Teacher Resources

Rome and Trade on the Mediterranean Sea

Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum: Social Studies Standards

3.C.1.b

Explain how the development of transportation and communication networks influenced the movement of people, goods and ideas from place to place, such as trade routes in Africa, Asia and Europe, and the spread of Islam

4.A.2

Analyze how scarce economic resources were used to satisfy economic wants in early world history

4.A.2.b

Describe how available resources affected specialization and trade

4.A.4.c

Identify African and Eurasian trade routes to explain how surplus goods and regional specialization resulted in economic interdependence

Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum: Reading Standards

1.D.1

Develop and apply vocabulary through exposure to a variety of texts

1.C.3.c

Use resources to confirm definitions and gather further information about words

Assessment Limits:

Ø Thesauruses

Ø Electronic and/or print dictionaries

Ø Other grade-appropriate resources

2.A.1.c

Select and read to gain information from personal interest materials, such as books, catalogs, brochures, cookbooks, magazines, and web sites

2.A.2.b

Use graphic aids

Assessment Limits:

Ø Illustrations

Ø Photographs

Ø Drawings

Ø Maps (key, scale, legend)

Ø Charts/tables

Ø Diagrams

Ø Other graphic aids encountered in informational texts

2.A.2.e

Use online features

Assessment Limits:

URLs

Hypertext links

Sidebars

Drop down menus

Home pages

Site maps

Other features characteristic of online text

2.A.4.g

Synthesize ideas from text to form new understanding

Assessment Limits:

Ø Conclusions, inferences, and generalizations from one text or across multiple texts

Ø New understandings based on synthesis of ideas in one or more texts

ISTE Technology Standards for Students

Productivity tools include word processing, database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs, as well as multimedia programs, which use graphics, animation, digital video, and sound. Presentation software and web pages are also productivity tools for communicating ideas. These universally used tools support both individual and group work. Students need to be well-versed in the use of these tools to enhance learning and promote creativity.

Students need to be able to use technology and sophisticated search strategies to access the information resources that are available to them electronically. The selection and evaluation of these resources is critical for success in a world where information and methods of accessing it are changing daily. In addition, students must possess the ability to process the information as they apply it to specific learning needs.

Introduction

Ah, Rome! Caesar! Patricians! Plebeians! Centurions! Gladiators! The Coliseum! The Forum! But what about the traders who went to the far reaches of the empire bringing goods, gold and glory back to Rome? Who were they? Where did they go? What goods did they trade? What did they bring back?

Roman entrepreneurs traded with other cultures along a system of Roman roads and via ships on the Mediterranean Sea. Roads – a source of great commercial importance -- led out of Rome in every direction linking the capital with the distant provinces. At the same time, the Mediterranean Sea – sometimes called the “Roman Lake” – also provided access to distant ports and the goods that could be obtained from foreign lands. As a result, Romans were able to satisfy their economic wants for scarce resources by engaging in trade with other parts of the world.

Your World Cultures teacher announced that the class will host a Roman Festival for parents at a PTA meeting at the end of your unit on Rome. The festival will highlight projects completed by groups of students in your class and will cover a variety of topics such as “Daily Life”, “Government”, and “Architecture.” You and the other members of your group are investigating the topic of “Trade in the Roman Empire" and how the exchange of imports and exports led to interdependence throughout the Roman World. The group decided to create a project entitled “Rome-ing the Mediterranean” for the festival.

Overview

For this WebQuest, you will complete the research necessary to develop a project on trade for display on a foam board or as a tri-fold brochure. Your display must contain the following components:

A vocabulary graphic of new words associated with economics and Roman trade
A map that illustrates the countries with which Rome traded and an accompanying summary chart
A newspaper article on a scroll from The Roman Times that discusses trade in the Roman world

Task 1

Use www.wordcentral.com to help you compile a Dictionary of Roman Trade by:

identifying the vocabulary word
listing the definition
writing a personal connection to the word
drawing a picture that illustrates the word

You may develop your dictionary on a worksheet or as a PowerPoint presentation using either of the templates below.

Microsoft Word worksheet template: Dictionary of Roman Terms
PowerPoint template: Dictionary of Roman Terms

A vocabulary list is provided as a starting point, however you may add additional words to the list as you proceed with your project.

Word List

scarcity

interdependence

export

import

trade

goods

specialization

economic wants

TASK 1: Worksheet or PowerPoint Scoring Tool

3 points

The response gives thorough evidence by completing all four cells on the chart or PowerPoint slide for 6 or more terms.

2 points

The response gives considerable evidence by completing at least three cells on the chart or PowerPoint slide for 5 or more terms.

1 point

The response gives adequate evidence by completing at least two cells on the chart or PowerPoint slide for four or more terms.

0 Points

The response is completely incorrect or has information provided for less than two cells or slides.

Task 2

Use the blackline master of the Roman World (Map of Roman Trade Routes2.doc) to complete Activities 1-5 :

Label the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
Label the following on the map

Rome

Britain
France (Gaul)
North Africa
Greece
Spain
Egypt

Complete online research to determine the products imported by Rome from at least four of the regions that you labeled. You may add any other regions for which you found information on exports to Rome.
Draw an arrow from each of the regions to Rome and list the product(s) exported from those regions to Rome.
Using Microsoft Word, construct a chart that captures the information illustrated on the map. Your chart should contain two columns: (a) name of the region and (b) products exported to Rome.

You can print the blackline master of the Roman World and complete it using crayons, colored pencils, or markers. If you prefer, you can complete the map using Microsoft Word or copy and paste the map into a drawing program.

Online Resources

Transport and Trade - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0425

Food and Drink - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0426

Trade Within The Empire - http://www.camelotintl.com/romans/trade.html

Trade of Animals - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0438

Roman Stone - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0436

Roman Environment - http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/environment/index.htm

Ancient Roman Economy - http://www.unrv.com/economy.php

Merchant vessels and maritime commerce in Roman time - http://www2.rgzm.de/navis/Themes/Commercio/CommerceEnglish.htm

Trade - http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/trade.htm

Trade and Roman Economy - http://www.boundaryschools.com/perley/kencon/pages/trade.html

Roman Society, Roman Life - http://www.roman-empire.net/society/society.html#industry

TASK 2 Sample Chart Response:

Response may include:

ROMAN TRADE

Region

Goods Traded to Rome

Britain

Hides, Iron, Tin, Grain

France (Gaul)

Ham, Wool, Cheese, Glass, Grain

North Africa

Gold, Ivory, Wild Animals

Greece

Marble, Honey, Wine

Spain

Silver, Copper, Gold, Tin, Fruit, Salt

Egypt

Grain

TASK 2: Scoring Tool (Chart)

3 points

The response gives thorough evidence by listing all six regions and providing more than one good per region except for Egypt

2 points

The response gives considerable evidence by listing four or five regions and providing at least one good per region

1 point

The response gives adequate evidence by listing at least three regions and at least one good per region

0 Points

The response is completely incorrect or has information provided for less than two regions

TASK 2: Sample Answer Cue

Click to Enlarge

Facts On File, Inc.

From: http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=AK99

TASK 2: Scoring Tool (Map)

3 points

This response gives thorough evidence by correctly labeling all nine locations and labeling more than one good per region except for Egypt

2 points

This response gives considerable evidence by correctly labeling four or five locations and labeling at least one good per region

1 point

This response gives adequate evidence by labeling at least three locations and labeling at least one good per region

0 Points

The response is completely incorrect or has information provided for less than two locations

Task 3

To sum up your research, your group has decided to include an article written on a newspaper scroll template from The Roman Times. In the article you will discuss trade in the Roman world. Before you begin your article, think about what you have read and learned during your WebQuest research. Be sure that your article includes information on:

The reasons why Rome traded with other regions
The impact of scarcity and interdependence on Roman trade
The regions with which Rome traded
The goods that were imported to and exported from Rome

Additionally, make sure that your article is well-developed and organized.

Now, write your article on trade in the Roman world using the Microsoft scroll document. Scroll 1.doc

TASK 3: Sample Answer Cue

Student responses may include:

The reasons why Rome traded with other regions: able to have many luxuries, raised their standards of living, needed goods or natural resources that they did not have and could not produce; supply military needs; supply materials for Roman building projects; supply products that enhanced the life of the upper class (patricians)
The impact of scarcity and interdependence on Roman trade: Because of the scarcity of various natural resources, Rome depended upon conquered lands to provide those resources; in turn the regions depended upon Rome for protection and finished goods
The regions with which Rome traded: area around the Mediterranean Sea plus China and the Far East; France/Gaul, Britain, Spain, Egypt, North Africa, Greece, India, etc….
The goods that were imported to and exported from Rome:

EXPORTS included: gold, silver, finished goods (jewelry, cut gems, glassware, clothing) amber, coral, purple dye
IMPORTS included: grain, timber, wool, ham, fruit, silk, salt, spices, wild animals, cheese, marble, honey, wine, perfumes, cotton, tin

TASK 3: Scoring Tool

3 points

This response provides thorough evidence with a well-organized, clearly presented article that is free of grammatical errors and correctly addresses each of the bulleted items.

2 points

This response provides considerable evidence with a well-organized, clearly presented article that contains few grammatical errors and that partially addresses each of the bullets or addresses at least two of the bullets correctly.

1 point

This response provides adequate evidence with an article that lacks organization, has many grammatical errors and addresses only one bullet or partially addresses three of the bullets or only one bullet in detail.

0 Points

The response is completely incorrect or off-topic.

Conclusion

Now that you have completed all three tasks it is time to combine your resources to complete a project in the form of a foam board display or a tri-fold brochure for the Roman Festival! Make sure to include:

A vocabulary graphic of new words associated with economics and Roman trade

A map that illustrates the countries with which Rome traded and an accompanying summary chart

An article on a newspaper scroll from The Roman Times that discusses trade in the Roman world.

Resources

Online Resources

Transport and Trade - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0425

Food and Drink - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0426

Trade Within The Empire - http://www.camelotintl.com/romans/trade.html

Trade of Animals - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0438

Roman Stone - http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0436

Roman Environment - http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/environment/index.htm

Ancient Roman Economy - http://www.unrv.com/economy.php

Merchant vessels and maritime commerce in Roman time - http://www2.rgzm.de/navis/Themes/Commercio/CommerceEnglish.htm

Roman Roads - http://www.unrv.com/culture/roman-roads.php

Trade - http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/trade.htm

Trade and Roman Economy - http://www.boundaryschools.com/perley/kencon/pages/trade.html