Ancient Rome
Lesson Overview
Lesson 1
Introduction
Ancient
Rome
Lesson 2
Legacies
Lesson I:
Introduction to
ancient Rome
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to :(1) identify the achievements of the ancient
Roman civilisation
(2) identify at least one legacy of ancient Rome
(3) work effectively in pairs / groups
(4) value the triumph of human ingenuity and
resourcefulness
Tuning In Activities

Activity 1
Craft : Creation of the Roman Helmet
Tuning In Activities

Activity 2
Source-based discussion : The Myth of Rome - Romolus
& Remus
Discussion Questions
1) Based on the BBC article, do you still think the story
of Romolus & Remus is a myth?
2) What does this source tell you about the Romans?
3) How
do archaeological findings affect our
understanding of the past?
Tuning In Activities
• Activity 3
DVD : ‘Ancient Civilizations for Children
– Ancient Rome’
Tuning In Activities
• Activity 4
1)
K-W-L worksheet
2) Timeline worksheet
ROME – a brief introduction
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The “Eternal City”
Vast Empire
Ruled as a Republic, then later by Emperors
Famous leaders: Julius Caesar, Augustus,
Nero
• Brilliance in all aspects of Civilisation
• Yet also famous for brutality and wasteful
luxury
• Continues to intrigue and influence us today
Roman Empire at its largest
• Which modern day
countries do you see in
the Roman Empire?
The Roman Army
• One of the most successful militaries in
history
• Ensured that Rome could create a vast
empire
• Aided by good roads and bridges built by
Rome
Roman Soldiers
“Civis Romanus Sum”
• “I am a Roman Citizen”
• The proudest boast in the ancient world
• Gave rights and privileges throughout the
Empire
• E.g. voting and legal protection
• Rome allowed people from all parts of its Empire
to become citizens
• Hence conquered people could join the Roman
government – increased loyalty to Rome
• Non-Romans joined the Army despite the risk of
death – on retirement, they got citizenship
Links to other civilisations
• Greece – biggest influence on Rome
▫ Conquered by Rome but admired by Romans
▫ Shaped Roman religion, philosophy, government,
art
• Egypt – absorbed into Roman Empire
▫ Emperor Augustus defeated Cleopatra VII (last ruler
of Egypt) in 31 BC – end of Egyptian civilisation
• China and India
▫ Rome traded with both of these civilisations
▫ Romans were obsessed with Chinese silk; Chinese
also desired Roman glassware
▫ Roman coins were found in India
▫ Wild animals (e.g. tigers) brought from India for
Roman arena shows to fight gladiators
Fall of Rome
• Over time, Rome became corrupt and
addicted to luxurious living
• In AD 476, Rome was destroyed by a
barbarian invasion
• Many theories for the decline and fall of
Rome
• Beginning of the “Dark Ages” in Europe
• Loss of a powerful central government,
advanced education, great building
projects and trade for a long period
Reflect!
•Would you expect Rome to
fall in the way it did?
•What lessons can you
learn from this?
Passport to ROME
• Let’s travel to Rome!
Passport to ROME
• Making use of Google Maps “Street View”,
we will enter at least 3 famous places in
Rome
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Colosseum
Pantheon
Roman Forum
Baths of Caracalla
Park of the Aqueducts
• You will spend about 10 minutes
exploring each place
Passport to ROME
• Tips :
1)The Colosseum is the easiest to ‘enter’
and the clearest. Go where your heart
desires!
2)When visiting the Pantheon, don’t
forget to shift the cursor up to see the
‘hole in the ceiling’
3)Unfortunately, you can only view the
Ruins of the Roman Forum behind the
fences
Other places to explore
• Tiber River – note its position in the city
of Rome
• Pont du Gard (a huge 3-tier aqueduct in
France)
What do these places tell us?
• ALL show the brilliance of Roman
engineering
• Colosseum
▫ The Romans loved violent sports at the
expense of human lives
▫ Emperors sponsored such games for
popularity and to distract people from
hardships
• Pantheon
▫ The Romans revered their gods highly
• Forum
▫ Rome was a place of complex government and
commerce
What do these places tell us?
• Aqueducts
▫ The Romans were obsessed with clean
water and went to great lengths to supply it
▫ The River Tiber has poor quality water
• Baths of Caracalla
▫ The Romans loved leisure and socialising
in a luxurious place
▫ Wealthy Romans could afford to spend
their time in this way
Conclusion
• The ancient Romans were largely influenced by the
ancient Greeks ~ change & continuity from one
civilisation to another
• Similar to the ancient Greeks, the ancient Romans
influenced thinking, architecture, the arts and sciences
and the lives of many people who lived throughout the
Roman empire.
• With respect to the 7 features of a civilisation, ancient
Rome is defined as a ‘civilisation’
(1) city
(2) sophisticated arts
(3) knowledge of Math & Science
(4) division of labour
(5) writing
(6) government
(7) sophisticated architecture