The geography of the Roman Empire, the rise and expansion of the Empire, the origins and spread of Christianity, the fall of the Roman Empire, Roman contributions to Western civilization, major figures of the Roman Republic
Rome and Christendom unit contains 7 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Rome and Christendom Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
The Roman Empire: Geography
Students identify cultural groups and historical developments in widespread parts of the Roman Empire. Through online research, they investigate the traits and histories of specific barbarian cultures and explain how those peoples affected history. Then, they state and explain their preferences for Roman city versus provincial life.
The Rise and Expansion of the Roman Empire
Students investigate major causes of the rise and expansion of the Roman Empire including the army, the slave economy, and the road system. They learn about and evaluate several Roman emperors of the era. Finally, they identify and describe the Pax Romana and evaluate it.
The Rise of Christianity: The First Christians
Students learn about the life and death of Jesus and the historical spread of Christianity, including the missionary work of St. Paul. Map study and a timeline ground their learning in chronology and geography as they explain the successful spread of Christianity across the Roman Empire. Finally, they interpret well-known universal sayings of Jesus.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Students investigate various sources to learn about the fall of Rome. Then, they turn eastward to learn about the Byzantine Empire (formerly the Eastern Roman Empire), which survived for 1,000 years after the western empire. Next, they create an infographic timeline of the fall of Rome. Finally, they read a primary source—the eyewitness testimony of St. Jerome—describing the violence and grief of Rome’s fall.
The Spread of Christianity
Students study the spread of Christianity in both the East and the West. First, they follow its spread through the pagan remnants of the Roman Empire and formerly barbarian lands. Next, they examine the growth and continuation of Christianity in the Eastern Roman—Byzantine—Empire. Then, they explain the reasons for the split between the two major branches of Christianity. Finally, they research and report on the impact of Christianity’s spread.
Roman Contributions to Western Civilization
Students learn about the lasting impact of ancient Rome on Western civilization. First, they watch a rap video to become engaged with the topic. Then, they read sources containing concise descriptions of Roman achievements in many fields. Next, they look for examples of the Roman legacy in the world around them. Finally, they read, write, and talk about similarities and differences between ancient Rome and the United States.
Roman Empire Historical Figures
Students investigate some of the most notable Roman emperors, such as Augustus, Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. Then, they explore great Roman individuals in other fields, such as Ptolemy in science, St. Augustine in religion, and Virgil in literature. They wrap up their study of great Romans by reading and responding to quotations from Marcus Aurelius’s classic of practical philosophy, Meditations.
