I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!
So, what happened to the Roman Empire?

Social Studies WebQuest
Created by Joan Easton and Patricia A. Russac
Buckley Country Day School - September 2003

Introduction | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion
 Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 | Task 4 | Task 5 | Task 6 | Task 7

Introduction

 Did you ever eat a Caesar salad and wonder how it got its name? Well, I do. What I don't know is how such a great empire that started with me, Julius Caesar, fell after almost 500 years in power. What ever happened to veni, vidi, vinci?
Lettuce (let us) know,
The Ghost of Julius Caesar

 

Itinerary

You will read and complete each assigned task over the next few weeks to discover all you can about Ancient Rome. At the end of each task you will be asked to complete a product as part of the quest. It is extremely important that you do your best and keep on task to complete your rendezvous through Ancient Rome.

The Ghost of J. C.

Process
1. You will be given a project folder.
2. The information you find will be recorded on research journals and templates. Look for templates marked with numbers that match each task.
3. The Web resources for your journey are linked to each task.

Roads

Task #1

 I know they say all roads lead to Rome, but you could get lost traveling on these roads if you don't know where you are going.
The Ghost of J. C.

Steps
1. Click here to go to Buckley's Online Databases
2. Login into Maps101
3. Do a search using the term: Roman Empire
4. From the list of your results choose "The Roads of the Roman Empire"
5. Print the PDF version of this document.  Note there are 2 pages to this PDF. Put your name on both and staple them together.
6. READ the article.
7. ANSWER the questions on the second sheet.
  HINT you will need to use both the text and the map to answer the questions.

Product: Click here to find and print the information to complete Product 1: Roman Highways.

Roads

Task #2
 Click to view

 In my day, I was one of the greatest Roman generals. It's not easy commanding an army of young men. I had to pay them in gold and salt. A good soldier was considered the "salt of the earth," and without question they worked themselves to the bone.
The Ghost of J. C.

Steps
1. It is important to understand the life of a Roman soldier. Click here to find and print Template 1: The Roman Army.
2. Use the following link to find the information you need to complete Template 1.
The Roman Army
3. Click here to go to Buckley's Online Databases.
4. Login into INFOTRAC Gale Group and proceed to the list of available databases.
5. Click on Junior Edition-K12.
6. Search for the magazine article, "Rome On the Move" written by Anthony Hollingsworth for Calliope in October 2002.
7. Print the PDF version of this document.  Note there are 2 pages to this PDF. Put your name on both and staple them together.
8. READ the entire article by yourself.
9. Ask for a highlighter when you are done reading. HIGHLIGHT important phrases and keywords in the article.
10. Click here to find and print Template 2: Rome on the Move
11. Complete the template using the information in the article.

Product:
 Write a diary entry from the point of view of a Roman soldier. Your soldier was stationed in Germania. Locate Germania on your map. Make sure to give your soldier a name. Click here to find and print your stationery for your diary entry.

Roads

Task #3
 Leaders

 I consider myself the first and best leader of the empire, but I have to admit the empire would not have lasted as long as it did without my followers. I understand that there were five good emperors who followed me. Tell me what you think.
The Ghost of J.C.

Steps
1. Click here to find and print Template 3: Roman Emperors.
2. Click here to go to www.factmonster.com Please note, you must use this link to complete this task.
3. Do a search using the term: world rulers
4. Use the link for selected world rulers by country or region to get to the list of ancient and historical empires. Scroll to the section on the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.
5. Use the links to READ about each of the five emperors listed below before you begin to record your information on the template.


Nerva  (c. A.D. 30-A.D. 98)
Trajan  (c. A.D. 53-A.D, 117)
Hadrian (A.D. 76-138)
Antoninius Pius (A.D. 86-A.D. 161)
Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121-180)
 

Product:
Choose one of the five "good emperors" you just finished researching to create a postage stamp, or design a coin to commemorate that leader. Use the facts about your emperor in a creative way in your design. Click here to look at actual coins depicting Roman Rulers.

Roads

Task #4

 A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. I found this old invitation inviting relatives to a house party in Gaul. I wonder what their house looked like and what was on the menu.
The Ghost of J.C.

Steps
1. It is important to understand what family life was like in Ancient Rome.
For example:

What was life like in a Roman Family?
Did the Romans go to school?
What sort of food did they eat?
What types of clothes did they wear?
2. Go to the following link and READ through the information about families and children in Ancient Rome on the web site.
Roman Families and Children
3. Take the quiz on the bottom of the web page. Mark your quiz to see how much you remembered.
4. Click here to find and print Template 4: Roman Families: The Republic vs. The Empire.
5. Use the following link to complete Template 4:
Roman Familes
6. Click here to find and print Template 5: Style in Ancient Rome.
7. Use the following link to find the information to complete the template.
Clothes and Hair Styles in Ancient Rome

Product:
Create a menu for your your guests using food that would be eaten if you lived in Ancient Rome. Use the following links to help you find out what to eat! Remember not everyone ate together, or ate the same types of food. So plan accordingly.
 Breakfast in Ancient Rome
 Lunch and Siesta in Ancient Rome
Dinner in Ancient Rome
The Romans - Food

Roads

Task #5

 All this traveling around Rome has left me tired and dirty. I really need to take a bath and relax by the pool at the club.
The Ghost of J.C.

 

Steps
1. The Romans were very advanced in the use of technology. Click here to find and print Template 6: Roman Technology.
2. Use the following link to complete Template 6.
The Romans - Technology
3. The Ancient Romans were also known as "Great Builders." They actually invented cement which was one of the reasons they were able to build so many amazing structures. Click here to find and print Template 7: Roman Architecture
4. Use the following links to find the information you need to complete Template 7.
Rome: Past and Present
The Great Builders

Product: Click here to find and print your travel guide book for Ancient Roman. Use the links in Step 4 to copy, size, and print five images. You will need to print your images on a color printer. To complete this product cut out your images and paste them in your book.

Roads

Task #6

 Oh sure, other Caesar's who followed me had to think of entertaining ways to keep the Plebeians happy by providing "bread and circus." So let's do as the Romans do and head for the colosseum.
The Ghost of J.C.

Steps
1. For this task you will use the web book You Wouldn't Want To Be a Roman Gladiator! by John Malam to find the information you need to know.
2. Click here to find and print Template 8: The Roman Gladiator.
3. READ your template before you start to read the web book.
4. Remember to click the next button in the right side bar of the screen in order to turn the pages of the book. Read each page from the beginning starting with the chapter "Your fate awaits."
5. Go to You Wouldn't Want To Be a Roman Gladiator
6. Enjoy the reading!

Product: You have been commissioned by the Roman Daily News to create a comic strip that illustrates some aspect of the Roman Empire. Click here to find and print your cartoon comic strip page.

Roads

Task #7

 I can't believe Nero let Rome burn while playing his fiddle. All my work went up in smoke. What a waste of an empire. Here's what happened.
The Ghost of J.C.

Steps
1. Many things lead to the decline of the Roman Empire.
2. Click here to find and print Template 9: The Fall of Rome
3. Complete the template using the following link:
The Romans - The Fall of the Empire

Product: Write a one page editorial (your opinion) explaining what you thought was most interesting about the Romans. Make sure you give specific examples to support your opinion. Your editorial must be typed double-spaced using a computer. Make sure to put the proper heading at the top of the page.

Resources

 Glossary of terms for Ancient Rome
Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors
The Romans
Odyssey Online: Rome
The Great Builders
Rome: Past and Present
The Romans
Daily Life In Ancient Rome
You Wouldn't Want To Be a Roman Gladiator

Evaluation

  

Conclusion

 By now, you must have realized that Rome was not built in a day, nor did it fall over night. The gladiators would say to the emperor, "Those who are about to die salute you." I would say, "Those who completed my WebQuest, I salute you."
I came, I saw, I clicked,
The Ghost of Julius Caesar