activities ancient rome

Ancient Rome Activities Geography and History

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ACTIVITIES

1- Read the following text about the foundation of Rome and answer the questions:

Romulus and Remus: The Founders of Rome

According to legend, Remus and Romulus were born as

grandchildren to King Numito on the Italian Peninsula.

Numito's brother, Amulius, started a war to overthrow

his brother, after which Numito was imprisoned and his

daughter, Rea Sylvia, was forced to become a Vestal

Virgin (female priests), so that she would not bear any

children.

But Sylvia became pregnant and gave birth to twins,

boys, who were called Romulus and Remus. It is said

that Mars, the God of War, was their father. Amulius

wanted the children dead and ordered them to be thrown in the Tiber River. But the children were

put into a basket and floated to safety. The babies were found by a she-wolf, which took care of

the children and breast-fed them.

A shepherd came across the basket and adopted the boys. The boys grew as shepherds and

became natural leaders. When they became adults, they realized they who they truly were and

rebelled against Amulius. They reinstated the true king, Numito, and set out to look for a place

to build their own city. In 753 BCE they stopped at the Tiber River, where they had been found

by the shepherd, and where there were seven hills.

They decided to build a city on one of the hills. But they could not decide who should rule in it,

so they asked the gods for a sign. They each awaited an answer from the gods on a different hill.

Remus saw the first sign – six vultures flew above him. Shortly after that, Romulus saw twelve

vultures flying over his head and claimed kingship for himself. Remus started to mock at his

brother and the two began to fight. Remus was killed and Romulus went on to build his own city

and name it after himself: Rome.

1. Is this a true story or a myth? How do you know?

2. Rome was born from conflict. Do you think Rome will grow up to have a peaceful or a violent

culture? Explain your answer.

3. Based on the reading, do you think Rome was an empire that valued religion? Why or why not?


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2- Read the text and answer the following activities:

Early Rome: A Blend of Cultures

taly is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea to the west of Greece. Greece and Rome share

similar climates of warm, dry summers and mild winters. Unlike Greece, Italy does not have

very good mineral resources or harbors. Italy, however, is less mountainous than Greece, is

easier to travel through, and has much fertile land. It is no surprise that Rome was founded as

an agricultural society while Greece had to rely on trade and the seas to survive.

The Italian Peninsula is more closely linked to the rest of Europe than Greece is. While a

mountain range known as the Alps to the north is a natural barrier,

many tribes crossed into Italy or sailed and established colonies on

its shores (including the Greeks!). The early Romans developed a

strong military to defend against raids and a navy to defend ships

using the Mediterranean for travel.

It is believed that, after Rome was founded by Romulus, the Romans

began to expand and conquer neighboring tribes called the Latins

and Etruscans. While Greeks sought to spread their own culture,

early Romans were very adaptable and borrowed ideas from

everyone they met. They learned metalworking and architecture

(especially using arches) from the Etruscans, learned how to grow

grapes and olives from the Greek colonies, borrowed the alphabet

and language from the Latins, and even developed a religion based

on Latin and Greek deities.

Rome gradually expanded but was still controlled by Etruscan kings.

Romans wanting their own identify and unhappy with paying tribute to a harsh ruler overthrew

the Etruscan king in 509 BCE and founded a new government called a republic. They swore to

never again be ruled by a king and instead let the people elect leaders to lead and serve the best

interests of Rome. This was the beginning of what is known as the Roman Republic.

What is the main idea of this passage?

The Greeks and Romans share a common history.

The Romans developed their identity by learning from those around them.

Italy is a harder place to live than Greece.

Romans learned to overthrow their kings from the ideas of the Greeks.

Why did Romans develop a military/navy?

To conquer the Greeks and Gauls to the north

To teach young men the skills they need to survive

To lead pilgrims to the Holy Lands east of Greece

To defend against raiding tribes in Italy

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Complete the diagram below with at least 3 facts in each space based on your prior

knowledge and the passage:

Greek Geography Roman Geography

1. How did the geography of the Italian Peninsula allow a large civilization such as

Rome to develop and grow?

2. According to the passage, what was the main difference in how the Greeks and

Romans conquered other peoples?


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3- The Roman Empire

a) Lightly shade the map to show how large the Roman Empire grew to be

b) Mark the border which separated the Eastern and Western Empire in the fifth century. Write

the name of Constantinople in the correct place.

c) Go over the theory and complete the following timeline with the different periods of Ancient

Rome and the events we are studying.

BC: 753, 509, 495, 44, 27

AD: 212, 380, 395, 476

Periods: Monarchy, Republic, Empire

Events: Punic Wars, 3th Century Crisis

Main Emperors

753BC 27BC

1AD 476AD


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4- Read the text and answer the questions.

The Roman Republic adapted from Vickie Chao

1 For centuries, Italy's Rome has been an important city, playing a pivotal role both culturally

and politically. According to the legend, a pair of twin brothers built Rome from scratch in 753

B.C. In a quarrel, Romulus killed Remus. After that, he named the city after himself and became

the first ruler of Rome. While this story is fascinating, its authenticity is very much in doubt.

2 Historians have long established the fact that Rome had existed since 900 B.C. By about 600

B.C., a group of people called the Etruscans (pronounced "ih-TRUS-kunz") took power in Rome.

They ruled it for nearly a century. Though the Etruscans left behind many imprints, we know

very little about them. In fact, we cannot even say for sure where they came from. Some scholars

believed that the Etruscans were native people of Italy. Others believed that they were

immigrants from Asia Minor (today's Turkey). Regardless of their origin, we know for certain

that the Etruscans spoke a language different from that in Rome. We also know for certain that

their authoritarian style of governing was very unpopular. In around 510 B.C. or 509 B.C., the

Romans revolted. They expelled the last Etruscan king, Tarquinius Superbus (pronounced "tahr-

KWIN-ee-us soo-PUR-bus", also known as Tarquin the Proud).

3 With the Etruscans gone, the Romans decided that they would never want to go back to the

days of monarchy. To avoid giving too much power to a single person, they came up with the

idea of the republic.

4 In this new form of government, all citizens who had the right to vote could participate in the

selection of their leaders. Once a year, they elected two consuls. The individuals who won the

office acted on the advice given by the senate. They were responsible for enforcing the laws and

policies of the Roman Republic. Because the consuls would later become senators after their

one-year term in office, they almost always did what the senate wanted them to do. As the two

men met and discussed state affairs, they attempted to reach unanimous decisions. In the event of

a disagreement over serious matters, Roman law allowed the senate to appoint a dictator. This

person would act as a king, but his power was only good for six months.

5 In the early days of the Roman Republic, all the senators were the nobles, or the patricians.

This arrangement did not sit well with the commoners, or the plebeians. As the distrust

worsened, the plebeians went on strikes. In 494 B.C., they set up their own assembly. They

declared that the assembly's tribunes (elected once a year) had the power to reject any decision

made by Roman officials or even the senate. In 450 B.C., the patricians agreed to one of the

plebeians' main demands and established the Law of the Twelve Tables. These laws hung openly

in marketplaces for everyone to see. It was applied equally to all citizens. Encouraged by the

victory, the plebeians continued to fight for their rights. In 367 B.C., they overturned a law that

barred them from being consuls. In 287 B.C., they expanded the assembly's legislative power

from making laws for the plebeians only to making laws for all Roman citizens!

6 As the government structure continued to take shape, the Roman armies went on to conquer

new territories for the Republic. The added land did not bring joy. Instead, it brought forth a big

problem. Some suggested the land be given to the plebeians. Others refused. The dispute

paralyzed the entire nation. Soon, civil wars erupted. Just when the Roman Republic was

heading toward total destruction, a general named Julius Caesar rose to power.


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7 Julius Caesar was a military genius who fought and won numerous wars. In 49 B.C., he led

his troops back to Rome and fought against the senate’s policies. He won. The senate made him a

dictator the following year. Under Roman law, a dictator could rule for only six months. But the

senate made an exception, allowing him to be dictator for life. As Caesar's power continued to

grow, some senators began to feel uneasy. They felt Caesar had gone too far and had become too

powerful. They decided to get rid of him. On March 15, 44 B.C., they assassinated him.

8 The death of Caesar pushed Rome into turmoil again. The chaos lasted for more than ten

years. In the end, Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, managed to quash all the opposing forces and

won the civil war. The senate awarded him the title of Augustus (meaning "highly respected") in

27 B.C. It also gave him the absolute power to rule Rome, effectively making him a king. From

that point forward, ancient Rome was once again under the control of monarchy. Though

Augustus never coined the term "Roman Empire," historians all agree that he was the first

emperor of this newly united kingdom. Thus, 27 B.C. became both the end of the Roman

Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire

1. How long was Rome considered a Republic?

a. 483 years

b. 467 years

c. 510 years

d. 287 years

2. According to the reading is the end of the Roman Republic?

a. The death of Julius Caesar

b. The Romans expelling the Etruscan King

c. Augustus had complete control of Rome

d. Augustus assassinated Julius Casesar

3. Why did the plebeians establish their own assembly in 494 B.C.?

a. Because they wanted to have freedom of speech

b. Because they wanted to get more land

c. Because they wanted to have equal rights as the patricians

d. Because they were bored

4. Why would the Roman senate want a dictator?

a. To take out opponents of Rome

b. To guarantee a victory in battle

c. To settle a dispute between the two consuls that dragged on too long

d. Romans never wanted a dictator in charge of their government

5. What is the main idea of the 7th

paragraph?

a. Caesar was a genius

b. Caesar and his army won several battle

c. Caesar’s was assassinated by the senate

d. Caesar’s power continued to increase until his murder


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5- Read the following text: Gladiators

1Back in the old days of Rome, people loved to see gladiators fight. Gladiators were professionally trained warriors. Their job was not to defend the nation, but to battle against each other in public. To the onlookers, such combats were fun and exciting. But to gladiators, they were not. Every time they marched to the center of an arena for a match, they put their lives on the line. If they made one false move, they could easily get injured or worse, face the most horrible outcome of defeat - death! 2 While Ancient Rome was famous for this brutal form of sport, it did not invent it. The credit should really go to the Etruscans. The Etruscans believed that when an important man died, his spirit needed a human sacrifice to survive the afterlife. To honor the deceased, they would stage a battle at the man's funeral. As the loser lay dying on the ground, his body became a burial offering. 3 The Etruscans ruled Rome for about a century. Historical records show that the first gladiator fight in Rome occurred in 264 B.C., long after the Etruscans were gone. That display was for honoring a man named Brutus. At his funeral, his sons held a contest among three pairs of gladiators. The fight must have gotten a lot of buzz around the town. Slowly, it took root in Rome and became a popular sport. With more and more people watching the game, the scale of it grew bigger over time. It went from the initial three pairs to three hundred, and then to five thousand! 4 For the most part, gladiators were usually criminals, slaves, or prisoners of wars. They were sent to special schools called ludi. Once there, they had to learn how to use weapons. Upon "graduation," they each would be assigned to a specific class. The class would later dictate the type of weapon a gladiator could use. For example, in a gladiator game, the organizer would pit a fight between a "net man" and a "pursuer." The former had only a net in his right hand and a dagger in his left. The latter came fully armed. As the two warriors faced each other in the arena, the "net man" would try his best to cast the net over the "pursuer." If he managed to do that, he could then use his dagger to kill the opponent. 5 Of course, death was the most common outcome of a gladiator fight. But it was not the only one. When a gladiator was wounded, he could raise his forefinger to beg mercy from the audience or the high-ranking officials at the game. If they wanted to spare his life, they turned their thumbs up or waved their handkerchiefs. If they wanted to slay him, they turned their thumbs down or toward their chests. Usually, the audience's response was enough to determine the fate of the wounded gladiator. However, the final decision was always in the hands of the emperor (if he was there) or the game organizers. 6 Each time he entered a game, a gladiator knew very well that it could be his last. Each time he made the pledge "We who die to salute you!" at the onset of a game. If a gladiator was lucky enough to win enough combats, he could receive a discharge from further service. A successful gladiator enjoyed fame and fortune though Romans looked down on them for their shameful backgrounds. The Roman public followed the sport wholeheartedly. They cheered on their favorite contestants and even depicted them in poems and paintings. 7 Gladiator fights fell into disfavor during the fourth century. Emperor Constantine I issued an edict (ruling) in 325 A.D. and officially banned the sport but for the next several decades the Romans continued to hold gladiatorial games. They did not give up this entertainment until Emperor Honorius came along and banned the sport again in 393 A.D. This time, he made sure that his order was taken seriously. The last known gladiator fight in Rome was on January 1, 404 A.D. After that, it faded into history and became a thing of the past!


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Who were the least likely to become

gladiators? 1) Nobles

2) Criminals

3) Prisoners of war

4) Slaves

What was the original purpose of

staging a gladiator fight? 5) To honor the dead

6) To celebrate a new year

7) To show off wealth

8) To please the gods

Based on paragraph 1, which of the

following statements is false? 9) Gladiators were professionally

trained warriors

10) Everyone thought Gladiator

battles were fun and exciting

11) Injury or death could occur to a

gladiator anytime they entered

the arena

12) Gladiators were not trained to

defend Rome.

According to the 4th

paragraph, what

does the word ‘ludi’ mean? 13) Gladiators were typically

criminals or slaves

14) Special schools in which

gladiators were trained

15) It’s the graduation ceremony

for gladiators

16) The organization of gladiators

into groups

For how many years did Rome have

gladiator fights? 17) 843 years

18) 140 years

19) 668 years

20) 385 years

Which of the following statements

accurately depicts a gladiator’s life? 21) Gladiators were all hailed as

heroes and celebrities

22) Some Romans despised them,

others admired them

23) Most Romans thought gladiators

lived a fun and exciting life.

24) Emperors Constantine and

Honorius celebrated the lives of

gladiators

The main idea of the 3rd

paragraph

is: “The first gladiator fight in Rome

was in honor of the death of Brutus.”

25) Which of the following

statements supports the main

idea of the paragraph?

26) The Etruscans ruled Rome for

about a century.

27) The Etruscans first held

gladiator events as a sacrifice to

honor their dead.

28) At his funeral, his sons held a

contest among three pairs of

gladiators.

29) More and more people began

watching the sport in Rome

What is the main idea of paragraph

6? 30) Gladiators were well respected

by nearly all Romans

31) Gladiators lived a life filled with

turmoil and sacrifice

32) Gladiators were tough, but had

families that loved them.

33) Gladiators lived a depressing

life of death and shame.


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6- Read these texts and complete the profiles for each one:

Vespasian (reigned 69-79 AD)

In his reign, Vespasian is best known for successfully restoring

order to Rome after the chaotic reign of Nero and the civil war

following Nero’s death (in which 4 emperors died). He put

down a revolt in Judea, was able to stabilize Rome’s finances,

and began rebuilding the city of Rome, including construction

of the Coliseum.

Trajan (reigned 98-117 AD)

Trajan spent most of his life as a soldier on military campaigns

and expanded the empire to its greatest size during his reign. He

oversaw large building programs and spent lots of money to

help the po or and decrease poverty in Rome. He was second in

the succession of the Five Good Emperors and his legacy

survives today as one of peace and prosperity.

Antonius Pius (reigned 138-161 AD)

Antonius was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors. He spared

many of the senators condemned by his father, Hadrian, while

funding large building projects and promoting learning and the

arts throughout Rome. He is known for giving rights to the

accused in the Roman legal system, and is notable for never

going on a military campaign his entire time in office.

Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD)

Marcus Aurelius co-ruled with his brother Verus after the death

of Antonius Pius. He successfully preserved the empire against

attacks, spending much of his reign fighting in Syria and

Germany. Unfortunately his troops returned with diseases that

would ultimately kill nearly 5 million people. He was known as

a philosopher and the last of the Five Good Emperors.

Caligula (reigned 37-41 AD)

Nicknamed “Little Boots” because he had traveled with the

Legions while he was young, Caligula was initially very

popular after taking power but this soon changed. He insisted

he be worshiped as a god, turned the palace into a brothel,

committed incest, killed those who criticized him, and planned

on making his horse a consul (he made him a priest instead and

requiring Senators to have lunch with him). He was

assassinated by his own guards.

Nero (reigned 54-68 AD)

Known as one of the worst Roman emperors in history, Nero

believed he was a great artist (but really was not). He heavily

taxed Rome to pay for his lavish lifestyle, killed his mother and

wife, and executed numerous officials who he didn’t like.

During the Great Fire of Rome in 64 it is rumored that Nero

watched and composed songs, then afterward blamed Christians

for causing it—he had thousands persecuted and killed. He

committed suicide when the discontented Senate voted Nero an

enemy of Rome.

Commodus (reigned 180-192 AD)

Commodus took power at 18 and believed he was the

reincarnation of Hercules and later Romulus. He bankrupted

Rome by spending money lavishly and particularly loved

gladiatorial games. He enjoyed participating as a gladiator,

often killing hundreds of animals in a day in the Coliseum and

personally killing hundreds of innocent people he had chained

in the arena. He renamed Rome after himself and was

assassinated in the bath by his wrestling partner.

Elagabalus (reigned 218-222 AD)

Since becoming emperor at age 14, Elagabalus created

controversy and chaos in Rome. He made Romans worship a

sun god of his choosing, tried to appoint his charioteer lover co-

emperor, devalued Rome’s currency, and is said to have

prostituted himself out in taverns around Rome. He also

executed those he disliked. His eccentric behavior and religious

offense caused his guards to assassinate him. His family and

followers were then executed and Rome undid all his changes,

including physically erasing Elagabalus’ name from their

records and monuments.


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Good or Bad?

Your Task: Read the short profiles of four “good” and four “bad” emperors. Using the Internet, find one more example

of a “good” and a “bad” emperor of Ancient Rome.

“Good” Emperors

Name:

Years of Reign:

Reason #1 why he was good:

Reason #2 why he was good:

“Bad” Emperors

Name:

Years of Reign:

Reason #1 why he was bad:

Reason #2 why he was bad:

Construct a paragraph to answer the following prompt:

Who was the best/worst (choose 1) emperor in Rome’s history?

Outline your evidence below to help you write your paragraph.

Name of best/worst (circle one):

Reason #1

Reason #2

Reason #3


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7- Read the following text: Barbarians Invade Rome!

1 The Roman Empire, at its height, extended across much of Europe, but even then there were other

groups of people who were not part of the Roman Empire living in Europe too. Many of these groups, called

tribes, lived in the far north and parts of Europe not occupied by the Roman Empire.

2 The barbarian tribes, as many of them were known, didn't like the idea of settling down and farming.

They preferred a roaming, warlike lifestyle. Due to climate changes and other factors, many of the tribes

began to migrate closer to the Roman Empire and sometimes even settle within the borders of the empire.

This eventually led to conflicts between the tribes and the Romans.

3 The Romans were used to being victorious in their clashes with various tribes, but this didn't happen

every time. In the late 300's AD, one tribe, the Visigoths, was being threatened by another tribe, the Huns.

The Huns pushed the Visigoths further into Roman territory. This brought the Visigoths into more conflicts

with the Romans. Eventually, it led to a big battle at Adrianople. This battle, in 376 AD, showed that the

invaders had the strength to defeat Roman soldiers.

4 In 395 AD, Visigoth troops, led by Alaric I, invaded Italy and Greece. By the year 410, they attacked the

city of Rome itself. There they killed Roman citizens, laid waste to buildings, and robbed the city. By 412,

they had attacked Spain and parts of present day France too.

5 Meanwhile, the Huns had defeated another tribe, the Ostrogoths, and were threatening Rome. The Huns

were especially feared. They were masters at fighting on horseback. They could shoot down enemies with

their bows and arrows while riding at top speed. Rumor had it that they sacrificed their captives to their own

gods of war. The Huns crossed the Danube River and attacked

Rome. They attacked Greece and Italy too. The Romans fought back and forced the Huns to retreat.

6 But the power of Rome was weakening. By the late 400's, Rome was no longer the mighty power that it

had once been. In 476, the Hun leader, Odoacer, seized power in the western half of Rome and declared

himself King of Italy.

7 The eastern half of the Roman Empire tried to take power back in the west by sending troops, under the

leadership of King Theodoric of the Ostrogoths, to fight Odoacer. The Ostrogoths killed Odoacer, and

Theodoric became the new leader of Italy.

8 The Roman Empire in the east continued on, but Roman rule in the west had come to an end. Europe

entered into an era of uncertainty. Rulers changed frequently, as one leader attacked and defeated another.

Invasions, attacks, and feuds were commonplace. It was the beginning of the Middle Ages.

9 The Goths also achieved a bad reputation. Maybe it was their scary look too. Maybe it was that the

Roman Empire was the good guy, and someone had to be the bad guy. However it happened, the word

gothic developed bad connotations. That's why, later on, some of the scarier elements of the Middle Ages

became known as gothic. Dark, spooky castles were called gothic. Stories set in dark, spooky castles, like

Dracula, were called gothic too.

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The early part of the Middle Ages is often portrayed as the time when the Roman Empire collapsed and

barbarian attacks were an everyday event. It has also been called the Dark Ages.

1. Barbarian tribes included all of the following except _______.

a. Ostrogoths

b. Visigoths

c. Romans

d. Huns

2. The Middle Ages began as the _________ ended.

a. Roman Empire

b. Greek Civilization

c. Dark Ages

d. Eastern Empire


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3. Which event happened first?

a. Odoacer seized power in the western half of Rome and declared himself King of Italy.

b. Visigoth troops, led by Alaric I, invaded Italy and Greece

c. The battle at Adrianople

d. The beginning of the Middle Ages

4. Feuds and fights were _______ in the Middle Ages.

a. Frequent

b. Unknown

c. Rare

d. Uncommon

5. According to the reading, what is a possible effect of the above cause?

a. The Visigoths and Huns fought many battles

b. The Visigoths battled and weakened the Romans

c. It became known as the start of the Middle Ages

d. The Goths had a bad reputation

6. Why is the term “Dark Ages” and appropriate name for the period after the Roman Empire?

a. Europe entered into an era of uncertainty

b. Rulers changed frequently, as one leader attacked and defeated another.

c. Invasions, attacks, and feuds were commonplace.

d. All of the above


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8- Roman art

Write a brief text about each one of the following buildings and monuments, explaining their main

characteristics and giving some examples (location and chronology included):

Building or

monument

Description and examples

Amphitheatre

Aqueduct

Circus

Basilica

Bridge

Theatre

Thermal baths

Temple

Triumphal

arch


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9- The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization

What is Greco-Roman culture?

Rome took aspects of Greek and Hellenistic culture and added ideas of its own. The mixing of Greek,

Hellenistic, and Roman culture produced a new culture called Greco-Roman culture. This is also often

called classical civilization. Roman artists, philosophers, and writers did not just copy Greek works. They

created a style of their own for their own purposes. Much of Roman art had practical purposes. It was aimed

at educating the public. One example of the mixing of cultures occurred in sculpture. Romans borrowed

Greek ideas but made their sculptures more realistic. The Romans also developed a kind of sculpture in

which images stood out from a flat background. Romans were skilled at creating pictures made from tiny

tiles, a process called mosaic. But Romans were perhaps most skilled at painting. The best examples of

Roman painting are found in the Roman town of Pompeii. Pompeii was covered with ash after a volcanic

eruption. The ash preserved many works of art and culture. In both literature and philosophy, Romans were

inspired by the Greeks. The poet Virgil wrote the most famous work of Latin literature, the Aeneid. It was

modeled on the Greek epics of Homer. The Romans also produced some important histories. Tacitus is an

important Roman historian. Among ancient historians, he is known for presenting accurate facts. He

described the good and bad parts of imperial Rome in his Annals and Histories.

What were Rome’s most major contributions to Western culture?

The Roman language, Latin, was important in European history. It was the official language of the Roman

Catholic Church into the 20th century. Many European languages developed from Latin, including French,

Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. And many Latin words are used in other languages, including

English. Romans also became famous for their skill at engineering. They used arches and domes to build

large, impressive buildings. Many of these forms are still used today. They also built an excellent system

of roads and several aqueducts. Aqueducts carried water from distant lakes or rivers to large cities. But

Rome’s most lasting influence was in the field of law. The Roman government set standards of law that still

influence people today. Some of the most important principles of Roman law were:

• All persons had the right to equal treatment under the law.

• A person was considered innocent until proven guilty.

• The burden of proof rested with the accuser rather than the accused.

• A person should be punished only for actions, not for thoughts.

• Any law that seemed unreasonable or unfair could be set aside.

1. Name three Roman cultural achievements.

2. What important standards of law were set by Romans?

activities ancient rome

Education