The art of rhetoric was cultivated and perfected by the ancient Romans. Imagine yourself as a member of the Roman Senate in the 200s. What you see happening with the actions of the various armies in the mighty empire outrages you: barbarians raiding Roman territory, emperors engaging in acts of bribery, taxes ever higher, and money worth less than ever before. In this activity, you will prepare a speech for delivery to the Senate on how the actions of the armies are weakening the empire and what you believe should be done about it. I. Introduction 1. Look at the images below which depict sculptures of two Roman emperors from the 200s. Be sure to read the accompanying descriptions of each emperor. Trebonianus Gallus Claudius II Gothicus Bust of Trebonianus Gallus. IRC, 2005. Discovery Education. Web. Claudius II Gothicus. IRC, 2005. Discovery Education. Web. Emperor Trebonianus Gallus The Roman Emperor Trebonianus Gallus who reigned 251 253. Gallus was one of the many barracks emperors who rose to power during the chronic civil wars of the 200s. He ruled for only a few years before suffering a violent death at the hands of the next short-lived usurper. Externally, Gallus faced invasions by the Goths over the Danube River and the threat of Persia in the East. He was assassinated by his own troops when he was surprised and confronted by his rival Marcus Aemilianus, who had a much larger army. Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 1
Emperor Claudius II Gothicus The Emperor Claudius II Gothicus reigned 268 270. He, too, was proclaimed emperor by his own troops after the assassination of the sitting emperor. Gothicus managed to severely defeat the Goths and drive them out of Macedonia. Despite the military revival of Rome under his leadership, the coinage became more debased and the economy remained severely weakened. Claudius II Gothicus died of the plague when it struck an army he was leading against the Vandals. 2. Think about what the images and descriptions suggest about the problems caused by the Roman armies and their leaders during the 200s. Spend three minutes on a stopand-jot, writing down a few quick ideas about the emperors based on the images and captions. Use the following questions to guide your note-taking: How did each of these men become emperor? To whom did they owe their power and office? How long was each emperor s reign? Why were these emperors reigns so short? What challenges confronted them during their rule that kept them under obligation to their armies? How do you think the Roman people fared under their rule? 3. Work together with a partner to share your responses to the previous questions. Then, discuss the following questions with your partner: Why was the Roman Empire in trouble during this period? What was the main external cause of the problems facing the Empire? What was the main internal cause? How did the armies contribute to the problems of the emperors and the empire? Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 2
II. Research the Writings of a Roman Historian and Examine Other Evidence 1. Read the following text excerpts, study the image of the map, and view the video segment. Note: The following excerpts are from an 80-volume history of Rome written by Cassius Dio (c. 164 235). He served as governor of several Roman provinces and was a consul and member of the Senate. He personally knew many of the men who reigned as emperor during his lifetime. In these excerpts, Dio talks about the imperial power struggles of his day. Excerpt from Dio s Rome; An Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During the Reigns of Septimius Severus, c. 150 235 When [Severus] was [engaged in a war in Britain], his sickness carried him off on the Fourth of February [211 CE].... Before he closed his eyes he is reputed to have spoken these words to his children. (I shall use the exact [words] without embellishment:) Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, scorn everybody else. Dio Cocceianus, Cassius. Dio's Rome: an Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During the Reigns of Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus and Alexander Severus: And Now Presented in English Form. Troy, NY: Pafraets Book Company, 1905. HathiTrust. Web. Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 3
Excerpts from Dio s Rome; An Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During the Reigns of Septimius Severus, c. 150 235 Now, since the soldiers were no longer allowed to plunder... they hated [the emperor Pertinax] bitterly.... The Praetorian soldiers and Laetus formed a plot against him. In the first place they selected Falco the consul for emperor, because he was prominent for both wealth and family.... [then Laetus... destroyed many of the soldiers on the pretense that Pertinax had ordered it. The rest, when they became aware of it... raised a tumult. Two hundred bolder than their mates invaded the palace with drawn swords. Pertinax had no warning of their approach until they had got upstairs.... The soldiers cut off the head of Pertinax and stuck it on a spear, glorying in the deed. Thus did Pertinax, who undertook to [reform] everything in a brief interval, meet his end. He did not comprehend, though a well-trained man of affairs, that it is impossible with safety to reform everything all at once, but that the constitution of a government requires, if anything does, both time and wisdom.... He had reigned 87 days. When the fate of Pertinax was reported... a certain Didius Julianus... an insatiate money-getter and reckless spender [hastily] made his way to the camp, and standing near the gates of the fort made offers to the soldiers in regard to the Roman throne. There ensued a most disgraceful affair and one unworthy of Rome. For just as it is done in some market and auction-room, both the city and her whole empire were bid off. The sellers were the people who had killed their emperor, and the would-be buyers were Sulpicianus and Julianus, who vied to outbid each other.... This was what went on in Rome. Now I shall speak of what happened outside and the various revolutions. There were three men at this time who were commanding three legions of citizens and many foreigners besides, and they all asserted their claims [to be emperor] [Septimius] Severus, Niger, and Albinus. Of the three... Severus was the shrewdest.... He understood in advance that after deposing Julianus the three would [fight] for possession of the empire.... [When Severus was camped outside Rome with his army, the senate] sentenced Julianus to death [and] named Severus emperor. So it was that Julianus came to be slain as he was reclining in the palace itself; he had only time to say Why, what harm have I done? Whom have I killed? He had [reigned] 66 days. Dio Cocceianus, Cassius. Dio's Rome: an Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During the Reigns of Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus and Alexander Severus: And Now Presented in English Form. Troy, NY: Pafraets Book Company, 1905. HathiTrust. Web. Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 4
Map of the Roman Empire in the Late 200s This map illustrates how the Roman Empire was organized into sections during the 200s. The white dotted line designates the boundary between the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. The four areas shaded in different colors indicate prefectures. The prefectures were then broken into dioceses, and the dioceses were broken into provinces. Subdivision of Roman Empire into Four Prefectures. IRC, 2005. Discovery Education. Web. Rome: Taxation and Inflation, from Ancient Rome: Fall of an Empire (01:09) This video segment discusses the state of the Roman economy in the 200s. 2. Using the graphic organizer shown below, take notes on the content of the text excerpts, the map, and the video segment. Use the following questions to guide your note-taking: What problems do you see in the way Rome was governed? Why did the size of the Roman army keep increasing? How does Severus s advice to his children suggest one cause of Rome s troubles? Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 5
Notes What problems do you see in the way Rome was governed? Why did the size of the Roman army keep increasing? How does Severus s advice to his children suggest one cause of Rome s troubles? III. Identify Problems and Solutions 1. Examine your notes to help you think about the different problems facing the Roman Empire. As you study your notes, keep in mind these questions: What were the three greatest problems? Was there a root cause of all these problems? Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 6
2. Use the primary sources presented in this activity, as well as the EXPLORE resources from the Core Interactive Text (CIT) that deal with this topic, to help you complete the following Problem/Solution graphic organizer. Be sure to identify three problems that you see with the actions of the armies in the Roman Empire, as well as three proposed solutions to these problems. Provide evidence from your research for each problem. Problem Solution A A B B C C Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 7
3. Now it is time to plan your speech. Using your notes and completed Problem/Solution graphic organizer as a guide, fill out a Planning Chart for your speech to the Roman Senate. To ensure that your speech is as fully developed and effective as possible, make sure to outline the following elements of your speech in the Planning chart: an attention-getting opening statement that presents your main argument; three problems that you have observed regarding how the actions of the army are weakening the Empire; solutions you propose for each of the problems you have identified; and a compelling conclusion. Planning Chart Opening Statement (Define what the topic is and present your main argument. Provide a brief overview of the position you will take in your argument.) Problem 1 Your Proposed Solution Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 8
Problem 2 Your Proposed Solution Problem 3 Your Proposed Solution Conclusion (Provide a brief summary of your most compelling arguments and offer a final persuasive call to action.) Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 9
IV. Create Your Speech to the Senate 1. Use the information you have outlined in your Planning chart to write a speech to the Roman Senate on how the actions of the armies are weakening the empire and what you think should be done about it. Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 10