Ancient Rome fell with the empire some 1500 years ago...or so historians tell us.  However, many vestiges (see etymology) remain from that great conquest, proving that all of ancient Rome is not necessarily dead (nor is Latin, the "dead language"!).  For the next couple of weeks, we will explore the monuments, museums, and scenery of Italy's Roman empire.

    For this project, students will select a topic from the ones outlined in the "Procedures" section and form research groups.  Each group will be comprised of 4-5 students.  In these groups, the students will examine several aspects of the "ancient remains" in modern Italy, using English, Italian, and Latin sources.  After all the research has been compiled, each group will present their information to the class in a technologically-enhanced format (e.g. powerpoint, webpage, video, etc.).  Following the presentations, each student will prepare a "tour itinerary" of the top ten locations he/she would visit on a trip to Italy.
 
 

• Students will use the internet and other classroom resources to investigate some significant memorials to the ancient Roman empire in modern-day Italy.
• Through the use of these resources, students will become more familair with the geography of modern Italy and will compare their new knowledge to the geography of ancient Italy.
• Through the use of these resources, students will increase their fluency in Latin, and will acquire a rudimentary knowledge of Italian language and culture.
• Students will successfully work together in groups, collaborating their research efforts in the presentation of a report, using one of various forms of multimedia.
• Each student will thoughtfully prepare an "Italian Itinerary" of his/her most interesting stops, from the information presented in the class reports.

FL.B.1.4.4
    -identifies and discusses artistic expressions and forms of the target culture.

FL.B.1.4.5
    -identifies and discusses target-language writers and their works and assesses their influence not only on the products of his or her culture, but also on other world cultures.

FL.C.1.4.1
    -conducts research on a topic of interest from an academic discipline using a variety of target-language sources.

FL.C.2.4.4
    -uses target language sources to obtain information about a hobby, sport, or topic of personal, community, or world interest.
 

Part I:

(Duration: 2 weeks)
    Select a topic from the ones I have described below.  When you have decided on an area of research which interests you (and yes, this needs to be a topic you find personally fascinating!), form a group with at least three other members.  For the next two weeks in class, I will give each group time to do research at various stations in the classroom.  I have three computer stations for internet research, of which, one will be slated for Italian reference, one for English reference, and the last for Latin reference.  I will also have two non-computer station set up with travel guides, maps, advertisements, and any other helpful resources.  Additionally, I will allow a "scout" member of each group to collect extra reference, as needed, from the school library.
    You will be examining the literatures that deal with your research areas.  As expected, you will work with the Latin texts, but for a further stretch, you will be looking at English and Italian texts as well.  DO NOT WORRY!!  I will assist your research and will be available to answer your questions and help with the tougher parts of translation.  The main emphasis of your research is on historical background.  I want to know, for example, who used to own Pincio Gardens in ancient Rome?  And what romantic poet used to meditate there in the 1870's?  I think you will enjoy the tidbits you unearth, and I look forward to hearing you share your research with the class.
    The topics are outlined as follows:
 
 

    1.  Monuments
 

Some suggestions: The Roman Forum,Colliseum, Temple of Vesta, Parthenon, Circus Maximus, Tarpeian Rock, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Temples A- B- and C, Vatican, Protestant Cemetery, Maosoleum of Augustus, etc.

                                                                                                       *Choose 5 monuments to investigate.
 

    2.  Scenery
 
  

Some suggestions: Borgouiese Gardens, Medici Gardens, Pincio Gardens, the Orange Park, the Rose Garden, Janiculum Hill, Capitoline Hill, Piazza del Popolo, Isola Tiberina, the Tiber River, etc.

    3.  Museums and Churches
 
 

Some suggestions: Vatican Museum, Capitoline Museum, Church of "Sant Andrea dell Frate," Uffici (in Florence), Church of the Cappucin Monks (Church of Bones), the catacombs, Church of the "Santi Apostoli," etc.

                                                                                                                                          *Choose 5 from museums/churches.
 

    4.  Italian cities outside Rome
 
 

Some suggestions: Florence, Venice, Trent, Tivoli, Pompeii, Naples, etc.

                                                                                       *Select 4 cites to study.

 
    When all groups are assembled, choose the specific items your group wishes to study, including and extending the suggestions I've provided above.  I do not mind some overlap, but I also want to make sure that all topics are covered.

Here is a list of links to some of the internet research sites that we will use:
 1. The Perseus Latin Library - contains hundreds of texts, in Latin and English
 2. Labyrinth Latin Library - resources galore,in Latin and English
 3. Fictional Rome - info about historical fiction set in ancient Roman times
 4. Online Reference Book - list of fiction for students of history
 5. Link to Ancient Rome - customs, culture, literature, religion, etc.
 6. Rome: Literary Resources - links to more Latin texts
 7. Ancient Rome: Images and Pictures - just what it says
 8. Roma interactive - direct search for museum holdings
 9. Famous Painter.Com - info on Michelangelo's time in Medici gardens
10. Basic Italian - resource for Italian language studies
11. Roma Online - an Italian site with lots of info on customs, history, tours

*And many more!
 
 

Part II:
 

    As mentioned above, your group will be responsible for presenting your research to the class.  I will expect a 15-20 presentation in a technology-enhanced format.  You may use powerpoint, video, webpage, or other multimedia forms of presentation.  Handouts are not required, but would be appreciated.
    REMEMBER, you are teaching the class, so be mindful how you present your research.  The class will use these presentations as a guide for completing their itineraries.  Also, be excited!  You are tour guides trying to sell each other specialized package trips to Italy.  You are the expert!
 
 
 

Part III:

Due: 1 week after the last presentation.
 

Preparing the "Italian Itinerary"  Construct an itinerary of the "Top 10" stops for your own Italian tour, integrating what you learned from the class presentations.  Present your itinerary as two parts-- include 1. a map with each location marked and numbered, and 2. a word-processed document listing each location and describing its historical significance.  Additionally, for each stop on your tour, answer the following question:  Why is this stop meaningful to me?  *Click to see an example

Created by           Angela B. Miller           Classics senior           University of Florida
email me!	angelabm@ufl.edu