Imperial Rome
Lessons about Imperial Rome can help students understand its influence on modern society.
By Daniella Garran
No civilization reflects the ancient world’s capacity for both success and failure as Rome. After more than 200 years as a monarchy, and nearly 500 years as a republic, Rome became an empire despite people’s reservations about having only one person in power. The rise, expansion, and fall of ancient Rome were nothing short of spectacular, a civilization which, at one time, encompassed the entire Mediterranean and beyond.
It has never been more relevant to teach students about ancient Rome as some pundits have said that America is poised for a fall as great as Rome’s. It is particularly interesting to compare and contrast Imperial Rome with modern America; many students will be surprised by the similarities.
When teaching about the history of ancient Rome, it is critical for students to have a sense of the size and scope of the land controlled by the Romans. Students should label and color a map that indicates the extent of the Roman Republic (509 B.C.E. to 27 C.E.). As the unit progresses and students begin to learn about the Empire’s expansion, another map should be done showing the Empire at its greatest under the reign of Trajan. A final map should be done which indicates Rome’s control throughout the Mediterranean on the eve of its demise. The paths of the barbarian invaders should also be noted.
No study of the Roman Empire is complete without a “character sketch” of the most notable emperors. Students find the peccadilloes and idiosyncratic behavior of Nero, Caligula, Commodus, etc . . . utterly fascinating, making it fairly easy to capture students’ attention. Some engaging activities include having an Emperors’ Convention for which students are assigned an emperor to portray. Students have the opportunity to dress up, bring in props and give a brief speech to their fellow emperors. A variation on this activity is having a wax museum in which students are assigned a role as an emperor, a political official or a deity. Students are "brought to life" by the teacher and then deliver a brief speech about their lives and accomplishments or notable characteristics. Dressing up in costume is always a fun touch for the wax museum activity.
For teachers who want students to have the chance to conduct focused, independent research on one emperor, they may choose to have students write a diary of that emperor, or create a scrapbook chronicling his life. This gives students the opportunity to speculate on the thoughts and emotions of the individual and to write a fictional first person account of the historical figure.
Understanding the visual art of a culture is necessary to get a sense of that which was important to a civilization. Yet another engaging activity for students of the Roman Empire is to have them create a virtual museum of Roman art and artifacts. Students can create replicas of mosaics, sculptures, frescoes and coins which date to the Roman Empire. Another option is to have students create a gallery guide for art and artifacts of the Roman Empire. For more Imperial Rome lesson plans see below.
Imperial Rome Lesson Plans:
Students become familiar with the people and events which led to Rome’s transition from republic to empire. Students analyze primary sources, assess military campaigns and get to know the people involved in this transformation (Julius Caesar, Pompey, Hannibal, the Grachii brothers).
The Roman Empire in the First Century
Interactive content like video clips, quizzes and timelines make this lesson an opportunity to capture students’ interest. Students have the opportunity to get to know some of the early Roman emperors firsthand in addition to learning about the technology, medicine, literature and religion which characterized this historic era.
No study of the Roman Empire would be complete without an analysis of the individuals who were at the helm of this civilization. The individuals’ military prowess, qualifications, excess greed and personality quirks all played a significant role in the ebb and flow of ancient Rome and its imperialistic efforts.
The Decline of the Roman Empire
Learning about what made the Roman Empire so omnipotent and ubiquitous is almost as important as learning about what led to its downfall and destruction. In the first lesson listed below, students write an analytical, research-based essay explaining what led to the demise of the once impenetrable Roman Empire. The second lesson requires students to do an oral presentation about the fall of Rome.