Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

Rome, known as the Eternal City, was one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever seen, and its legacy is still very present in our current society. The History of Rome is divided into three major periods: Monarchy, Republic, and Empire. During its more than 1000 years of history, Rome had a series of cultural influences, from its Etruscan roots to contact with the Greeks.

In the monarchical period, Rome was ruled by kings, many of them of Etruscan origin. This period is marked by the city's foundation, according to legend, by the brothers Romulus and Remus. The Roman Republic emerges after a movement led by the plebeians (commoners) that overthrows the last king, establishing a system based on the senate and the election of magistrates.

The Roman Empire, the peak of Roman power and influence, begins with Julius Caesar and extends until the fall of Western Rome in the 5th century. During this period, Rome dominated the Mediterranean and parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This was the period of greatest territorial expansion, construction of roads, aqueducts, and other technological advances.

Contextualization

The influence of Rome can be seen in various areas of our daily lives, from politics and law, through architecture to the language we speak. The republican system, for example, was adopted by many countries, as well as Roman laws, which formed the basis for many current legal systems.

The Latin language, spoken by the Romans, gave rise to Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, and Romanian, known as Romance languages. Roman architecture, with its arches, domes, and aqueducts, also influenced Western architecture, being used, adapted, and improved to this day.

Rome, beyond a fascinating history, leaves a legacy that shapes who we are and how we live. Understanding this legacy is essential to understanding ourselves.

Practical Activity: “Traveling through Time: A Tour of Ancient Rome”

Project Objective

The objective is for students to develop a greater understanding of Rome's cultural and historical legacy, as well as to allow them to develop research skills and teamwork by recreating important aspects of Ancient Rome.

Project Description

Students, divided into teams of 3 to 5 people, will create a “Virtual Tour” of Ancient Rome. Each group will be responsible for exploring a specific aspect of Roman society (such as politics and government, daily life, architecture, among others).

Students will learn about Rome and its main cultural, political, social, and artistic aspects. They will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a creative and meaningful way.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access for research.
• Presentation creation resources (e.g. PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, etc.)
• Drawing materials (optional, for creating images if they prefer to do it manually).
• Camera or smartphone for recording videos (optional, if they want to create a virtual tour in video).

Step by Step

1. Initial Research (2 hours): Each group must select and research a specific aspect of Ancient Rome (Politics, Culture, Daily Life, Architecture, etc.). During the research, students should seek to understand the selected topic, its relevance in Roman society, and its impact on the current world.

2. Tour Script (2-3 hours): After the research, each group must create a script for their “Virtual Tour” of Ancient Rome. The script should include the main information about the chosen topic, as well as illustrations or images representing the tour's points of interest.

3. Tour Creation (4-5 hours): With the script in hand, each group must create their “Virtual Tour”. Students can choose to create a slide presentation, a video, a comic book, or any other form they consider appropriate to present their tour. Remember, creativity is very important at this stage!

4. Review and Improvement (1 hour): After creating the tour, each group must spend time reviewing and improving their work. It is important to check if all information is correct, if the images or illustrations are clear, and if the tour sequence makes sense.

5. Tour Presentation and Written Document: Each group must present their “Virtual Tour” to the class and also write a document explaining the reasons for choosing the theme, the methodology applied, the difficulties encountered, and the lessons learned.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, the teams must deliver the following:

1. Virtual Tour of Ancient Rome: A creative presentation representing an aspect of Ancient Rome. This presentation can be a set of slides, a video, a comic book, etc.

2. Written Document: Students must write a document containing the following topics:

• Introduction: Provide context for the chosen theme, its relevance, and real-world application.
• Development: Detail the theory behind the chosen theme, the tour creation process, the methodology used, and the results obtained.
• Conclusion: Summarize the main points of the work, the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn from the project.
• Bibliography: List all information sources used to carry out the project (books, websites, videos, etc.).

Remember: the focus of the document is to complement the project, detailing the choices made by the group and delving into the concepts worked on in the project. Therefore, the written document should be in line with the “Virtual Tour” presentation.