Stop by my store
Dear fellow teacher,
Thank you for investing in this resource; I hope
you LOVE it!
Below is the print-friendly version of the
activity. The answer keys are slides 9 and 10.
Click here for the Google version.
If you’d like to show a 5-minute video at the
beginning of class I like this one.
Warmest wishes,
Joan
Visit my website to download
dozens of free word puzzles
and reading passages for every
unit. See your choices here.(Just
click on the menu topic you’re
interested in)
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome has affected our current life in a range of ways including language, religion,
government, the arts and architecture. The letters of this essay alone shows
this.
Roman Republic
The mythical founders were the brothers Romulus and Remus, nursed by a she-wolf, and
descendants of a Trojan hero (later portrayed in the Roman classic, The Aeneid). History
suggests the city of Rome was founded in the 8th Century BCE by members of the Latin
tribe (thus the “Latin” language) in central Italy. This began a reign of kings that ended in
509 BCE, when the Roman Republic began.
A republic is ruled by elected officials instead of kings. The highest officials were two
consuls who ruled with a senate with a variety of minor officials developed to administrate
day to day life. A sign of Roman citizenship was a long robe called a “toga.” It was a classed
based society with an elite land-owning class (patricians), commoners (plebeians) and slaves.
The republic influenced our own system of government and is an important part of the
legacy of Ancient Rome.
Over a span of hundreds of years, including defeating the North African city-state of
Carthage (Punic Wars), the Romans not only gained control of all of Italy but surrounding
areas. The reach of the Roman Empire at its highest point ranged from Great Britain to
lands in the Middle East, including Palestine.
Pax Romana
Key to Roman military success and ability to retain power was their army with the legion as
its main unit. This also left open the possibility of military takeover. Julius Caesar was a
great military leader, particularly for his exploits in Western Europe (Gaul). He eventually
seized power leading to a series of moves that ended the Roman Republic. After Caesar
was assassinated, a power struggle ultimately led to his nephew Augustus gaining power.
Remains of the
Coliseum in
Rome
This is often marked as the beginning of the “Roman Empire” with a series of emperors
being in control. It also began a two hundred year period of peace and prosperity known as
the “Pax Romana” (Roman peace). The beginning of Christianity occurred during time. The
Romans as a whole were polytheists, believing in many gods, official religious ceremonies an
important part of their society.
It is also a time when many writers of philosophy, history, poetry and satire that are still
read lived. We ourselves use the Latin alphabet and still sometimes use Roman numerals
(such as “X” for ten). The Coliseum, a great arena used for entertainment events (including
gladiator battles) was also built. Roman architecture also included aqueducts, man-made
channels built to deliver water to towns. Roman roads that connected the empire also were
long lasting, often still used long after the empire fell.
Decline and Fall
The 200s (third century) was a particularly divisive time for the Roman Empire with many
civil wars and short-term emperors. Constantine (later “the Great”) gained control in the
fourth century, transferring the capital of the empire to an eastern city (in Turkey) that
became Constantinople. He authorized the practice of Christianity and it eventually became
the official religion of the whole empire.
His success as a unifying force however was short-lived and the empire split in two parts
(east and west) by the end of the fourth century. Invasions from outsiders, including of
Rome itself, weakened the empire. Over time, central control from Rome itself declined,
with local powers growing in dominance. The end of the western empire occurred in 476.
The eastern empire continued in some form until 1453, named the Byzantium Empire (after
the original name of Constantinople).
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome has affected our current life in a range of ways including language, religion,
government, the arts and architecture. The letters of this essay alone shows
this.
Roman Republic
The mythical founders were the brothers Romulus and Remus, nursed by a she-wolf, and
descendants of a Trojan hero (later portrayed in the Roman classic, The Aeneid). History
suggests the city of Rome was founded in the 8th Century BCE by members of the Latin
tribe (thus the “Latin” language) in central Italy. This began a reign of kings that ended in
509 BCE, when the Roman Republic began.
A republic is ruled by elected officials instead of kings. The highest officials were two
consuls who ruled with a senate with a variety of minor officials developed to administrate
day to day life. A sign of Roman citizenship was a long robe called a “toga.” It was a classed
based society with an elite land-owning class (patricians), commoners (plebeians) and slaves.
The republic influenced our own system of government and is an important part of the
legacy of Ancient Rome.
Over a span of hundreds of years, including defeating the North African city-state of
Carthage (Punic Wars), the Romans not only gained control of all of Italy but surrounding
areas. The reach of the Roman Empire at its highest point ranged from Great Britain to
lands in the Middle East, including Palestine.
Pax Romana
Key to Roman military success and ability to retain power was their army with the legion as
its main unit. This also left open the possibility of military takeover. Julius Caesar was a
great military leader, particularly for his exploits in Western Europe (Gaul). He
eventually seized power leading to a series of moves that ended the Roman
Republic. After Caesar was assassinated, a power struggle ultimately led to his nephew
Augustus gaining power.
Remains of the
Coliseum in
Rome
This is often marked as the beginning of the “Roman Empire” with a series of emperors
being in control. It also began a two-hundred-year period of peace and prosperity known as
the “Pax Romana” (Roman peace). The beginning of Christianity occurred during time. The
Romans as a whole were polytheists, believing in many gods, official religious ceremonies an
important part of their society.
It is also a time when many writers of philosophy, history, poetry and satire that are
still read lived. We ourselves use the Latin alphabet and still sometimes use Roman
numerals (such as “X” for ten). The Coliseum, a great arena used for entertainment
events (including gladiator battles) was also built. Roman architecture also included
aqueducts, man-made channels built to deliver water to towns. Roman roads that
connected the empire also were long lasting, often still used long after the empire fell.
Decline and Fall
The 200s (third century) was a particularly divisive time for the Roman Empire with many
civil wars and short-term emperors. Constantine (later “the Great”) gained control in the
fourth century, transferring the capital of the empire to an eastern city (in Turkey) that
became Constantinople. He authorized the practice of Christianity and it eventually became
the official religion of the whole empire.
His success as a unifying force however was short-lived and the empire split in two parts
(east and west) by the end of the fourth century. Invasions from outsiders, including of
Rome itself, weakened the empire. Over time, central control from Rome itself
declined, with local powers growing in dominance. The end of the western empire
occurred in 476. The eastern empire continued in some form until 1453, named the
Byzantium Empire (after the original name of Constantinople).
Ancient Rome
Name _______________________________ Date _________
Vocabulary
Republic;
Patricians;
Plebeians;
Punic Wars;
Pax Romana;
Polytheists;
Coliseum;
Byzantine Empire;
Compare the map of the Roman
Empire to the modern day one below.
Describe, in geographic terms, the
extent of the Roman Empire (where
it was located).
Describe some of the accomplishments during Pax
Romana.
What led to the fall of Rome?
Identify an important person in Roman history. Why is
he important?
Use the word bank to complete the reading passage.
An excited crowd of ___________ cheer loudly in anticipation. Two
men walk into the middle of the ___________. Each knows today may
be their last day on earth. Their job is to fight to the death for the
enjoyment of the spectators. They are _______________.
The gladiators know it is their ________ to fight to the death. They
don’t want to kill their opponent too quickly, because the crowds will be
upset if the show ends too soon.
Gladiators were usually slaves, ______________ or prisoners of war.
They were often sent to school to learn how to fight. Occasionally a
gladiator would be forced to fight an animal, such as a tiger or a bear.
WORD BANK: criminals
gladiators
goal
theater
Unscramble the bolded letters to uncover the word:
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
upset
Romans
Ancient Rome
Name _______________________________ Date _________
Vocabulary
Republic; a type of government where elected officials rule
Patricians; wealthy, land-owning Romans
Plebeians; commoners
Punic Wars; Wars against the North African city-state of Carthage
Pax Romana; A 200 year time of peace and advancement in Rome
Polytheists; belief in more than one god
Coliseum; large theater
Byzantine Empire; Eastern part of the Roman empire after the west
fell.
Compare the map of the Roman
Empire to the modern day one below.
Describe, in geographic terms, the
extent of the Roman Empire (where
it was located).
The Roman Empire stretched all
around the Mediterranean Sea. It
include Modern-day Italy, Spain,
France, east into Asia and northern
Africa
Describe some of the accomplishments during Pax
Romana.
There were advancements in literature including poetry
and satire. The Latin alphabet and Roman numerals were
created. Architecture, such as the coliseum and
aqueducts were built.
What led to the fall of Rome?
Invasions from outsiders weakened the empire. The
power of the central government declined and local
leaders began to rule different areas.
Identify an important person in Roman history. Why is
he important? Julius Caesar was a great military leader
and expanded the empire.
Use the word bank to complete the reading passage.
An excited crowd of _Romans________ cheer loudly in anticipation.
Two men walk into the middle of the theater_. Each knows today may be
their last day on earth. Their job is to fight to the death for the
enjoyment of the spectators. They are gladiators_________.
The gladiators know it is their _goal_______ to fight to the death.
They don’t want to kill their opponent too quickly, because the crowds
will be upset if the show ends too soon.
Gladiators were usually slaves, _criminals__________ or prisoners of
war. They were often sent to school to learn how to fight. Occasionally a
gladiator would be forced to fight an animal, such as a tiger or a bear.
WORD BANK: criminals
gladiators
goal
theater
Unscramble the bolded letters to uncover the word:
_Coliseum_ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
upset
Romans
Terms of Use
Please do not post my resources on the
open Web.
By downloading this resource, you are agreeing that the
contents are licensed to you only for classroom/personal
use as a single user. I retain the copyright and reserve all
rights to this product.
YOU MAY:
Use items (free and purchased) for your own classroom
students, or your own personal use.
Reference this product in blog posts, at seminars,
professional development workshops, or other such venues
PROVIDED there is both credit given to myself as the
author and a link back to my TPT store is included in your
post/presentation.
YOU MAY NOT:
Claim this work as your own, alter the files in any way, or
remove/attempt to remove the copyright/watermarks.
Sell the files or combine them into another unit for
sale/free,
or post this document for sale/free elsewhere on the
internet (this includes Google Doc links on blogs).
Make copies of purchased items to share with others is
strictly forbidden and is a violation of the Terms of Use as
well as copyright law.