Starter activity. The English language is heavily influenced by Latin. Study the famous
Latin phrases below and test your partner.  Write a short dialogue using as many of
the words as you can.
Carpe diem! (Seize the day)
Veni, vidi, vici! (I came, I saw, I conquered, Julius Caesar
on invasion of Britain)
Sine labore nihil! (Nothing without work)
Terra firma (Solid ground)
Cogito ergo sum (I think therefore I am)
Per aspera ad astra (Through difficulties to the stars!)
Alma mater (Kind mother, used by old students to
describe their school/university)
Tabula rasa (Blank tablet, used to describe students’
minds before they learn anything)
Vice versa (The other way around)
Look out for Latin prefixes, too, e.g. Ego (I), Semi
(half), Multi (many)
How can we find out
about life at Hadrian’s
Wall?

Learning objectives
TBAT … give at 3 or more reasons for
the construction of Hadrian’s Wall
…explain the difference between
primary & secondary sources
…assess the usefulness of different
types of sources
 Your task Can you think of any reasons why the Roman’s
built Hadrian’s Wall in AD 120? What did engineers consider when
they planned where to build it?
Reasons for building Hadrian’
Wall





To defend the Empire against invasion from
northern tribes
To show local tribes how powerful the Romans
were
To reassure Romans the Empire’s boundaries
were fixed
To keep soldiers busy and disciplined
To regulate trade passing across the border
 Your task



Study the information on p.44-5 of ‘Contrasts
and Connections’. Compare Sources 5 & 6.
Which is ‘primary’ and which is ‘secondary’?
How useful are the sources for finding out
about life on Roman frontiers? Which is more
useful for finding out about life on Hadrian’s
Wall?
Complete the table your teacher gives.
Write a paragraph explaining which source is
most useful for finding out about life at H.W.
Vindolanda Tablet
 Your task



Archaeologists have found thin slices of wood,
with writing on. They date from 1st Century AD.
They were used a postcards by soldiers and sent
home to their families. How useful, are these
documents?
Use the postcard template on the Studyhistory
website and imagine you are a Roman soldier.
Write a postcard home describing conditions at
Hadrian’s Wall.
Write a reply to the soldier’s postcard
describing life in Rome
Needs improving
Satisfactory
Limited
presentation skills,
e.g. poorly selected
images, regular
SPAG errors or
crossings out
Effective presentation
skills – appropriate
amount of text, wellchosen images
Limited use of
evidence from
source activity
Tendency to list
evidence rather
than describe life
at H.W.
WOW factor!
Excellent presentation
skills –creative use of
template, excellent SPAG,
effectively, all available
space on the template is
Good evidence of use used to maximum effect
of sources, although
there is room for
Excellent use of available
more details
evidence, detailed factual
information and technical
Some attempt to write vocabulary
in appropriate register
(tone)
Written in the appropriate
register
 Extension task

Conduct some research into the Vindolanda
Tablets? Find out when and how they were
excavated. List 5 things historians have discovered
 Homework

Complete your postcard
home from Vindolanda.
 Plenary

Explain these words:





Denarius
Decree
Papyrus
3 reasons why Hadrian’s Wall was built
Difference between primary & secondary
evidence
Which evidence was most useful?
How useful are the Vindolanda Tablets for
finding out about life at Hadrian’s Wall?