The Roman Empire Activity
The Empire Writes Back
For this activity, you will use your knowledge of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire by creating a correspondence between yourself and the Emperor. Capture the excitement and, perhaps, concerns of being annexed by almighty Rome. Or, delve into the despair as the Roman way of life begins to crumble.
Steps to Success:
Steps to Success:
- Read both options entirely before you decide which correspondence you are going to create.
- Use your reading to do a GREAT job brainstorming ideas and completing the chart that goes with the option you choose. If you think it, ink it!
- Decide whether you will correspond with the Emperor through letters or tweets.
- Have FUN!
Option 1: You are the mayor of a small town in the middle east. You enjoy your town and your neighbors. Even in years when the harvest is bad, everyone seems to get along. Year after year, however, you have watched as the Roman Empire has expanded. Now it seems that its Legions are at your town’s doorstep.
You are not sure that you want to be a part of the Roman Empire, so you write to the emperor. You have concerns about all that you and the people of your town would give up to become part of the world’s largest empire. Just the thought of having Roman soldiers walking your streets makes you nervous. The emperor receives your note and, of all things, the empire writes back!
If you choose to write this option, you should begin by making lists of your small town’s concerns and of all the good things that come from being a part of the Roman empire.
Use your lists to create a correspondence between yourself and the emperor.
You are not sure that you want to be a part of the Roman Empire, so you write to the emperor. You have concerns about all that you and the people of your town would give up to become part of the world’s largest empire. Just the thought of having Roman soldiers walking your streets makes you nervous. The emperor receives your note and, of all things, the empire writes back!
If you choose to write this option, you should begin by making lists of your small town’s concerns and of all the good things that come from being a part of the Roman empire.
Use your lists to create a correspondence between yourself and the emperor.
- You may complete this activity in the form of a series of exchanged letters between you and the emperor. Or,
- You may complete your correspondence with the emperor in the form of tweets. If you choose this option, remember that tweets are limited to 140 characters.
Option 2: You are an official in a province of the Roman Empire. The year is 391 CE. For generations, your town has benefited from being a part of the mighty Roman Empire. Lately, though, the services once provided by Rome have been in decline. Roads are in need of repair and it seems there has lately been more lawlessness. More, you hear news that a rebel threat is growing closer by the month. You write to Emperor Theodosius about your concerns and, of all things, the empire writes back!
If you choose to write this option, you should begin by making lists of the concerns of your small town, as well as the concerns of the Emperor for his empire. In order to make a good list of how your town is suffering, you must know about all of the good things that being a Roman town brought to you and your people. In order to make a good list of the emperor’s concerns, you need to know what is going on in the empire at this time. The Emperor replies to your messages with news about the state of the empire. In his final exchange, he signs it “Bona fortuna.” Why?
Use your lists to create a correspondence between yourself and the emperor.
If you choose to write this option, you should begin by making lists of the concerns of your small town, as well as the concerns of the Emperor for his empire. In order to make a good list of how your town is suffering, you must know about all of the good things that being a Roman town brought to you and your people. In order to make a good list of the emperor’s concerns, you need to know what is going on in the empire at this time. The Emperor replies to your messages with news about the state of the empire. In his final exchange, he signs it “Bona fortuna.” Why?
Use your lists to create a correspondence between yourself and the emperor.
- You may complete this activity in the form of a series of exchanged letters between you and the emperor. Or,
- You may complete your correspondence with the emperor in the form of tweets. If you choose this option, remember that tweets are limited to 140 characters.
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Just for fun!! Thanks, Mr. Roughton!!!
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