Contextualization

Ancient Rome is one of the key pillars in the construction of our contemporary world. Art, philosophy, politics, law, architecture and several other aspects of western civilization have their foundation in Roman culture. Studying it means understanding where many of today’s values, concepts and practices came from.

Throughout its long history, Rome went through different governance models: the Monarchy (753 BC - 509 BC), the Republic (509 BC - 27 BC) and the Empire (27 BC - 476 AD). In this project we will focus on the Monarchy and the Republic, periods marked by profound transformations and remarkable facts that shaped the world for generations to come.

The Monarchy was characterized by a governing system where the king held absolute power, including religious and military authority. This period is surrounded by legends and myths, such as the foundation of Rome by Romulus and Remus and the governing of the seven kings.

The Republic was a period of great political and social transformations. During this period, the power was shared by several governing bodies, including the consuls, the senate and the people's assembly. It was a time of territorial expansion, wars, internal conflicts and intense intellectual and cultural production.

Hands-on Activity: “Reviving Ancient Rome: From Monarchy to Republic”

Project Goal

This project aims to immerse students in the universe of Ancient Rome during the Monarchy and Republic periods through a theatrical representation. This activity will help to understand the differences between these political regimes, their power dynamics, cultural traditions, challenges, and legacies.

Project description

Students will conduct thorough research on Ancient Rome, with an emphasis on the Monarchy and Republic periods. Based on this research, they will write and stage a play that illustrates the main political, cultural, economic, and social aspects of each period. The play must include at least one relevant episode from each period and highlight the transformation processes between the Monarchy and the Republic.

This is a collaborative activity for groups of 3 to 5 students. Each group member will play an important role in researching, writing the script, producing, and performing the play. Each student is expected to invest between five and ten hours of work in the project.

Materials

• Books, websites, documentaries and other research materials on Ancient Rome.
• Paper and pen to write the script
• Miscellaneous materials for producing scenery, costumes and props.

Step-by-step instructions for carrying out the activity

1. Form groups and define the roles and responsibilities of each member.
2. Brainstorm the events and aspects of the Monarchy and the Republic that they would like to portray in the play.
3. Begin researching the chosen themes and episodes.
4. Based on the research carried out, write the script for the play.
5. Divide parts and rehearse the play.
6. Prepare scenery, costumes and props.
7. Stage the play.
8. Finally, write the summary document, detailing the experience and learning acquired during the project.

Project Deliverables

• The play's script: It must include detailed descriptions of the characters, scenes, dialogues, as well as notes on the purpose of each scene in terms of illustrating specific aspects of the Monarchy and the Republic.
• Recording of the play: A video of the final presentation of the play.
• Summary document: Students must write a detailed and analytical report of the project.

Writing the summary document

The summary document must be organized into four parts: Introduction, Development, Conclusions and Bibliography.

1. Introduction: In this part, students must contextualize the theme of Ancient Rome and explain the relevance of studying the Monarchy and the Republic. They must describe the reason for choosing to represent the episodes and characters that appear in the play, as well as the objective of this project.
2. Development: Here, students must detail the theory behind Ancient Rome, the methodology used, and discuss the research process, script writing, rehearsal, and production. They must present and discuss the results obtained.
3. Conclusion: In this section, students must summarize the project, explaining the lessons learned and the main conclusions about Ancient Rome.
4. Bibliography: Students must list all sources consulted during the project.