The Drama of Rome
Note taking guide
The Rise of the Roman Republic
How did Rome’s location affect its rise?
What is a Republic and how did it work in Rome?
What internal struggles did the Roman Republic
have?
How did the concept of equality impact people’s
lives?
How did the Roman government function?
Explain the early expansion of the Roman
Republic.
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
Overseas expansion
Why did Rome expand overseas?
Why are the Punic Wars significant?
Use maps and timelines of Roman expansion to
show Rome’s increasing influence in the region
Why was Rome able to expand so much and so
quickly?
Why did Rome expand overseas?
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
Pax Romana
Why did the republic fall?
How did the Roman Empire increase the power of
Rome?
Who are the significant emperors of Pax Romana?
Why is the Roman Empire considered one of the
greatest military forces the world has ever seen?
Use maps and timelines of Roman expansion to
show Rome’s increasing influence in the region
Why did the Roman senators assassinate Julius
Cesar?
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
Social Strata of Rome
What role did social rank play in Roman life?
How was daily life different for rich and poor
Romans?
Describe the concept of Special Treatment for a
Few in Rome.
How does the class system help explain why the
only Romans who studied rhetoric were wealthy
men?
Why did the emperors of Rome go to so much
effort and expense to entertain poor people?
What role did social rank play in Roman life?
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
Roman culture- daily life and religion
What were family life and schooling like for young
people growing up in the Roman Empire?
What were the benefits and disadvantages of life
in Rome?
The Homes of the rich and poor
What was the Roman state religion like and why
were some people dissatisfied with it?
How did religion make the Romans feel they had
some control over the unknown?
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
The Roman Economy- agriculture, trade, infrastructure, food and drink
Where did Rome get its grain and why did it need
to import it from such an expansive area?
What were some important products of the
Roman economy and why were they important?
How did Roman engineers use the environment to
meet the needs of the Republic?
Describe the diet of Romans and how it was
influenced by many regions of the empire.
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
The Decline of Rome
Why did the Roman Empire begin to decline?
What problems did the Empire face after the Pax
Romana?
Why was Diocletian’s reign called the “New
Empire”?
What were the major accomplishments of
Constantine?
Use a timeline and map to describe the events in
the history of the Roman Empire from AD 284 to
AD 400.
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned
The Fall of Rome
Why did the Roman Empire fall?
Who were the barbarians and what drew them to
the empire?
What were the major causes that led to the fall of
Rome?
Why do some historians disagree on the reasons
for the fall of Rome?
What was Rome’s legacy?
Key vocabulary or other interesting stuff I learned