World History: Journey Across Time, The Early Ages, Alabama Edition

"Rome's Beginnings"

Introduction
Like many great nations, the birth of Rome was the result of a power struggle. In 509 B.C, Romans rebelled against the Etruscans, founding the Roman Republic. As you learned in this chapter, the Roman Republic grew in size as it conquered neighboring territories. Roman soldiers played an important role in the country's success and expansion. They were disciplined soldiers, tough fighters, and practical problem solvers. In this activity, you'll learn more about the Roman soldiers, called legionaries. Visit the BBC site The Romans to learn about the life of the Roman soldier, his weapons, and more.

Destination Title:  The Romans

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Directions

Start at the BBC Web site The Romans and select "The Roman Army" from the scroll.

• Read through the first page, taking notes as you go.
• After you've read this section, click "More to Explore" to continue reading about the Roman soldier.
• Once you've read the content, click on "Quiz" to test your knowledge of the Roman soldier.
• Click on the "Activities" icon on the left side of the screen.
• Next, select "Dressing for Battle." Print the handout and color it to learn more about the uniform of the Roman soldier.

1			About how many legions made up the Roman army?
2			What special feature of the pilum made it an effective weapon?
3			A lot was expected of a Roman soldier. How many miles per day was a soldier required to march?
4			How could you tell the Roman legions apart from one another?
5			Now that you've read about the life and work of the Roman soldier, it's time to compare them to our modern military men and women. Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast the Roman legionaries to U.S. soldiers.