Discussion Questions

Getting to Know the Roman Emperors

Day 1

Day 1

O What is heredity rule and what are its positive and negative aspects?

O Can you give examples of times when leaders have been forcibly removed from power because of discontent by the people?

O What do you think was the most common method the ancient Romans used to remove emperors from power?

O Can murdering a political leader be justified if it is for the good of a large group of people or a whole country? Explain and give examples to support your ideas.

O What are the negative aspects of having a leader who rules until the death with absolute power?

O If you had been an emperor in ancient Rome, who would you have considered trustworthy and why?

Day 1

Who are you?O Take the “Who are you?” quiz in the

library.O While taking the quiz, each student

must write down AT LEAST three interesting facts presented on the page that reveals who the student most resembles. BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE PERSON YOU WERE MOST LIKE WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS.

Day 1

Emperor GroupsO Today you will get into groups based on your

emperors. Use the following questions to discuss your person:

1. What kind of person was ___________?2. What role did ________ play in Roman history?3. Do you think ______ was a good leader? Why?4. How would you describe _______ in a single

sentence?5. How are you most like _________? Least like

_________?

Day 2 5-10 minutes

Select a spokesperson to describe your person using a single sentence

Emperors of Rome History Hunt

Video Library1. The Peace of Rome2. The Emperor Claudius3. Claudius Expands the Empire,

Rome Burns

Day 2

Watch as a Class

Emperors of Rome History Hunt

Complete the History Hunt using these two sites.Emperors: (Be sure to read about them all, using their separate links)

http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/emperors.html

Timeline:http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/special/timeline_01.html

DO NOT PLAY THE EMPEROR OF ROME GAME YET.

Day 2

Emperor Class Discussion

O Refer to your History Hunt Notes.1. What type of leadership style and skills did each

emperor have?2. In your opinion, who was the best emperor? The

worst? Why?3. What was each emperor’s claim to fame? Downfall?4. In the nine emperors you studied were running for

public office today, do you think any of them would be elected? Why or why not?

5. If you could choose one emperor to be, which would you choose and why?

Day 3

Emperor of Rome Game

O Use what you have learned from the History Hunt and class discussion to help you play the game.

O When you complete the game, report your ranking to me.

O Emperor of Rome Game

Day 3

Campaign PosterO Choose one emperor to represent.O You are this emperor’s campaign manager.

It is your job to create a poster for your emperor based on what you have learned about him through the various classroom activities.

O Look at “Putting a positive Spin on the Emperors.”

Days 4 and 5

Rubric