Unit 6: Ancient Rome - Chapter 17: The Founding of Rome and the Roman Republic
Key Words: ancient Rome, Romulus, Remus, Roman Republic, Roman Empire, Twelve Tables, Polybius, patricians, plebeians, gladiators, Cincinnatus, Hannibal Barca, Punic Wars, Cato the Elder, Julius Caesar
Fiction Books
de Goscinny, Rene. Asterix the Gladiator. London: Orion Paperbacks, 2004. This comic book is part of the Adventures of Asterix series. In this adventure, Odius Asparagus, the Roman Prefect of Gaul, kidnaps Cacofonix, the Gaulish bard, to give as a present to Julius Caesar. In order to rescue their bard, Asterix and Obelix must become gladiators. 48 pages. Fiction.
Henty, G.A. The Young Carthaginian. Fort Collins, CO: Lost Classics Book Co., 2001. Set during the Punic Wars, the novel describes the adventures of a young officer in Hannibal's army. Available on audiocassette and CD. 430 pages. Fiction.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. Roman Myths. New York: Margaret K. McElderry, 2001. This book is a retelling of 15 classic Roman myths for children. Beautiful illustrations and vivid writing make this book appealing even to reluctant readers. Also available on audiocassette. 96 pages. Fiction.
Rubalcaba, Jill. The Wadjet Eye. New York: Clarion Books, 2000. After the death of his mother, Damon, a young Egyptian boy, sets off on a journey to find his father in Caesar's army. Fiction.
Nonfiction Books
Crompton, Samuel. Julius Caesar. Ancient World Leaders. New York: Chelsea House Publications, 2003. This is a biography of the famous general and statesman, written for young adult readers. 112 pages. Nonfiction.
Gedacht, Daniel C. Politics and Government in Ancient Rome. New York: Rosen Publishing, 2004. This volume explores Roman government from the time of the early republic to the empire. 24 pages. Nonfiction.
Green, Robert. Hannibal. First Books: Ancient Biographies. Minneapolis: Sagebrush Education Resources, 1999. This biography describes the early life, later military exploits, and violent death of the famous Carthaginian general. 63 pages. Nonfiction.
Holland, Tom. Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic. New York: Doubleday, 2004. Holland presents a thoroughly researched and well-written account of the end of the Roman Republic. For advanced readers. 432 pages. Nonfiction.
Web Sites
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/history/etruscans.htm History for Kids: Etruscans. Did you know that Rome once had kings who oversaw the region before it became a republic? This page discusses the Etruscans and how their civilization contributed to the beginnings of the Roman world. Once you finish reading about them, click on the links at the bottom of the page to find more resources on the growth of Rome into a vast empire.
http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Beauty/index.html Looking at Art of Ancient Greece and Rome: An Online Exhibition. Check out this selection of statuary from the ancient world, complete with explanations and descriptions of each item and follow-up questions to help you think more about the art. Can you list the Roman and Greek names for important gods and goddesses in mythology? Find out here!
http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/ROME/homepg.html Odyssey Online: Rome. Romulus and Remus are legendary figures who supposedly founded Rome. How did a wolf save them as babies? Did Romans write with pencils and paper like you do? Want to find out how people in the republic would bury the dead? Get the answers to these and other questions by searching this site.
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/rome/eg_rome_menu1.html Ancient Rome Project. How did Rome become so strong? From developing an amazing military force that used battle strategies unmatched by their opponents! Learn about how the army was organized and the type of uniform that soldiers wore. Check out the other pages for good summaries on medical care, important festivals, and more.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ National Geographic. Discover maps of the world, historical photographs, and interactive adventures on the National Geographic site.
