This instructional activity focuses on the extreme violence that permeated Roman society and how that violence may have attributed to the downfall of the Roman Empire. Students will make comparisons between the violence in ancient Rome...

In this instructional activity, students will examine the various social classes and learn about the critical role that slaves, freemen, and plebeians played in the day-to-day operations of the Roman Empire. Students will learn about the...

Explains some of the reasons the Roman Empire collapsed, how Roman cities and towns fell into ruins, and how barbarian groups took over with there being no strong Roman militia to keep lawlessness in check.

After decades of political dysfunction, civil wars and assassinations that caused the Roman Republic's downfall, Ancient Rome flourished during two centuries of relative tranquility and prosperity known as the Pax Romana (Latin for...

In this lesson, students produce a classroom documentary about important historical figures from the Roman Empire. They will also create posters to be part of a classroom timeline showing when each of these people lived and their impact...

From a Republic to an Empire. In legend Rome was founded in 753 B.C.E. by Romulus, its first king. In 509 B.C.E. Rome became a republic ruled by the Senate (wealthy landowners and elders) and the Roman people. During the 450 years of the...

A major site on Roman antiquity that includes: a photo-gazetteer of Roman and Etruscan cities and monuments; complete Latin texts; extracts from various 19th-century histories of Rome. It also has an archive of over 2,000 websites on...

Legend has it that Romulus and Remus -- twin brothers who were also demi-gods -- founded Rome on the River Tiber in 753 B.C. Over the next eight and a half centuries, it grew from a small town of pig farmers into a vast empire that...

This article addresses the many reasons why the world's greatest superpower of the 4th century, the Roman Empire, crumbled and fell. Many reasons are discussed in detail, including the spread of Christianity, the invasion of various...

This site from The Roman Empire explores Gaius Marius' role in reforming the Roman Army. Content includes a detailed biography. The article continues with Sulla and the Social wars, the decline of the Republic, and the end of the Republic.

Silver drinking cups with relief decoration were very popular in the 1st centuries B.C. and A.D. Cups were sometimes made in pairs to encourage conversation about the scenes on the vessels. Cupids, scenes of Bacchus, the Roman god of...

Roman society was rigidly structured by wealth and rank, through both of which equestrians could increase their status. Even the plebs became class-divided. Augustus enabled the municipalities of Italy to practice local government....

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Venus, the Roman goddess of love. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

Verism can be defined as a sort of hyperrealism in sculpture where the naturally occurring features of the subject are exaggerated, often to the point of absurdity. Roman portraiture used this artistic preference to show leaders as...

Glassware was used in everyday life during Roman domination of the Mediterranean world. Glassware was used for foodstuffs, wine, perfumes and furnishings.

History, beliefs, ordinances, and many other details of the Roman Catholic Church, as presented by an evangelical group, Xenos Christian Fellowship.

Who were the Romans? Find out why they came to Britain and how they changed the lives of the people living there. Explore the history of Romans in Britain, create some mosaic art, and build your own Roman villa.

A history of Roman law, culture and the development of Western European law codes. Includes questions for writing and discussion, small group activity and links to further reading.

Damnatio memoriae is a term we use to describe a Roman phenomenon in which the government condemned the memory of a person who was seen as a tyrant, traitor, or another sort of enemy to the state. The images of such condemned figures...

In the first weeks of 44 B.C., Caesar was proclaimed "dictator for life." His life, though, wouldn't last much longer. Fearful that the concentration of absolute power in a single man threatened the republic's democratic institutions,...

Trivia, artifacts, and the history of the fall of the Roman Empire.

Test your knowledge of the making of ancient Roman silver in this seven-question quiz.

This site from the Roman Empire provides a general biography of Julius Caesar. Content includes Caesar's early life, his capture by pirates, his return to Rome, his military trip to Spain, the "First Triumvirate," his governorship of...

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Roman Forum. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.