© 2006 Jessica Deacon
Welcome travelers! You are about to embark on an
incredible journey throughout Ancient Rome! You will
be presented with information and then have the
opportunity to answer questions about the information.
Have fun and good luck!
Click on any of the topics to go directly to that page. If you would like to get
back to this page, simply click the
button on the bottom left of your
screen.
• Geography
• Daily Life
• Economics
• Roman Army
• Entertainment
• Architecture
Let’s Begin!
• The first settlers of Rome were the Latins. They
chose this spot because of the mild climate, good
farmland, and strategic location.
• The settlers farmed in the fertile plain at the base
of the hills and built their homes on the hilltops.
They built atop the hills so they would be able to
defend themselves against an enemy attack.
• Around 600 B.C., the Etruscans invaded the
Latins’ little town of Rome and took over.
• The Etruscans drained the marshes near Rome to
give them more land on which to build, thus under
Etruscan rule, Rome grew into a city.
Advantages of Rome’s Geography
Close to Mediterranean Sea on several ancient trade routes
Located next to the Tiber River
Contained large plains making it easy to farm
Location in the Italian Peninsula made it easy for Roman ships to
reach other lands around the sea. This position made it easier for Rome
to conquer other lands and gain new territory.
The Alps and the Apennines Mountain Ranges helped to protect
Rome.
Agriculture
Meat
Fish
Fruits
Sheep
Figs
Goats
Wool
Meat
Apples
Milk
Cheese
Meat
Beans
Cabbage
Grapes
Wine
Vegetables
Cucumbers
Pears
Other
Lettuce
Honey
Olives
Olive Oil
Geography Question
Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question
correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you
should reread and review the information, then try the question again.
1. The Latins chose the location of Rome as their settlement for:
A. Access to the ocean, mountains, and rivers
B. Good farmland, access to the Adriatic Sea, mountainous area
C. Good farmland, mild climate, strategic location
D. None of the above
C is the correct answer! The Latins knew the mild climate and
good farmland would be imperative for growing their crops.
The strategic location was also very important to maintain their
civilization. Great work!
Let’s
move on
• Most early Romans worked small plots of land growing wheat, barley, fruits,
beans, and vegetables.
• They also raised livestock such as pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens. They
used oxen to pull their carts.
• Members of a Roman farm family worked very hard, as they only had simple
tools available and usually had to travel to get water.
• For a while, only landowners were able to join the army. This was because it
was thought that they would fight harder to defend their land and the city.
Family and Society
•
The head of the Roman family was the father. Although his power
was limited by public opinion, he had control over other members of the
family and owned all the property.
• Roman women were expected to run the household and take care of
the children.
• Women were able to inherit property and run the family business
when their husbands were away.
• Roman women had little power outside the home and could not vote.
Enjoying Life in Ancient Rome
There was always something to do
in this exciting city. One of the
most popular events was to attend
a horse race at a place called
Circus Maximus. Click on the
picture to learn more!
At night, theaters in
Rome offered plays and
music. The Romans
were very social and
loved to be entertained.
At the forum in Rome, people would talk,
hear the latest news, shop, and eat.
There were entertainers who would sing,
dance, and even charm snakes in the
Forum.
Rome had more than 100
public baths. The baths
were open to the rich and
poor. People could also
exercise, relax, eat, read, or
walk through gardens at the
baths.
Daily Life Question
Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question
correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you
should reread and review the information, then try the question again.
2. How were Roman women unlike the women from Greece?
A. Roman women could own land, but did not always run the household
B. Roman women could vote
C. Roman women could inherit property
D. Roman women had a lot of power
C is the correct answer. Roman women were expected
to run the household and take care of the children.
They also could inherit property and could run the family
business when their husbands were away.
• Rome had a strong economy. This is partly due to
their agriculture and trade.
• Farming was always an important aspect in the
Roman economy. Industry also grew in Rome.
• Romans manufactured goods such as pottery,
metal goods, glass, wine, olive oil, and other food
products.
• The Roman empire fostered economic
growth through the use of trade routes (World
History 228).
• Rome traded with many areas of the world
including: Spain, Africa, western Asia, Gaul,
and other parts of Europe.
• By trading, Rome received valuable goods
that were not available to them at home
including: grain, ivory, silk, spices, gold,
silver, and even wild animals.
• Successful trading relied on a few things:
the quality of the Roman roads, the access to
the sea, and the security provided by the
Roman military.
Currency
• During the reign of Augustus, a common coin called a denarius was used
throughout the empire.
• Having a common form of money made trade between different parts of the
empire much easier. This way, traders didn’t have to change their money
into another currency when they bought and sold goods.
• As the economy expanded, so did the gap between the two social groups in
Rome, the Patricians and Plebeians.
• The upper-class Patricians were wealthy landowners who held all the
highest positions in government. The plebeians were mostly common
farmers. The male plebeians could vote, but they couldn’t hold important
government positions (World History 437).
Economic Question
What goods came to
Rome from Egypt?
Click on one of the
goods in the key, to see
if you are correct.
If you answered either textiles or grain, you are correct! The
Nile River Valley in Ancient Egypt was a great place for growing
crops because of the fertile soil. Egypt was full of natural
resources such as copper, iron, gold, and bronze. The Romans
were able to barter a lot of textiles from Egypt.
• The citizens of Rome were
expected to fight to defend
the republic.
• They were part-time
soldiers. After fulfilling their
duty, the men went back to
their farms.
• The early Romans fought
other groups in Italy.
• Often times their enemies
had better weapons, so the
Romans copied the best
weapons and tactics, and
learned from their defeats.
Much of what we know
about Roman armor
and weapons comes
from pictures and
carvings in Rome.
Most Romans fought
on foot and went into
battle wearing little
armor.
To protect the head,
the soldiers wore a
metal helmet with a
neck guard and cheek
plates.
They wore chest and
shoulder armor, and
used a shield and
sword.
Military Tactics
• Rome’s army consisted of
about 300,000 soldiers, split
into legions of 5,000 soldiers.
• The legions were posted all
over the empire to capture new
lands, guard them, and to
control local rebels.
• Roman soldiers advanced in a
turtle shape.
• Their shields acted as a shell,
protecting them from attack.
All Roads Lead to Rome
• The Roman army built roads that linked
all the parts of the empire.
• The Romans laid more than 50,000 miles
of roads to tie together their empire.
• Many of the roads can still be seen
today.
• Roads were built from layers of sand,
stone, gravel, and paving slabs. They
curved, so any rain drained away.
Modern day road
Ancient Roman Road
• The Romans tried to build the roads
as straight as possible so that the
army could take the shortest route.
Roman Army Question
Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question
correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you
should reread and review the information, then try the question again.
The Roman Soldiers built roads to make it easier to get from one place to another.
Which method did the soldiers use when building their roads?
A. The soldiers used paths that were worn down in the grass because it was
flatter and smoother to travel on.
B. A layering technique was used to build the roads.
C. The roads the soldiers built were made of stones, placed closely together.
Over time, the stones were flattened and smoothed.
D. The Romans cut down trees, then tied the trunks together in a straight line.
This was the easiest way to travel, as it was higher off the ground,
eliminating mud and sink holes.
If you answered B, then you are correct!
1. First the soldiers cleared the land of any trees or rocks.
2. Then they dug out a trench.
3. Next, they put in big stones, pebbles, cement and sand which
they packed down to make a firm base.
4. Then they added another layer of cement mixed with broken tiles.
5. On top of that, they then put paving stones to make the surface
of the road. These stones were cut so that they fitted together
tightly.
6. Kerb stones were put at the sides of the road to hold in the
paving stones and to make a channel for the water to run away.
The Colosseum
• The Romans’ favorite entertainment
was a trip to watch the gladiators.
• In Rome, the best fights took place in
a 50,000-seat amphitheater called the
Colosseum.
• The floor of the arena was covered in
sand to soak up all the blood.
Gladiators
• Gladiators were prisoners or slaves who
were trained to fight, and they would fight
to the death.
• Gladiators would fight each other, and
also against fierce wild beasts such as
lions, tigers, or bears!
• Some gladiators were equipped with only
a fishing net and a long fork called a
trident. Others wore armor and carried
swords or daggers.
A gladiator who survived several fights
might be given his freedom.
• The emperor sat in a
special box just above
the stage where he
controlled the
entertainment.
• He declared whether a
gladiator would live or
die with a thumbs-up or
a thumbs-down gesture.
• The Colosseum was 160 ft. tall and
had four stories of windows,
columns, and arches.
• The arena could be flooded so there
could be battles between real boats.
• Spectators sat according to social
class in the arena.
• Women and the poor sat on the top
tier.
Entertainment Question
Choose the appropriate armor for a Roman Gladiator.
• The correct armor for a gladiator
is the suit that does not offer much
protection.
• Some gladiators did not have any
armor, while others had armor that
was similar to what the Roman
soldiers wore.
• The Romans built bridges called
aqueducts to carry drinking water into
their cities.
• To take the weight of all the water
flowing along them, aqueducts were
supported on rows of strong arches.
• The Romans also used the aqueducts
to get fresh water for their baths.
• Many aqueducts still exist today,
even though they are 2,000 years old.
Click on the aqueducts to construct your own!
Important Roman Landmarks
Click on each picture to learn more about each topic.
Trajan’s
Markets
Five stories of shops for people to
buy and sell goods
Pantheon
Built as a temple for the gods
Basilica of
Constantine
The court of law in Rome
Libraries
Scrolls were found in this building,
helping us to learn about Ancient
Rome.
Colosseum
The arena where gladiators fought,
providing Roman citizens with
hours of entertainment.
Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question
correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you
should reread and review the information, then try the question again.
Why did the Romans build aqueducts?
A. To transport fresh water between the ocean and the rivers.
B. As a defense system
C. To carry fresh water into the cities for bathing and drinking
D. They were really just giant water slides, like our modern-day water parks!
You’ve completed your task!
Give yourself a round of applause!
It’s always good to review what
you’ve learned……. Take a look!
• The people who settled Rome chose a geographic location that was good for defense, travel,
and trade.
• Roman farmers relied on discipline and hard work to survive. They lived in a good climate
for farming, where crops flourished.
• Early Roman society was divided into two unequal classes, the patricians and the plebeians.
• To gain more land and wealth, Rome began to expand by conquering neighboring groups of
people. This is also how they learned different military tactics and strategies and gained
better weapons.
• Roles in Roman family life and society were clearly defined.
• The Romans had many forms of entertainment including; gladiator fights, chariot racing,
singing, dancing, and the theater.
Bibliography
Department of History. 2005.
<http://www.luc.edu/depts/history/dennis/Visual_Arts/101Images/TN_09_9.23-293_Colosseum.JPG>
Deutsches Museum. <http://www.deutsches-museum.de/ausstell/dauer/wasser/img/31047.jpg>
Ekornveien.com. <http://wp.ekornveien.com/steder/index10.html>
Italy Trip. 2002. <http://www.buca.org/~kjw/2002_10_rome/>
Places to Go. 2006. <http://www.places-to-go.org.uk/Photos/Bath_Roman_KingsBath.jpg>
R-MC Academics-Classics. 2006. <http://www.rmc.edu/directory/academics/classics/alumni.asp>
Roman Roads. 2006. <http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/history/romanrd.htm>
Rome. 1999. <http://www.fitzpat.com/kelly/europe_web/rome.html>
The Geography of Rome. 2006.
<http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/rsouth/team61/team_files/Gabris/ROME/GEOGRAPHY%20OF%20RO
ME%20INFO.htm>
“The World of Ancient Rome.” World History: Ancient Civilizations. Evanston: McDougal Littell,
2006.