The Romans (L6-L8)

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 2

The Romans (L6-L8)

Goals

• Students know what the following keyterms mean: Barbari, Romanisation, Castra & Teutenborg Forest.
• Students know what the Limes of the Roman Empire were and how they were used.
• Students know what Colonia were and can give two examples of these in the Germanic Provinces.

What do you think Barbari means?

What do you think romanisation means?

What do you think castra means?

What do you think Limes means?

Why do you think the Teutenborg Forest is important?

The limes

• The limes: the border of the Roman Empire.
• --> The Rhine.
• In the Netherlands, north of the Lime were Germanic and Celtic tribes. --> Barbari
• Many tribes that lived near the limes were Romanised.
• The roman army camps were gradually replaced by permanent forts, castra or castella

Natural and human made borders

Hadrian's wall in Britannia

Limes in the Low Lands

The limes in the Low Countries

• After the Teutoburg Forest disaster in 9 AD, the Romans decided that the northern limes would remain the border of the empire.
• Although the Romans were experts at building roads (via strata), it was more efficient and cheaper to travel by water.

orbis.stanford.edu

Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium

• Colonia: a settlement establishing a Roman outpost in conquered territory.
• Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) (CCAA)
• At its peak, CCAA had as many
  as 30,000 inhabitants, which
  made it one of the largest cities
  north of the Alps.
• Cologne has been a transport hub
  since Roman times.

Colonia Ulpia Traiana

• This colonia was one of the most important metropols of the Romans Germanic provinces.
• In AD 98 or 99, the rebuilt settlement on the
  banks of the Rhine was granted the status
  of a Colonia.
• This made it one of the 150 most important
  cities in the entire Roman empire.

orbis.stanford.edu

Travel Like a Roman!

Imagine you are a Roman messenger in the 2nd century AD. You must deliver an important message from a colonia in the Germanic provinces to a castra (military camp) near the Limes. Use the Orbis Route Planner to plan your journey and answer the questions on the next slide.

Step 1 – Plan your journey

1. Choose a colonia as your starting point. For example:

• Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (now Cologne)
• Colonia Ulpia Traiana (near modern Xanten)

1. Choose a castra (fort) as your destination, such as:

• Vindobona
• Nida
• Or another fort near the Limes

1. Set your travel options, e.g.:

• Travel mode = ox cart
• Season = autumn

Step 2 – Answer these question

1. How many kilometers is your journey?
2. How many days will it take, according to Orbis?
3. What modes of tranport would you use? Why do you think the Romans used these modes of transport?
4. What natural or man made border would you come across?
5. Which important cities would you visit on your route?

Step 3 – Reflection

• Write a short reflection (maximum 5 sentences):
• What would it be like to travel through the Germanic provinces as a Roman? What risks would you face? What did you notice?

Work Work Work

Lesson 6: 2c (page 24), 3a, 3c.

Lesson 7: 2e, 3d (page 29), 4b

Lesson 8: 1a & 1b

Goals

You will learn how Romans travelled across the empire.

You will use a special online map to plan a mission – just like a Roman messenger.

Your mission

The year is 208 AD. You are a Roman messenger working for Emperor Septimius Severus. The emperor is planning a military campaign. He sends you on an urgent mission:
Bring an important letter from Rome (Roma) to the northern border of the empire: the city of Colonia Agrippinensis (modern-day Cologne, Germany).

Step 1

1. Go to https://orbis.stanford.edu
2. Click “Routing” at the top
3. Start: Roma → End: Colonia Agrippinensis
4. Try different options:
5. Month: January or February (winter!)
6. Travel mode: fastest, cheapest, or by specific transport (e.g., foot, animal, boat)

Step 2

• Answer these questions:
  

1. What is the fastest route? (How many days?)
2. What is the safest route? Why?
   
3. Which transport is best in winter?
   
4. Would you avoid the sea?

Step 3

• Write a short travel report (150–200 words):
  
• “My name is Marcus. The emperor sent me to Colonia Agrippinensis. I started in January, during winter. First, I travelled by horse to...”
  
• Include:
  

1. When and how you travelled
2. Cities you passed
   
3. Dangers on the way
   
4. Final result: how long did it take?

Goals

• Students know what the following keyterms mean: Barbari, Romanisation, Castra & Teutenborg Forest.
• Students know what the Limes of the Roman Empire were and how they were used.
• Students know what Colonia were and can give two examples of these in the Germanic Provinces.

What do you think Barbari means?

What do you think romanisation means?

What do you think castra means?

What do you think Limes means?

Why do you think the Teutenborg Forest is important?