Roman Republic and Empire
CONCEPTUALExplain how Rome was first governed as a republic — with elected consuls, a powerful Senate, and a distinction between patricians and plebeians — before becoming an empire ruled by emperors like Augustus (who brought peace, the Pax Romana) and Nero, and compare republican government with Athenian direct democracy
Mastery Evidence
- Describe the Roman Republic's structure: consuls, Senate, patricians, and plebeians
- Explain how Rome changed from a republic to an empire under Augustus
- Compare Athenian direct democracy (citizens vote on decisions) with Roman republican government (citizens elect representatives)
Assessment Prompt
“Could [child] explain the difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and compare how Rome and Athens each let people have a say in government?”
Prerequisites2
- Daily Life in a Roman TownhardAges 7—9
- Athenian DemocracyhardAges 7—9
Show full prerequisite tree
- Roman Army and Conquest of Britain hard
Roman towns and engineering build on Roman army and invasion context
- Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert soft
Greece & Rome geography builds on Ancient Egypt geography — both Mediterranean civilisations, Egypt came first chronologically
- Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert soft
Greece & Rome geography builds on Ancient Egypt geography — both Mediterranean civilisations, Egypt came first chronologically
- Athenian Democracy hard
Comparing Republic and Empire requires understanding Athenian democracy first
- Athens Versus Sparta hard
Democracy is introduced as an Athenian invention within the Athens vs Sparta contrast
- Ancient Greece and Rome on the Map hard
Comparing ancient life needs knowing where/when these civilisations were
- Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert soft
Greece & Rome geography builds on Ancient Egypt geography — both Mediterranean civilisations, Egypt came first chronologically
- Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt soft
Comparing ancient lives benefits from prior exposure to Egyptian daily life comparison
- Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert soft
Daily life context benefits from knowing Egypt is on the Nile in a desert
- Ancient Greece and Rome on the Map hard
Athens vs Sparta needs geographic/civilisation context from 5-7
- Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert soft
Greece & Rome geography builds on Ancient Egypt geography — both Mediterranean civilisations, Egypt came first chronologically
Unlocks6
- Hidden Voices of Greece and RomehardAges 11—13
- Inclusion and Exclusion in AthenssoftAges 11—13
- Fall of the Western Roman EmpirehardAges 9—11
- Cleopatra and the End of EgyptsoftAges 9—11
- Fall of the Roman RepublichardAges 12—14
- Roman Law, Latin, and ChristianityhardAges 9—11