watercolors paint lighter colors first and darker ones last To keep the colors clear and bright always use clean water to mix colors Outline painted areas with a very dark pencil You can also color your drawings with colored pencils markers and crayons
Rome From Republic to Empire The Roman Republic forbade Roman generals from entering Rome with their legions Roman officials
hoped this would prevent an ambitious general from becoming a dictator In 49 b.c. a powerful politician and general Julius Caesar ignored this law and took control of Rome On March 15 44 b.c. a group of senators who wished to bring back the Republic assassinated Julius Caesar A civil war followed which ended when Octavian Caesar’s adopted son defeated his opposition He became the first emperor of Rome and was called Augustus He ruled for forty-five years a time of great prosperity and growth called the Augustan Age Just before his death Augustus said I found Rome built of sun dried bricks I leave it clothed in marble Here Julius Caesar and his army are about to cross the Rubicon River into Roman Italy in defiance of the Roman Senate
