Roman Republic · 509 BC

The Roman Republic: consuls, Senate and people

After the last king, Rome split power between two consuls, the Senate and the people's assemblies. Students learn how the Republic worked, and spot its ideas in governments today.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
12–15
On the map
3 steps, 509 BC to 300 BC
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

After the last king, Rome split power between two consuls, the Senate and the people's assemblies. Students learn how the Republic worked, and spot its ideas in governments today.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Describe the roles of the consuls, the Senate and the assemblies in the Roman Republic.
  • Explain why the Romans gave power to two people for one year only.
  • Compare one feature of the Roman Republic with a modern government.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

509 BC

The new Republic

Click Stories at the top left and start "Rise & Fall of Rome". Its first stop is the birth of the Republic in 509 BC. According to the narration, who holds power now that the king is gone? How big is Rome at this time?

Open this view on the map
b

508 BC

Another city without kings

Move to 508 BC and travel to Greece. Find the marker for Athenian democracy. Athens and Rome ended one-man rule at almost the same time. How were their new systems different?

Open this view on the map
c

300 BC

A Republic that grows

Drag the time slider from 500 BC to 300 BC and watch Rome's territory in Italy grow. Could officials elected for one year run a growing state?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Why did the Romans want two consuls instead of one?
  2. The Senate only gave advice and could not pass laws by itself, yet it was very powerful. How can a group be powerful without making laws?
  3. In an emergency Rome could appoint a dictator for up to six months. Was that a smart rule or a dangerous one?
  4. In the assembly that elected the consuls, the votes of the rich counted for more. Was the Republic a democracy?
  5. Many modern countries have a Senate. Why do you think the founders of modern republics admired Rome?
4

Game round

10 min

Play the Julius Caesar round in Rule History, the man whose career ended the Republic described here. Before each choice, ask: does this decision respect the Republic's rules, such as one-year terms and the authority of the Senate? Discuss how far Caesar bent them.

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

€19 per month unlocks every worksheet, every live lesson and the class workspace. The free lesson prints without a subscription.