© 2006 Jessica Deacon Welcome travelers! You are about to embark on an incredible journey throughout Ancient Rome! You will be presented with information.

© 2006 Jessica Deacon

Welcome travelers! You are about to embark on an incredible journey throughout Ancient Rome! You will be presented with information and then have the opportunity to answer questions about the information. Have fun and good luck!

• Geography

• Daily Life

• Economics

• Roman Army

• Entertainment

• Architecture

Click on any of the topics to go directly to that page. If you would like to get back to this page, simply click the button on the bottom left of your screen.

Let’s Begin!

• The first settlers of Rome were the Latins. They chose this spot because of the mild climate, good farmland, and strategic location.

• The settlers farmed in the fertile plain at the base of the hills and built their homes on the hilltops. They built atop the hills so they would be able to defend themselves against an enemy attack.

• Around 600 B.C., the Etruscans invaded the Latins’ little town of Rome and took over.

• The Etruscans drained the marshes near Rome to give them more land on which to build, thus under Etruscan rule, Rome grew into a city.

Advantages of Rome’s Geography

Close to Mediterranean Sea on several ancient trade routes

Located next to the Tiber River

Contained large plains making it easy to farm

Location in the Italian Peninsula made it easy for Roman ships to reach other lands around the sea. This position made it easier for Rome to conquer other lands and gain new territory.

The Alps and the Apennines Mountain Ranges helped to protect Rome.

Agriculture

Meat Fruits

Vegetables Other

Fish Sheep

WoolMeat

Figs Apples Pears Grapes

Cucumbers Beans Cabbage Honey Olives

Goats

MilkCheese

MeatWine

Lettuce Olive Oil

Geography Question

1. The Latins chose the location of Rome as their settlement for:

A. Access to the ocean, mountains, and rivers

B. Good farmland, access to the Adriatic Sea, mountainous area

C. Good farmland, mild climate, strategic location

D. None of the above

Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you should reread and review the information, then try the question again.

C is the correct answer! The Latins knew the mild climate and good farmland would be imperative for growing their crops. The strategic location was also very important to maintain their civilization. Great work!

Let’s move on

• Most early Romans worked small plots of land growing wheat, barley, fruits, beans, and vegetables.

• They also raised livestock such as pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens. They used oxen to pull their carts.

• Members of a Roman farm family worked very hard, as they only had simple tools available and usually had to travel to get water.

• For a while, only landowners were able to join the army. This was because it was thought that they would fight harder to defend their land and the city.

Family and Society

• Roman women were expected to run the household and take care of the children.

• Women were able to inherit property and run the family business when their husbands were away.

• Roman women had little power outside the home and could not vote.

• The head of the Roman family was the father. Although his power was limited by public opinion, he had control over other members of the family and owned all the property.

Enjoying Life in Ancient Rome

There was always something to do in this exciting city. One of the most popular events was to attend a horse race at a place called Circus Maximus. Click on the picture to learn more!

At night, theaters in Rome offered plays and music. The Romans were very social and loved to be entertained.

Rome had more than 100 public baths. The baths were open to the rich and poor. People could also exercise, relax, eat, read, or walk through gardens at the baths.

At the forum in Rome, people would talk, hear the latest news, shop, and eat.

There were entertainers who would sing, dance, and even charm snakes in the Forum.

Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you should reread and review the information, then try the question again.

Daily Life Question

2. How were Roman women unlike the women from Greece?

A. Roman women could own land, but did not always run the household

B. Roman women could vote

C. Roman women could inherit property

D. Roman women had a lot of power

C is the correct answer. Roman women were expected to run the household and take care of the children. They also could inherit property and could run the family business when their husbands were away.

• Rome had a strong economy. This is partly due to their agriculture and trade.

• Farming was always an important aspect in the Roman economy. Industry also grew in Rome.

• Romans manufactured goods such as pottery, metal goods, glass, wine, olive oil, and other food products.

• The Roman empire fostered economic growth through the use of trade routes (World History 228).

• Rome traded with many areas of the world including: Spain, Africa, western Asia, Gaul, and other parts of Europe.

• By trading, Rome received valuable goods that were not available to them at home including: grain, ivory, silk, spices, gold,

silver, and even wild animals.

• Successful trading relied on a few things: the quality of the Roman roads, the access to the sea, and the security provided by the Roman military.

Currency

• During the reign of Augustus, a common coin called a denarius was used throughout the empire.

• Having a common form of money made trade between different parts of the empire much easier. This way, traders didn’t have to change their money into another currency when they bought and sold goods.

• As the economy expanded, so did the gap between the two social groups in Rome, the Patricians and Plebeians.

• The upper-class Patricians were wealthy landowners who held all the highest positions in government. The plebeians were mostly common farmers. The male plebeians could vote, but they couldn’t hold important government positions (World History 437).

Economic Question

What goods came to Rome from Egypt? Click on one of the goods in the key, to see if you are correct.

If you answered either textiles or grain, you are correct! The Nile River Valley in Ancient Egypt was a great place for growing crops because of the fertile soil. Egypt was full of natural resources such as copper, iron, gold, and bronze. The Romans were able to barter a lot of textiles from Egypt.

• The citizens of Rome were expected to fight to defend the republic.

• They were part-time soldiers. After fulfilling their duty, the men went back to their farms.

• The early Romans fought other groups in Italy.

• Often times their enemies had better weapons, so the Romans copied the best weapons and tactics, and learned from their defeats.

Much of what we know about Roman armor and weapons comes from pictures and carvings in Rome.

Most Romans fought on foot and went into battle wearing little armor.

To protect the head, the soldiers wore a metal helmet with a neck guard and cheek plates.

They wore chest and shoulder armor, and used a shield and sword.

Military Tactics

• Roman soldiers advanced in a turtle shape.

• Their shields acted as a shell, protecting them from attack.

• Rome’s army consisted of about 300,000 soldiers, split into legions of 5,000 soldiers.

• The legions were posted all over the empire to capture new lands, guard them, and to control local rebels.

All Roads Lead to Rome

• The Roman army built roads that linked all the parts of the empire.

• The Romans laid more than 50,000 miles of roads to tie together their empire.

• Many of the roads can still be seen today.

• Roads were built from layers of sand, stone, gravel, and paving slabs. They curved, so any rain drained away.

• The Romans tried to build the roads as straight as possible so that the army could take the shortest route.

Modern day road

Ancient Roman Road

Roman Army Question

Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you should reread and review the information, then try the question again.

The Roman Soldiers built roads to make it easier to get from one place to another. Which method did the soldiers use when building their roads?

A. The soldiers used paths that were worn down in the grass because it was flatter and smoother to travel on.

B. A layering technique was used to build the roads.

C. The roads the soldiers built were made of stones, placed closely together. Over time, the stones were flattened and smoothed.

D. The Romans cut down trees, then tied the trunks together in a straight line. This was the easiest way to travel, as it was higher off the ground,

eliminating mud and sink holes.

1. First the soldiers cleared the land of any trees or rocks.

2. Then they dug out a trench.

3. Next, they put in big stones, pebbles, cement and sand which they packed down to make a firm base.

4. Then they added another layer of cement mixed with broken tiles.

5. On top of that, they then put paving stones to make the surface of the road. These stones were cut so that they fitted together tightly.

6. Kerb stones were put at the sides of the road to hold in the paving stones and to make a channel for the water to run away.

If you answered B, then you are correct!

The Colosseum

• The Romans’ favorite entertainment was a trip to watch the gladiators.

• In Rome, the best fights took place in a 50,000-seat amphitheater called the Colosseum.

• The floor of the arena was covered in sand to soak up all the blood.

Gladiators

• Gladiators were prisoners or slaves who were trained to fight, and they would fight to the death.

• Gladiators would fight each other, and also against fierce wild beasts such as lions, tigers, or bears!

• Some gladiators were equipped with only a fishing net and a long fork called a trident. Others wore armor and carried swords or daggers.

A gladiator who survived several fights might be given his freedom.

• The Colosseum was 160 ft. tall and had four stories of windows, columns, and arches.

• The arena could be flooded so there could be battles between real boats.

• Spectators sat according to social class in the arena.

• Women and the poor sat on the top tier.

• The emperor sat in a special box just above the stage where he controlled the entertainment.

• He declared whether a gladiator would live or die with a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down gesture.

Entertainment Question

Choose the appropriate armor for a Roman Gladiator.

• The correct armor for a gladiator is the suit that does not offer much protection.

• Some gladiators did not have any armor, while others had armor that was similar to what the Roman soldiers wore.

• The Romans built bridges called aqueducts to carry drinking water into their cities.

• To take the weight of all the water flowing along them, aqueducts were supported on rows of strong arches.

• The Romans also used the aqueducts to get fresh water for their baths.

• Many aqueducts still exist today, even though they are 2,000 years old.

Click on the aqueducts to construct your own!

Important Roman Landmarks

The arena where gladiators fought, providing Roman citizens with hours of entertainment.

Colosseum

Scrolls were found in this building, helping us to learn about Ancient Rome.

Libraries

The court of law in Rome Basilica of

Constantine

Built as a temple for the gods Pantheon

Five stories of shops for people to buy and sell goods

Trajan’s

Markets

Click on each picture to learn more about each topic.

Click on the answer that best completes the question. If you do not answer the question correctly, you will be redirected back to the slide that the information is found on, and you should reread and review the information, then try the question again.

Why did the Romans build aqueducts?

A. To transport fresh water between the ocean and the rivers.

B. As a defense system

C. To carry fresh water into the cities for bathing and drinking

D. They were really just giant water slides, like our modern-day water parks!

You’ve completed your task!

Give yourself a round of applause!

It’s always good to review what you’ve learned……. Take a look!

• The people who settled Rome chose a geographic location that was good for defense, travel, and trade.

• Roman farmers relied on discipline and hard work to survive. They lived in a good climate for farming, where crops flourished.

• Early Roman society was divided into two unequal classes, the patricians and the plebeians.

• To gain more land and wealth, Rome began to expand by conquering neighboring groups of people. This is also how they learned different military tactics and strategies and gained better weapons.

• Roles in Roman family life and society were clearly defined.

• The Romans had many forms of entertainment including; gladiator fights, chariot racing, singing, dancing, and the theater.

Bibliography

Rome. 1999. <http://www.fitzpat.com/kelly/europe_web/rome.html>

Italy Trip. 2002. <http://www.buca.org/~kjw/2002_10_rome/>

Department of History. 2005. <http://www.luc.edu/depts/history/dennis/Visual_Arts/101Images/TN_09_9.23-293_Colosseum.JPG>

Places to Go. 2006. <http://www.places-to-go.org.uk/Photos/Bath_Roman_KingsBath.jpg>

R-MC Academics-Classics. 2006. <http://www.rmc.edu/directory/academics/classics/alumni.asp>

Ekornveien.com. <http://wp.ekornveien.com/steder/index10.html>

Deutsches Museum. <http://www.deutsches-museum.de/ausstell/dauer/wasser/img/31047.jpg>

Roman Roads. 2006. <http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/history/romanrd.htm>

The Geography of Rome. 2006. <http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/rsouth/team61/team_files/Gabris/ROME/GEOGRAPHY%20OF%20ROME%20INFO.htm>

“The World of Ancient Rome.” World History: Ancient Civilizations. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2006.