Persuasive…Argumentative Essay- rome Culminating Activity ~ © 2012, Popita & Kids Inc.

WHAT DO ? – Write a Persuasive/Argumentative Essay (7 par.) in which you discuss the main factors that contributed to the Decay & collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Focus your research on the social/moral, economic, political, environmental factors & the barbarian invasions. As George Santayana said: “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” You need to convince the audience by supporting (backing up) your position (your own thinking or ideas) with strong arguments.

HOW DO ? – You must have 1 paragraph per each factor + Thesis/Intro & Conclusion = total of 7. Support your position by using the resources provided. Read the details. Use the following CRITERIA: A – Intro/Thesis (Paragraph #1) * Who/What: The Roman Empire; Internal & External factors that contributed to its disintegration & collapse. * Where: Geographic location - area of 2.5 mill.sq.mi stretching on 3 continents: entire Mediterranean basin, plus vast chunks of Europe, the Northern tier of Africa, Western part of Asia. * When: After Octavianus Augustus’ death (14 – 476 A.D.), when the ‘mighty’ empire met its ultimate demise. B – Body (Paragraphs # 2,3,4,5,6 = one par./factor) * Why & How: Analyze, debate, argue. Take notes. * Analyze + elaborate on each of your the factors. You can do this in 2 ways: a. - either as a whole, by including all possible cause-effect problems = (see ‘Forum” chart); b. - or by ‘Root’ problems: Slavery, Taxation, Corruption, Natural Disasters (Volcanic eruptions, Plagues, dramatic Climate changes) + Barbarian Invasions = (see graphic organizer – class notes). * Have enough relevant, compelling arguments and examples to substantiate your statements. * Be clear; use multiple short sentences; stay away from “run-off” sentences… * Support each point with relevant evidence, have sufficient quantity of facts. * The content of ideas must be persuasive (have to convince the audience of your point of view) * Quote, do not plagiarize. Rely on facts, which are historically correct. * Find pertinent pictures, text-wrap them (1/topic or factor); Use correct mechanics (grammar and spelling). C. – Conclusion = Wrap it Up! (Paragraph #7 = also ~ your opinion) * What enduring lessons did we learn from it all? Does History repeat itself? * State your solutions to these problems. What could the Romans have done to change their fate? * Ponder this question: “Are superpowers following a pattern of self-destruction?!” MUST: Have “title” page; Cite resources in proper bibliographical format. Submit PROOF of NOTES with your final report. RESOURCES/ BIBLIOGRAPGY/CITATIONS: All PDF files are uploaded on line - History Alive (Textbook) – Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, CA, 2005, pages 8 -9 - Teacher Lecture + “FORUM” hand out (Cause/Effect, 2 pgs; please, download). - Slavery – http://www.moyak.com/papers/roman-slavery-war.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/slavery_01.shtml - Inflation & the Fall – http://mises.org/daily/3663 - Volcanic Eruptions – http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_portents_01.shtml

Did Rome or was it P u s h e d ? …title…

…title…

- Barbarians - http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/1320Hist&Civ/chapters/08ROMFAL.htm - Plagues & the Fall – http://www.loyno.edu/~history/journal/1996-7/Smith.html - Climate Change – http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/environment/was-the-roman-empire-a-victim-of-climate-change/6724/ WHY DO ? – To analyze and understand the ultimate internal weaknesses of the Western Roman Empire; the factors that threatened its territorial cohesion - 7.1.2. See a sample paragraph, next >>>>> Sample paragraph … the cause/effect ~ Barbarian Invasions

While the Romans were fighting each other over politics and money, they left Rome’s

frontiers open to attack. Barbaric Tribes (Germanic hunters and herders from northern and central Europe) breached the Empire. The Goths, raided Greece in 251 A.D. – Roman province at that time. The Huns seconded them by 270 A.D. killing an emperor. The Franks attacked from the West in 350 A.D. They allied with the Burgundians and the Vandals and sacked the Roman province of Spain and Gaul. The Angles and Saxons took over Britannia by 370 A.D. Cities began to surround themselves with protecting walls. The Roman Senate agreed to ‘pay off’ the tribes to leave the empire; but to no avail – sheer diplomacy didn’t work. Nothing matched the barbaric hoards; who smelled a wounded, dying Rome. The Persian king Sapor attacked the Roman provinces of Armenia, Syria, Cilicia, Cappadocia, and Antioch in 400 A.D. He made the Roman emperor Valerian his prisoner, a disgrace that passed down into history. To humiliate his captive (it is said); whenever the Persian monarch mounted his horse, he placed his foot on the neck of the Roman emperor. In 410 A.D. the Germanic tribes and their chief Alaric invaded Rome. They burned records and looted the treasury. The whole Italian peninsula was taken over by the Ostrogoths, Visigoths and later the Lombards. The hoards invasions lasted from the fourth to the fifth centuries, completely cutting Rome from the grain source. The Senate made the mistake to allow the Barbarians join the Roman army, which was just not strong enough to withstand the attacks on the various borders. Then, from within, they wiped it out. In 452 A.D. Attila the Hun invaded Italy, but Pope Leo I persuaded him to leave the city of Rome…for a while. By 470 A.D. the Vandals have stricken the very heart of the empire from the South, by sea, bringing Rome to her knees. The Roman Senate told the people, “You can no longer rely on Rome for finance or directions. You are on your own”. Trade and farming declined in those areas rain-sacked by the barbarians, a fact, that leads us to another cause…

KEY – Use any of the following programs to craft & type your final product: ‘Word/Excel’, ‘Power–Point’, ‘Keynote’, ‘Pages’, ‘i-Movie’. MUST elaborate in full paragraphs. Bulleted statements only = NOT acceptable. Due: 09.03.2013 For grading purposes, see “Rubric” (attachment, ‘PDF’ file). Due: 09.05.14