Lesson Plan | Traditional Methodology | Ancient Rome: Introduction

Objectives

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to provide an overview of what will be covered during the class, establishing a clear and objective context for the study of Ancient Rome. By defining the objectives, students will have a clear understanding of the goals of the class and what is expected for them to learn by the end of the presentation. This initial preparation helps to focus students’ attention and guide the learning process.

Main Objectives

1. Know the main events and historical figures of Ancient Rome, including its foundation, the Republic, and the Empire.

2. Understand the Roman contributions in areas such as law, architecture, language, and religion.

3. Identify the influence of Ancient Rome on the development of the modern Western world.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

 Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to provide an overview of what will be covered during the class, establishing a clear and objective context for the study of Ancient Rome. By defining the objectives, students will have a clear understanding of the goals of the class and what is expected for them to learn by the end of the presentation. This initial preparation helps to focus students’ attention and guide the learning process.

Context

️ Context: Start the class by explaining that Ancient Rome is one of the most influential civilizations in world history. Its foundation in 753 BC marked the beginning of an empire that would last for more than a thousand years and leave a lasting legacy in areas such as law, architecture, language, and religion. Detail that Ancient Rome went through three main phases: Monarchy, Republic, and Empire. Each phase brought significant changes in Roman administration, culture, and society. The Monarchy was characterized by the foundation and the first kings of Rome; the Republic brought a more participatory political system, with senators and consuls; and the Empire marked the maximum territorial expansion and the cultural and economic peak of Rome.

Curiosities

 Curiosity: Did you know that many of the words we use today come from Latin, the language spoken by the Romans? For example, the words 'school' (schola) and 'family' (familia) have their roots in Latin. Furthermore, many current laws and legal principles have origins in Roman law, showing how this ancient civilization still influences our daily lives.

Development

Duration: (50 - 60 minutes)

 Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to detail the most important aspects of Ancient Roman history, providing a deep and comprehensive understanding of how this civilization developed and influenced the Western world. By addressing specific and important topics, students will be able to appreciate the complexity and historical significance of Rome. The proposed questions will serve to reinforce learning and ensure that students understand the main points discussed.

Covered Topics

1.  Foundation of Rome: Explain the legend of the foundation of Rome with Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers raised by a she-wolf. Mention the mythical date of 753 BC and how the city began to expand. 2. ️ The Roman Monarchy: Detail the seven kings of Rome, focusing on the most prominent ones like Romulus and Tarquin the Proud. Explain the role of the kings and the social and political structure of the monarchy. 3. ️ The Roman Republic: Explain the transition from Monarchy to Republic in 509 BC. Highlight the main republican institutions, such as the Senate, the Consuls, and the Assembly. Explain how power was distributed and the social conflicts, such as the struggle between patricians and plebeians. 4. ⚔️ Territorial Expansion and the Punic Wars: Describe how Rome began to expand its territory, mentioning the Punic Wars against Carthage and the victory that allowed Rome to control the Mediterranean. 5.  The Roman Empire: Explain the transition from the Republic to the Empire with Julius Caesar and later Augustus. Detail the characteristics of imperial governance and the Pax Romana. 6. ️ Roman Contributions: Highlight the main contributions of Rome, such as Roman Law, architectural innovations (aqueducts, roads, the Colosseum), the Latin language, and the spread of Christianity. Explain how these contributions continue to influence the Western world today.

Classroom Questions

1. 1. What were the three main phases of Roman history and what are the main characteristics of each? 2. 2. How did the Roman Republic structure its political system to avoid the concentration of power in a single person? Name the main institutions. 3. 3. What were some of the most enduring contributions of Ancient Rome to the modern Western world? Explain how these contributions continue to influence our society today.

Questions Discussion

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

 Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to review and consolidate the knowledge acquired by students during the class, clarifying doubts and deepening understanding of the topics addressed. The discussion of questions and student engagement through inquiries and reflections help to solidify content and stimulate critical thinking about the influence of Ancient Rome on the modern world.

Discussion

• 1. What were the three main phases of Roman history and what are the main characteristics of each? Roman history can be divided into three main phases: Monarchy (753 BC - 509 BC): During this phase, Rome was governed by seven kings, starting with Romulus. The Monarchy was characterized by a centralized power structure and a developing society. Republic (509 BC - 27 BC): This phase began with the overthrow of the last king, Tarquin the Proud. The Roman Republic was marked by the creation of political institutions such as the Senate, the Consuls, and the Assembly, which aimed to prevent the concentration of power. There were significant social conflicts, such as the struggle between patricians and plebeians. Empire (27 BC - 476 AD): Starting with Augustus, the Roman Empire represented Rome's maximum territorial expansion. It was characterized by centralized governance under the emperor and the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and prosperity.
• 2. How did the Roman Republic structure its political system to avoid the concentration of power in a single person? Name the main institutions. The Roman Republic developed a complex political system to avoid the concentration of power. The main institutions were: Senate: A deliberative body composed of members of the aristocracy, which had a significant role in legislation and foreign policy. Consuls: Two magistrates elected annually who held executive powers. This diarchy was designed to prevent abuse of power. Assemblies: Institutions that represented Roman citizens and had legislative and electoral functions.
• 3. What were some of the most enduring contributions of Ancient Rome to the modern Western world? Explain how these contributions continue to influence our society today. Ancient Rome made several lasting contributions, such as: Roman Law: Many modern laws and legal principles have their roots in Roman law. Concepts such as 'innocent until proven guilty' and 'equality before the law' derive from Roman law. Architecture: Roman architectural innovations, such as aqueducts, roads, and buildings like the Colosseum, influence modern engineering and architecture. Language: Latin, the language of the Romans, is the basis of the Romance languages (Portuguese, Spanish, French, etc.) and significantly contributed to the vocabulary of English and other languages. Religion: The spread of Christianity during the Roman Empire had a profound impact on the formation of cultural and western values.

Student Engagement

1. 1. Why was the transition from Monarchy to Republic a crucial moment in Roman history? 2. 2. How do you think the political structure of the Roman Republic influenced modern democracies? 3. 3. Which Roman architectural innovations do you find most impressive and why? 4. 4. How does Roman law continue to affect the legal system in your country? 5. 5. How did Latin influence the language we speak today and what examples can you give? 6. 6. What aspects of Roman culture do you think are still visible in contemporary society?

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to review and consolidate the knowledge acquired during the class, recapping the main points and reinforcing the practical importance of the content studied. This moment is essential to solidify learning and ensure that students leave the class with a clear and integrated understanding of the subject.

Summary

• The history of Ancient Rome can be divided into three main phases: Monarchy, Republic, and Empire.
• The Roman Monarchy was governed by seven kings, starting with Romulus.
• The Roman Republic introduced political institutions such as the Senate, the Consuls, and the Assembly.
• Rome's territorial expansion was marked by the Punic Wars against Carthage.
• The transition to the Empire began with Julius Caesar and was consolidated by Augustus.
• Roman contributions include Roman Law, architectural innovations, the Latin language, and the spread of Christianity.

The class connected theory with practice by explaining how the political institutions and innovations of Ancient Rome directly influence modern governmental and technological structures. Concrete examples, like the use of Latin in various modern languages and the principles of Roman Law still present in current legislation, were given to illustrate this connection.

The study of Ancient Rome is fundamental to understanding the basis of many practices and concepts in the modern Western world. Roman influence is visible in various aspects of our daily lives, from city architecture to the words we use and the laws we follow. Knowledge about this civilization helps us better understand our own culture and society.