Ancient Rome

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Barbara J. Feldman

Legend tells us that Rome was founded by (and named after) Romulus, who later murdered his brother Remus for criticizing the city. Eight hundred years later, around 100 A.D., the Roman Empire was at its peak. It included half of Europe, most of the Middle East, and the northern coast of Africa. How did Rome grow so large? What caused its downfall? These are just two of the questions asked by historians and students ever since.

BBC for Schools: The Romans

5 stars

Although designed as a companion to the BBC television series "The Romans in Britain," there is plenty here for any elementary or middle school student. Highlights include eleven feature articles with interactive quizzes, vocabulary hyperlinked to a glossary, and seven printable activity sheets. High-school students and adults should find their way to the grownup History of the Romans, which is listed along with other resources in the Web Links section.

History for Kids: Ancient Rome

4 stars

"Roman history is usually divided into three main periods: before the rise of Rome, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. The Empire is usually divided up according to who was emperor." Run by an associate history professor at Portland State University, this well-organized site is a boon to students looking for specific information such as what the Romans wore and ate, or the history of Roman pottery. Of course, there is also general Roman history, a time line, and sections on ancient Greece and Egypt.

PBS: The Roman Empire in the First Century

5 stars

"Meet the Emperors of Rome, read the words of poets and philosophers, learn about life in the 1st Century AD, then try your skills in our 'Emperor of Rome' game!" You'll find the role-playing game listed under Special Features. The final outcome varies based both on your decisions and luck, so I recommend playing several times. Best way to peruse the rest of the site is through the Site Index. For teachers, there are detailed, printable lesson plans for grades four through nine.

Social Studies for Kids: Ancient Rome

3 stars

For a nine-page illustrated overview of Roman history, start with the first link on this page: An Introduction to Ancient Rome. Other noteworthy clicks are The Twelve Tables: Basis of Roman Law, Hannibal: Ancient Rome's Greatest Enemy, and The Roman Bath. Unfortunately, offsite links are intermingled with onsite links, making it difficult to traverse the site in an organized fashion.

You Wouldn't Want to be a Roman Gladiator

4 stars

"You are an unfortunate Gaul, captured by the Romans, trained as a gladiator and then sent to fight in the arena. Will you survive to fight again?." This Web book from Salariya Book Company uses "a unique combination of information and humor to describe life in earlier times." To read it, place your mouse over the illustrations to see the comments; click Next and Previous to turn the pages. Want to learn more? Try some of the sites listed on the Gladiator Links page.