Chapter 4

Ancient Rome
3.1 INVESTIGATE the lives of people in one ancient or medieval
civilisation of their choosing, explaining how the actions and/or
achievements of that civilisation contributed to the history of Europe
and/or the wider world

5.1 Timeline
5.2 Cornell Notes
5.3 Keywords
5.4 Knowledge Organiser
5.5 Questions
This chapter will explore the history and influence of Ancient Rome, including its
politics, military conquests, and contributions to western civilization.

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 Chapter 4

Strand Three: The History of Europe and the Wider World

Ancient Rome
3.1 INVESTIGATE the lives of people in one ancient or medieval civilisation of their
choosing, explaining how the actions and/or achievements of that civilisation
contributed to the history of Europe and/or the wider world
Emperor Constantine
The Roman Republic is Augustus becomes the converts to Christianity
created. first Roman Emperor on his deathbed.

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735 BC 509 BC 44 BC 27 BC AD 79 AD 312 AD 476
The City of Rome was Assassination of Julius The eruption of Mount
The Fall of the
founded by twin Caesar, the dictator of Vesuvius buried the
Western Roman
brothers, Romulus and the Roman Republic on town of Pompeii and
Empire.
Remus. the Ides of March Herculaneum.
ROME’S HISTORY • Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus around 753 BC. Initially ruled by kings before
becoming a wealthy republic that conquered all of Italy and controlled North Africa, Greece
and Spain.
• The Roman Republic was replaced by the Roman Empire which added most of European and
the Mediterranean region. The last Roman Emperor of Rome ended around AD 476.

ROMAN TOWNS • Roman towns were founded in areas controlled by the Romans; the local people then became
citizens of the Roman Empire – meaning they had rights under Roman Law.
• A forum – large town square; a centre of business, political activity and religious worship
• Temples – where they worshipped Gods for favours
• Aqueducts – to bring in fresh water to the towns
• Theatres – for plays and poetry performances
• Monuments (triumphant arches) – to commemorate Rome’s history
• Public baths – where people bathed, met friends and exercised
• An amphitheatre – where gladiatorial games were held

THE ROMAN ARMY • The army was central to Roman civilisation and the spread of the Empire.
• Soldiers enlisted at the age of 20, serving for 25 years for which they received land as a
reward for their loyalty. Rome also planted loyal soldiers throughout conquered land to secure
its control.
• Roman citizens who served as foot soldiers were called legionnaires. A legion consisted of
5,400 legionnaires and horsemen. Soldiers could serve in:
• The infantry (foot soldiers) • Horseback (cavalry) • Artillery (projectile weapons)
• Soldiers’ equipment included: armour of metal plates tied with leather, a sword, a helmet, a
dagger, a wooden shield, and a javelin (spear)
• Roman soldiers had to march up to 30km every day when setting up camp. They had to train
often with extra-heavy weapons to ensure they were always battle-ready.
• Technological developments saw the creation of military siege weapons and techniques such as
the catapult, testudo, ballista, onager, tower and gallery.

Republic Monuments Ancient Rome dates to 753 BC, transforming from a republic into an Empire that conquered a large
Empire Public baths area that last until its fall in AD 476. The Roman Empire founded new towns in recently conquered

Citizens Amphitheatre Roman territories which helped to keep these new territories under Roman control. The people who lived

Forum Infantry here often became citizens of the Roman Empire. These towns had several common features including; a

Temples Cavlary forum, temples, theatres, aqueducts, monuments, public baths and an amphitheatre. The army was

Theatres Artillery an important part of Roman life with soldiers serving for 25 years and were divided into: an infantry, the

Aqueducts cavalry and the artillery.

DAILY LIFE IN ROME- • Patricians were the wealthy noble families who ruled Rome and only male Patricians could vote.
PATRICIANS • Men wore togas while women wore stolas.
• A patrician had two types of houses; a domus (in a town) or a villa (in the countryside)
• A domus had many features: an atrium (central courtyard); an impluvium (pool); slave
quarters; and a peristylium (walled garden).
• Paintings and floors were decorated in mosaics.
• Their homes used oil lamps for light while some had running water.

DAILY LIFE IN ROME— • Plebeians were the poor people of Rome and made up the vast majority of the population.
PLEBEIANS • They received a dole – a payment of free grain.
• Men wore a tunic while women wore plain stolas.
• They lived in apartment blocks called insulaes. The ground floor had shops and workshops.
The higher up you went, the smaller the apartments.
• The poorest Romans lived in the highest floors where they were made of wood that made them
a constant fire threat.

DAILY LIFE IN ROME— • Rome had over 300,000 slaves who were made up from prisoners of war, children of slaves,
SLAVES people captured by pirates or bandits or children who were sold by their parents to pay off
debt. Most patricians owned several slaves who cooked and cleaned, worked on public building
projects, on farms and in mines.
• Well-educated slaves (mostly Greeks) were employed as: teachers, secretaries, doctors and
• tutors. They were highly valued and sometimes gained manumission (freedom) after years of
service to their masters.

DAILY LIFE IN ROME— • Girls were married by the age of 14 or 15 to man their father chase.
WOMEN • The conferratio (the wedding ceremony) was held at the bride’s home and divorce was legal.
• Women were expected to run the household and rear children (or oversee the slaves)
• No woman was allowed to vote or to take part in public life.

Patricians There were two kinds of people in Ancient Rome: Patricians and Plebeians. Patricians were the
Domus rich people of Roman society while the Plebeians were the poor people. Patricians lived in domus
Villa and villas while Plebeians lived in insulaes. Patricians’ homes were often decorated by mosaics
Mosaics and looked after by slaves. Plebeians received a dole to keep them loyal to the patricians.
Plebeians Patrician families owned slaves who were responsible for cooking and cleaning as well as
Dole working on public works, farms and mines while well-educated slaves were often used as
Insulaes teachers, secretaries, doctors or tutors. Some slaves gained manumission after years of service.
Slaves Girls were married by the age of 14 or 15 during the conferratio at their home. Women were
Manumission expected to run the household but divorce was also legal. No woman was allowed to vote or take part in public life.
DAILY LIFE IN ROME— • Plebeian children receive a basic education before entering the work force, usually following in
EDUCATION the footsteps of their parents eg. Metalworkers, stone masons, bakers
• Patrician children (7 to 12) attend the ludus. Here, they learn reading, writing and arithmetic
(using an abacus). Boys continue on to the grammaticus to learn history, grammar, geometry
and literature while girls stay at home and learn domestic skills from their mothers and are
prepared for marriage.
• Boys, at the age of 16, learn oratory (the art of public speaking) and study abroad in Greece.

ENTERTAINMENT – • Most towns had a large semi-circular buildings with stone seats as their theatres where tragedy
ROMAN THEATRE (sad) and comedy (happy) plays were staged. All actors were men and wore masks.

ENTERTAINMENT – • Public baths could be found in every Roman towns and were free to use by all as most homes
PUBLIC BATHS did not have running water. The baths were also an important centre for meeting friends,
exchanging news, exercise and conducting business.
• Most baths contained the following:
• Tepidarium – a medium heat room • Caldarium – a hot room (like a sauna)
• Frigidarium – a cool water room • A palaestra – an exercise yard
• Men and women often had separate areas, or different bathing times in the baths were too small

ENTERTAINMENT - • Most major Roman city had an amphitheatre: a circular entertainment arena with tiered seating.
GLADIATORS • Seating was based on social status – the most important (and male) sat closest to the action.
• The most famous is the Colosseum in Rome; it held just over 50,000 spectators and its ruins
can still be seen today. It could be flooded for mock sea battles as well.
• Gladiators were usually slaves who fought for the entertainment of the crowd. They were
trained in specialist schools where they used a particular fighting style such as:
• A retiarius would use a trident and net • A murmillo would use a shield and a sword.
• Gladiators were expensive and rarely fought to the death.

Ludus Plebeians received a basic education while Patrician children attended a ludus to learn reading,
Grammaticus writing and arithmetic. Patrician boys continued to go to a grammaticus and proceed to learning
Oratory oratory while girls learned to run a household. Theatres staged both tragedies and comedies as
Tragedy entertainment for citizens. Public baths were a centre for meeting friends, exchanging news,
Comedy exercising and conducting business. Another popular entertainment came from the amphitheatres
Public Baths where the gladiatorial games took place. This arena had tiered seating based on social status.
Colosseum The Colosseum in Rome can still be seen today and it held 50,000 spectators. Gladiators were
Gladiators usually slaves who were trained in specialist schools to learn a specific fighting style such as the
Reitarius retiarius and the murmilo.
ENTERTAINMENT – • Chariot racing used 2-4 horses pulling a chariot in teams of four (blue, red, green and white).
CHARIOT RACING • The races were very dangerous, often coming at the cost of the lives of the racers and horses.
• Gambling on the chariot races was a popular pastime for Romans and financial gain for some.
• The Circus Maximus was Rome’s arena for chariot racing and held up to 250,000 people.

RELIGION IN ROME • Ancient Romans were polytheists – they believed in many different Gods who controlled
everyday events and to whom they prayed, made offerings and sacrifices at their lararium
or at a temple. One example of an Ancient Roman temple is The Pantheon in Rome.
• When a roman died, their body was cremated and their ashes were stored in an urn. All
funerals took place outside the town walls. Romans believed that when a person died, they
crossed the River Styx into the underworld; they placed a coin on the eyes of the dead to pay
the ferryman for the crossing.

THE SPREAD OF • Following the death of Christ circa AD 33, Christianity spread through the Roman Empire.
CHRISTIANITY Unlike Romans, Christians are monotheists – they believe in only one God.
• The Christians were persecuted by Roman authorities for their refusal to take part in
ceremonies that worshipped Roman gods.
• Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed and granted the religion legal
status throughout the Roman Empire in AD 313.

THE FALL OF THE ROMAN • As the Roman Empire had spread wide over Europe, it also meant that many ‘barbarian’ tribes
EMPIRE lived around the edges of the Empire such as the Gauls, Franks, Saxons, and Vandals.
• In the fifth century, the warlike tribes from modern-day Germany began invading the Roman
Empire who was struggling with inner turmoil and conflict; in AD 410 they sacked Rome.
• New barbarian kingdoms were founded within the remains of the Roman Empire. One such
example was found in Britain where the Angles and the Saxons (Anglo-Saxons) replaced the
Romans and Celts.
• The Roman Empire lost most of modern-day Europe by AD 476 but remained strong in Eastern
countries such as Turkey; the Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire.

Chariot racing Underworld Chariot racing was popular for Romans who took part in gambling on the races. The Circus
Gambling Christianity Maximus was Rome’s chariot racing arena. Romans were polytheists who made offerings or
Circus Maximus Monotheists prayers at their larariums or temples. The best remaining ruins of an Ancient Roman temple is
Polytheists Persecution the Pantheon. Romans believed the cremated souls of the dead had to cross the River Styx to
Lararium Constantine enter the underworld. Emperor Constantine legalised the monotheistic Christianity on his
Cremation Byzantine deathbed, ending the persecution of Christians by Roman authorities which helped spread it
The Pantheon Empire across the Roman Empire, allowing Christianity to become a powerful religion. The Fall of the
River Styx Roman Empire came in AD 476, Byzantine Empire continued to thrive in the Eastern territory.
THE LEGACY OF ROME • Many modern languages are based on Latin which had been the language of the Romans.
• As Christianity replaced the pagan religion, the spread of the Roman Empire helped to make
Christianity a powerful religion for many centuries to come.
• The Roman calendar (originally Julian before being replaced by Gregorian) is the inspiration for
the calendar used by Western countries today.
• Roman architecture involved skilled engineers and builders who invented concrete while using
rounded arches and pillars to support large domes and roofs.

Latin The Ancient Roman Empire left a lasting legacy including the spread of Christianity, Latin
Calendar becoming the origin of many modern-day languages, the basis of the modern-day calendar and
Concrete architectural inventions such as concrete and rounded pillars and arches.
Amphitheatre • Where gladiatorial games were held.
Aqueduct • A channel used to carry water over land.
Catacombs • Underground passageways and chambers used by Christians for burials.
Cena • The main meal of the day - followed by a nap.
Classical • Term used for culture, art and architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome
• The largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, the Colosseum is in the centre of Rome, just east of
Colosseum
the Roman Forum. It held between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators.
Circus Maximus • An oval-shaped stadium built for chariot racing.
Citizens • Romans with legal rights; including the right to vote.
• The two most powerful political officials of the Roman Republic. They held office for one year and
Consuls
had to agree decisions.
Dictator • A ruler with full power
Dole • Free grain given to the poor.
Domus • The private house of a patrician family - in a town.
Emperor • The supreme ruler of an empire.
Empire • A group of colonies controlled by a single ruler or government.
Fresco • Painting style in Ancient Rome and in the Renaissance where painting is done on damp plaster
Forum • A large town square that was the centre of business, political activity and religious worship.
Gladiators • Trained fights who battled other gladiators in public contests.
Insulae • Apartment blocks occupied by plebeians.
Legionaries • Regular soldiers in the Roman army.
Manumission • Gaining freedom from slavery.
Mosaics • Pictures made from small pieces of stone, glass or tile.
Monotheism • Worshipping one god.
• Rich nobles, including wealthy landowners. They made up a small percentage of the Roman
Patricians
population.
• Poor working-class people, including soldiers, farmers, craftsmen and labourers. They made up
Plebeians
the majority of the Roman population.
Polytheism • Worshipping many gods.
• A country where the people elect their leaders in free and fair elections. The head of state is an
Republic
elected president rather than a king or queen.
Stola • A long robe or garment worn by women in Ancient Rome
Strigil • A curved instrument to scrape oil and dirt off the body
Toga • A long robe for men in Ancient Rome
Tunic • A dress-like garment worn by men and women.
 Term Definition

Ancient Rome
3.1 INVESTIGATE the lives of people in one ancient or medieval civilisation of their choosing, explaining how the actions and/or achievements of that

Chapter 4
civilisation contributed to the history of Europe and/or the wider world
Amphitheatre Where gladiatorial games were held.
The Stone Age
Aqueduct A channel used to carry water over land. Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus around 753 BC. Initially ruled by kings before becoming a republic that conquered all of Italy and controlled North Africa,
Greece and Spain. The republic's most famous leader - and thus dictator - was Julius Caesar, the last leader of the Roman Republic.
Catacombs Underground passageways and chambers used by Christians for burials.
The Roman Republic was replaced by the Roman Empire following the assassination of Caesar which added most of Europe and the Mediterranean region. The Roman Empire, in all its
Cena The main meal of the day - followed by a nap. identities, last for over 1000 years. The fall of the Western Roman Empire is dated in AD 476.
Classical Term used for culture, art and architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome Patricians Plebeians Education
The largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, the Colosseum is in the Patricians were the wealthy noble families who ruled Rome Plebeians were the poor people of Rome and made up the Plebeian children received a basic education before entering
Colosseum centre of Rome, just east of the Roman Forum. It held between 50,000 to and only male Patricians could vote. Men were togas while vast majority of the population. They received a dole the work force, usually following their parents' profession.
80,000 spectators. women wore stolas. A patrician had two types of houses; a (payment of free grain). Men wore a tunic while women Patrician children (7-12) attended the ludus where they
domus (in a town) or a villa (in the countryside). A domus had wore plain stolas. They lived in apartment blocks called learned reading, writing and arithmetic. Boys continued onto
Circus Maximus An oval-shaped stadium built for chariot racing. many features: an atrium (central courtyard), an impluvium insulaes. The ground floor had shops and workshops. The the grammaticus to learn history, grammar, geometry and
(pool), slave quarters, and a peristylium (walled garden). higher up you went, the smaller the apartments. The poorest literature while girls stayed at home and learned domestic
Citizens Romans with legal rights; including the right to vote.
Paintings and floors were decorated in mosaics. Their homes Romans lived in the highest floors where they were made of skills from their mothers and prepare for marriage. Boys,
The two most powerful political officials of the Roman Republic. They used oil lamps while some had running water. wood that made them a constant fire threat. aged 16, learned oratory.
Consuls
held office for one year and had to agree decisions. Entertainment The Roman Army Slaves
Dictator A ruler with full power Entertainment: there were numerous ways in which Roman The Roman Army was central to Roman civilisation and the Slaves: Rome had over 300,000 slaves who were made up
citizens entertained themselves. These included public baths, spread of the Roman Empire. Soldiers enlisted at the age of from prisoners of war, children of slaves, people captured
Dole Free grain given to the poor.
theatres (where plays of tragedy and comedy took place), 20, serving for 25 years for which they received land as a by pirates or bandits, or children who were sold by their
Domus The private house of a patrician family - in a town. chariot racing and gladiatorial games. The Colosseum was reward for their loyalty, with some planted across the parents to pay off debts. Most patricians owned several
built circa 80 AD by Emperor Vespasian in Rome. It could seat Roman Empire to secure its control. A legion consisted of slaves who cooked and cleaned, worked on public building
Emperor The supreme ruler of an empire. up to 50,000 spectators who came to watch the gladiatorial 5,400 legionaries (Roman foot soldiers) and horsemen. projects, on farms and in mines. Well-educated slaves
Empire A group of colonies controlled by a single ruler or government. games, fights with erotic animals and mock sea battles. Soldiers equipment consisted of armour, sword, helmet, (mostly Greeks) were employed as teachers, secretaries,
dagger, wooden shield and javelin. doctors and tutors. They could earn manumission (freedom)
Painting style in Ancient Rome and in the Renaissance where painting is
Fresco Religion Spread of Christianity The Fall of Rome
done on damp plaster
Ancient Romans were polytheists - they believed in many Following the death of Christ circa AD 33, Christianity As the Roman Empire had spread wide over Europe, it also
A large town square that was the centre of business, political activity
Forum different Gods who controlled everyday events and to whom spread through the Roman Empire. Unlike the Pagan meant that many 'barbarian' tribes lived around the edges of
and religious worship.
they prayed, made offerings and sacrifices at their lararium Romans, Christians were monotheists - they believe in only the Empire such as the Gauls, Franks, Saxons and Vandals.
Gladiators Trained fights who battled other gladiators in public contests. (family shrines) or at a temple. One example of an Ancient one God. The Christians were persecuted by the Roman In the fifth century, the warlike tribes from modern-day
Roman temple is The Pantheon. When a Roman died, their authorities for their refusal to take part in ceremonies that Germany began invading the Roman Empire who was
Insulae Apartment blocks occupied by plebeians. body was cremated and their ashes were stored in an urn. All worshipped Roman Gods. Emperor Constantine converted to struggling with inner turmoil and conflict; in AD 410 they
funerals took place outside the town walls. Romans believed Christianity on his deathbed in AD 313 and granted the sacked Rome. New barbarian kingdoms were founded within
Legionaries Regular soldiers in the Roman army.
that when a person died, they crossed River Styx in the religion legal status throughout the Roman Empire through the remains of the of the Roman Empire; the Angles and the
Manumission Gaining freedom from slavery. underworld; they placed a coin on the eyes of the dead to pay the Edict of Milan. Saxons replaced the Romans and Celts in Britain. The
the ferryman for the crossing. Western Roman Empire fell in AD 476 while the Byzantine
Moasics Pictures made from small pieces of stone, glass or tile.
Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) remained until 1453.
Monotheism Worshipping one god. The Legacy of Rome
Rich nobles, including wealthy landowners. They made up a small The Legacy of Rome: Many modern languages, such as the Romantic Languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian are based on Latin which had been the language of
Patricians
percentage of the Roman population. the Romans. As Christianity replaced the pagan religion, the spread of the Roman Empire helped to make Christianity a powerful religion for many centuries to come. The Roman
calendar (originally Julian before being replaced by Gregorian) is the inspiration for the calendar used by Western countries today. Roman architecture involved skilled engineers and
Poor working-class people, including soldiers, farmers, craftsmen and
Plebeians builders who invented concrete while using rounded arches and pillars to support large domes and roofs.
labourers. They made up the majority of the Roman population.
Polytheism Worshipping many gods.
A country where the people elect their leaders in free and fair
Republic elections. The head of state is an elected president rather than a king or
queen.
Stola A long robe or garment worn by women in Ancient Rome

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Strigil A curved instrument to scrape oil and dirt off the body
Toga A long robe for men in Ancient Rome
Tunic A dress-like garment worn by men and women.
Ancient Rome
Doodle Revision Page or Sketch Notes
Include heading(s), short notes, keywords, timelines,
images (maps, drawings, diagrams) as needed

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Ancient Rome ...at a glance
Origins of Ancient Rome
Founding of Rome: According to legend, the city was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus,
twin sons of Mars.
Roman Republic: Began in 509 BC, ruled by wealthy elites through the Senate.
Transition to Empire: The Republic collapsed in 31 BC and was replaced by the Roman Empire
under Augustus, the first emperor.
Fall of Rome: The Western Roman Empire fell in AD 476.
Sources on Ancient Rome
Written Sources: Works by Roman authors like Caesar, Pliny, and Virgil.
Archaeological Sites: Ruins across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including Pompeii,
preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
Artefacts: Coins, tools, weapons, and toys found throughout the empire.
Roman Towns
Towns were the centres of Roman life, where Roman citizens and native peoples lived together.
Features of Roman towns:
Walls for defence.
Grid street system.
Forum: A town square for business, politics, and religion.
Temples, theatres, aqueducts, public baths, and amphitheatres.
The Roman Army
Importance: The army allowed Rome to conquer and defend its vast empire.
Structure:
Legion: About 5,400 men, divided into 10 cohorts.
Centurions led groups of 80 men (one century).
Soldiers served for 25 years and received land upon retirement.
Training: Soldiers practiced with heavy weapons, marched up to 30km a day, and built camps upon
arrival.
Roles:
Infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (on horseback), and artillery (used war machines like catapults).
Daily Life in Rome
Patricians: Wealthy elite, lived in domus (large houses) or villas.
Men wore togas, women wore stolas.
Patricians had many slaves for cooking, cleaning, and manual labour.
Plebeians: Poor citizens, lived in insulae (apartment blocks).
Worked as farmers, tradespeople, or soldiers.
Received the dole (free grain) from the state.
Slavery: Slaves were mostly prisoners of war, worked in households, on farms, or in mines. Some
became educated and served as teachers or doctors.
Roman Entertainment
Public Baths: Social and hygienic spaces, including hot rooms (caldarium), warm rooms
(tepidarium), and cold baths (frigidarium).
Chariot Racing: Held at the Circus Maximus, a 500m-long stadium that seated 250,000 people.
Dangerous sport, with frequent crashes that killed drivers and horses.
Gladiatorial Games: Fought in amphitheatres like the Colosseum, which seated 50,000.
Gladiators were usually slaves or captured soldiers, trained in special schools.
Roman Religion
Polytheistic: Worshipped many gods, including Jupiter (Zeus), Mars (Ares), and Venus (Aphrodite).
Temples and Shrines: Built for the gods, sacrifices and offerings were made in both public and
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private worship.
Christianity: Initially persecuted, but became the official religion after Emperor Constantine
converted in AD 312.
The Legacy of Rome
Architecture: Romans invented concrete, built aqueducts, roads, and used arches in buildings like
the Pantheon.
Their engineering influenced modern construction techniques.
Language: Latin influenced modern languages like French, Spanish, Italian, and Romanian.
Calendar: Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar (365 days, 12 months), the basis for today’s
Gregorian calendar.
Ch. 4 - Ancient Rome
Source A is a picture of preserved bread found in an oven
at Pompeii and source B is an account of the excavations at
Pompeii. Study them and answer the questions that follow.
B Pompeii: Archaeologists are investigating
the remains of Pompeii, a city frozen in time
On a fateful summer morning in AD 79, Mount Vesuvius buried
the vibrant Roman city of Pompeii - and many of its citizens -
beneath tons of volcanic ash and debris. 'Darkness fell, not the
dark of a moonless or cloudy night, but as if the lamp had been
put out in a dark room', wrote Pliny the Younger, who
witnessed the cataclysm from across the Bay of Naples.
The disaster also preserved a slice of Roman life. The buildings, art, artefacts and bodies forever
frozen offer a unique window on the ancient world. Since its rediscovery in the mid-18th century, the site
has hosted a tireless succession of treasure hunters and archaeologists.
One team is particularly interested in a corner of the city near the Porta Stabia gate that is a bit of
the beaten archaeological path. 'It's kind of a lost neighbourhood of the city. When they first cleared it
of debris in the 1870s, they left this block for ruin (because it had no large villas) and it was covered
over with a terrible jungle of vegetation', one archaeologist says.
Much research has centred on public buildings and breath-taking villas that portray the artistic and
opulent lifestyle enjoyed by the city's wealthy elite. 'We're trying to see how the other people lived in
Pompeii', he says. 'It's a humble town block with houses, shops, and all the bits and pieces that make
up the life of an ancient city'
Today's other great challenge is preservation of what has been uncovered. Volcanic ash long
protected Pompeii, but much of it has now been exposed to the elements for many years. The
combined wear of weather, pollution and tourists has created a real danger of losing much of what was
luckily found preserved.
(a) When did the eruption at Pompeii occur?
(b) What has been preserved by the eruption?
(c) Why is one team of archaeologists interested in the area near the Porta Stabia?
(d) What dangers face Pompeii today?
(e) Name and explain one way in which source A, the bread from Pompeii, could be dated by
archaeologists.
(f) Why are discoveries like this loaf of bread important to historians?
(g) Based on your study of life in either an ancient or medieval civilisation, write an account of life in
a town.
(h) Explain three ways in which the ancient or medieval civilisation you have studied has influenced
the world we live in today.
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Taken from Artefact, 2nd Edition by Eimear Jenkinson and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
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