The Fall of the Roman Empire

Introduction

background="http://1-background.com/images/old-paper/crumpled-rice-paper.jpg">[video:https://youtu.be/IBKKTgwPufE width:560 height:315]Welcome to your World History WebQuest!  You will use this WebQuest to explore the causes of the Fall of the Roman Empire. 

You are an Historian in the year 2430 CE.  You have the technology to time travel but only as an observer.  The governement of the Trans-American Empire is facing collapse and you and your team have been assigned to go into the past and find the MAIN reason the Roman Empire fell.  The future of YOUR empire relies on avoiding the same crucial mistake!

Task

 You are an Historian assigned to explore the past and make a case that one of these choices was the MAIN cause of the Fall of Rome:

1. Invasions by Barbarian Tribes

2. Overexpansion and military overspending

3. Rise of Christianity

4. Government corruption

All four are valid arguments but as an Historian you must defend one with evidence.  

At the end of your research you will present your findings to a panel of government leaders.  

You can use PowerPoint, video, dioramas, or a three page essay to defend your conclusion.

Image result for time travel machine

Process

Before you journey into the past, you need to create a hypothesis.  Start with this website and read through the theories 1,4,5,and7.  Decide which theory works best for your team (you can always change your mind later)!

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-reasons-why-rome-fell

Next read more here: http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/jgiotto/onlinetextbook.cfm?subpage=1492781

Watch this video after you decide and write down any evidence which supports your initial theory on the MAIN reason the Roman Empire fell.

https://youtu.be/huxKpFrkrdA

Now decide which theory you are going with and it's time to get in your time capsules! Choose your destination!

Barbarians: 

At your first stop in 406 CE, you interview St. Jerome:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/fallofrome.htm

Second stop you and your team hide and observe ordinary people: https://youtu.be/rHEosX_qxWk

At the last stop your team finds an old map. Use it to glean new information on the Barbarian invasions: http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/_map/map6.htm

Barbarians Rising

Government corruption:

First stop is to Paris, France 1734! Interview Montesquieu about the role gov't corruption had on the Fall of the Roman Empire. http://files.libertyfund.org/pll/quotes/52.html

Second stop is to Rome right before the Fall! https://prezi.com/bjopco8-bwg4/political-reasons-for-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire/

Last stop you need to observe the workings of the Praetorian Guard, an elite militia who were like our police and secret service combined! http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-army/praetorian-guard.htm

Image result for Praetorian Guard

Christianity:

First stop is Rome right after Jesus' execution. Take notes on the persecutions of the Christians then make a quick time jump to when Christianity became the main religion of the empire.

https://youtu.be/QyD-VeK7XRo

At your second stop you will interview Emporer Constantine about his laws for Christians. How did it effect the Fall of the Roman Empire?http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/const1-laws2.asp

Final stop is to interview the controversial Edward Gibbon! He's talkative so be sure and ask him about Christianity and the Fall of Rome or he'll go on forever!https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/733-historians-assessment-of-ancient-christianity-a

Image result for persecution christian rome

Overexpansion: 

First you will make several small time jumps to survey the expansion of the Roman Empire. https://prezi.com/6ub9245kvjed/the-fall-of-rome-over-expansion/

Secondly, examine this map your team found while exploring. Explore some of the territories! http://www.bible-history.com/maps/romanempire/ 

Finally, travel to the edges of the Roman Empire in 122 CE.  You'll land at Hadrian's Wall where you will intercept letters from soldiers there. http://vindolanda.csad.ox.ac.uk/4DLink2/4DACTION/WebRequestQuery?searchType=browse&searchField=highlights&submit=Highlights&searchTerm=all

Image result for roman england

Evaluation

Rubric for Presentation

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Graphics - Relevance All graphics are related to the topic and make it easier to understand. All borrowed graphics have a source citation. All graphics are related to the topic and most make it easier to understand. All borrowed graphics have a source citation. All graphics relate to the topic. Most borrowed graphics have a source citation. Graphics do not relate to the topic OR several borrowed graphics do not have a source citation.
Required Elements The poster includes all required elements as well as additional information. All required elements are included on the poster. All but 1 of the required elements are included on the poster. Several required elements were missing.
Evidence At least 7 accurate facts are displayed on the poster. 5-6 accurate facts are displayed on the poster. 3-4 accurate facts are displayed on the poster. Less than 3 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.
Knowledge Gained Student can accurately answer all questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster. Student can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster. Student can accurately answer about 75% of questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster. Student appears to have insufficient knowledge about the facts or processes used in the poster.

Date Created: Oct 11, 2016

  

Conclusion

Welcome back to the future intrepid time travelers! Did you get the evidence you needed to save our Trans-American Empire?! I hope so. Please create a presentation to give the leaders of our government so we can avoid the same crucial mistake that Ancient Rome made.

Image result for future city

Credits

Teacher Page

This WebQuest created by Mrs. Bethanie Edmondson for her World History class.

Thus lesson is created for 9th-12th grade students and can be used for advanced classes as well as regular ed.

This Quest aligns with GA Standard SSWH3: Examine the political, philosophical, and cultural interaction of Classical Mediterranean societies from 700 BCE/BC to 400 CE/AD. 

The length of time needed to complete this Quest depends on the previous knowledge of students.  At least two 45 minute classes are recommended.  

Resources needed for each group include: posterboard, markers, notepages, glue and printed pictures if needed.

The WebQuest s self led and students should be able to navigate following the directions within the Quest.