9781422283417

Around ad 100, about 54 million men, women, and children were ruled by Rome. They included Celts, Germans, Greeks, Africans, Egyptians, and Jews. But it was hard to control and feed so many people. As the empire grew, it became harder and harder to defend the vast frontiers from invaders. In ad 476, the Roman government in Europe collapsed. Roman lands in the Middle East became part of a new Byzantine empire that lasted until 1453 bc .

Roman slaves helped build spectacular structures such as the Roman triumphal arch and amphitheater.

TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS 1. When did the Romans live in Italy? 2. Who does legend say first built the city of Rome? 3. When did the Roman Empire fall?

RESEARCH PROJECT Research some of the items available in ancient Roman times that are not available today. What are some of the items we have today that didn’t exist during ancient Roman times? Create a scavenger hunt for friends and family to follow where they collect items from either group. For example, avocadoes, potatoes, and bananas are food not available in Roman times, but they are widely available today. If you don’t want to use the actual item, create drawings and hide them for people to find based on a poem or riddle.

Chapter 1: THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT AN EMPIRE 9