3.3 The Roman Empire (PRESENTATION)

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo
• Leerjaar 1

AGE 2. The Time of Greeks and Romans

3.3 The Roman Empire

What is this lesson about?

Look at the map of the Roman Empire. This was the Empire at its peak in 117 AD. Look at those long borders. Difficult to defend, don’t you think? How could the Romans do this?

What you can explain /  do after this lesson/week

• What was the size of the Roman Empire?
• How did the Romans defend the borders of their Empire?
• Was our country part of the Roman Empire?

Word Duty

Germania: area north of the River Rhine, not a Roman province.

limes: Roman borders in the north. (spreek uit als lie-mès)

barbarians: primitive people who lived outside the Roman Empire (like the Germans)

KEY WORDS

TIMELINE of this CHAPTER

B: From Republic to Empire

Ever since Augustus took over power, Rome was ruled by an emperor (click to see the list of all the emperors). Some emperors were excellent rulers, while others were weak and corrupt. You might have heard of some: Emperor Caligula, for example, was known for his cruelty and his absurd decisions. He even declared his horse as a senator. And what is there to say about Emperor Nero? He was suspected of setting fire to Rome. On a more positive note Emperor Vespasian built a large theatre (stadium) in Rome, called the Colosseum. Emperor Hadrian built a large defensive wall in the north of present-day England.

C. Border protection

Under the first emperors, the Roman Empire grew enormously, in both size and power. Can you imagine an empire containing large parts of Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East? All the conquered territories became provinces of the Roman Empire. The borders of the Empire were natural borders, such as rivers, seas, mountains ranges or deserts. Such borders are easily defended. The Romans just had to build fortresses at strategic points. When enemies were approaching the border, the Romans responded very quickly. Unlike many of their opponents, the Romans had a highly professional and well-trained army: most enemies did not stand a chance against their modern weapons and tactics.

D1. Limes

Sometimes a border had to be strengthened, just as in the north of England. Around 120 AD, Emperor Hadrian had a great wall built to mark the border. Hadrian’s Wall was not just a wall, but also a series of fortresses along the northern border of the Empire. This northern border also ran across what is now the Netherlands. We call the Roman borders in the north by their original Latin name of limes.

  

D2. Limes

Have a quick look at the map on the left. What do you notice at the northern border of the Roman Empire? In fact, only the southern part of our country was part of the Roman Empire. Why was that? When Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, he stopped at the River Rhine. The Rhine formed a natural border, that was easy to defend. Germanic tribes who lived north of the Rhine could not cross it very easily.

D. The English words ‘Germany’ and ‘Germans’ originally come from the Latin word Germania that was introduced by the Romans

C3. Limes

The area south of the Rhine became a Roman province that was called Gallia Belgica. 

Large parts of present-day Germany and the northern parts of our country were not part of the Roman Empire. The people who lived here were seen as wild barbarians. The Romans were not interested in this cold, wet and barbaric area at all.

Romans

Germans

barbarians

Who were the barbarians? The Romans referred to people groups outside the Roman Empire as barbarians. The barbarians had different cultures than the Romans. They dressed differently, ate different foods, and had different religions. They did not have the same level of government, education, or engineering as the Romans.

F. Roman roads

Remains of Ancient Roman roads can still be found in Europe. The Romans had a vast network of roads. Can you imagine that soldiers built roads over a length of 100,000 kilometers? Note, these were only the main roads. With less important roads included, the whole network had a length of 300,000 kilometers. These roads were very important. Good and safe roads promoted trade. Armies were able to move quickly through the Empire. Many of these roads were marked with milestones. Milestones divided the roads in numbered miles. Like our own traffic signs, milestones were part of Roman everyday life.

G. The modern word mile comes from the Latin milia passuum (‘one thousand steps’), which amounted to 1,480 m.

3.3 The Roman Empire (summary)

Ever since Augustus took power, Rome was ruled by an ___________________. This means that Rome was no longer a republic, but a ________________ again.

The Roman empire got bigger. Conquered territories became _______________ of the empire.

The borders of the empire were _____________ borders, such as __________, _____________, ______________ and ______________. Such borders are easily _______________. 

Places where there were no natural borders, the Romans built  walls and _______________. 

The Romans had the best army in the world. 

The borders in the north had to be _______________. In England this was __________ Wall. 

The northern border also ran across the ___________________. We call this the ______________.

Only the ____________ part of the Netherlands was part of the empire. The border was the river ______________.

North of the Rhine lived ________________ tribes. They were enemies of Rome. The Romans called them _________________. 

South of the Rhine became the province ______________________. 

The Romans had a vast network of ________________. They were built by _______________.

The roads were very important:

1. good and safe roads promoted _______________.

2. _________ could move quickly through the empire.

Copy the text in your notebook. Fill in the gaps. Upload a picture in the next slide.

3.3 The Roman Empire (summary)

Ever since Augustus took power, Rome was ruled by an EMPEROR. This means that Rome was no longer a republic, but a MONARCHY again.

The Roman empire got bigger. Conquered territories became PROVINCES of the empire.

The borders of the empire were NATURAL borders, such as RIVERS, SEAS, MOUNTAIN RANGES and DESERTS. Such borders are easily DEFENDED. 

Places where there were no natural borders, the Romans built  walls and FORTRESSES. 

The Romans had the best army in the world. 

The borders in the north had to be STRENGTHENED. In England this was HADRIAN'S Wall. 

The northern border also ran across the NETHERLANDS. We call this the LIMES.

Only the NORTHERN part of the Netherlands was part of the empire. The border was the river RHINE.

North of the Rhine lived GERMANIC tribes. They were enemies of Rome. The Romans called them BARBARIANS. 

South of the Rhine became the province GALLIA BELGICA. 

The Romans had a vast network of ROADS. They were built by SOLDIERS.

The roads were very important:

1. good and safe roads promoted TRADE.

2. ARMIES could move quickly through the empire.

Word Duty

Assignments 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of 3.3 

+ 

Word list 3.1 + 3.2 + 3.3

Finish the word list --> 

Hand in word lists with BOTH dutch and English explanations.

Monday 29th jan

Weekly task