Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the structure and functioning of the Roman Empire: Students should be able to describe the political, social, and economic organization of the Roman Empire, including administration, society, and economy. This includes understanding the different roles in Roman society, laws and institutions, and the agricultural and trade-based economic system.

2. Identify and analyze the main events and characters of the Roman imperial period: Students should be able to recognize and explain the historical context and contributions of important figures of the Roman Empire, such as Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero, and Constantine. They should also be able to identify and describe key events of the period, such as the Punic Wars, the Empire's expansion, the Pax Romana, and Constantine's conversion to Christianity.

3. Relate the Roman Empire to the contemporary world: Students should be able to make connections between the Roman Empire and the present world. This includes understanding how Roman political, social, and economic practices influenced the Western world, and how the legacy of the Roman Empire continues to affect contemporary society.

Secondary Objectives:

• Develop research and analysis skills: By studying the Roman Empire, students will have the opportunity to enhance their research skills, learning to find and evaluate historical sources. They will also develop analysis skills, learning to interpret and synthesize complex information.

• Promote discussion and critical thinking: Through the exploration of controversial and complex topics, such as life in the Roman Empire and its contemporary implications, students will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and engage in meaningful discussions.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous contents: The teacher should start the lesson by briefly reviewing the main aspects of the Roman Republic period. This review should include the rise of Julius Caesar, the Roman Civil War, and the transition to the Empire with the reign of Augustus. (3 - 5 minutes)

2. Problem situations: The teacher can propose two situations to arouse students' interest. The first one could be: "How do you think the rise and fall of the Roman Empire impacted the lives of people living at that time? And how do these events continue to influence current society?" The second one could be: "Imagine you are a Roman citizen living during the Pax Romana. How do you think your life would be different from the life of a Roman citizen during the Punic Wars?" (3 - 5 minutes)

3. Contextualization: The teacher should highlight the importance of the Roman Empire, not only as one of the greatest and most powerful empires in history, but also as a lasting influence on the culture, politics, and society of the Western world. It can be mentioned how many of the institutions and practices we consider fundamental today, such as democracy, the legal system, and engineering, have their roots in Ancient Rome. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Capturing students' attention: To capture students' attention, the teacher can share some curiosities about the Roman Empire. For example, it can be mentioned that the Romans invented the sewage system and that many of their roads are still used today in Europe. Another curiosity could be that the Roman emperor Nero was known for his cruelty, and that he supposedly played his lyre while Rome burned in the Great Fire of Rome. (2 - 3 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Theory and fundamental concepts:

   1.1. Structure of the Roman Empire: The teacher should explain that the Roman Empire was divided into provinces, each with a governor appointed by the emperor. The teacher should also mention that the emperor was the head of state and government, but that the Roman Senate still had a role in decision-making. (5 - 7 minutes)

   1.2. Roman Society: The teacher should describe the social structure of the Roman Empire, which was divided into three classes: patricians (the elite), plebeians (the middle class), and slaves (the majority of the population). The teacher should explain that most Romans were farmers and that slavery was a fundamental part of the Roman economy. (5 - 7 minutes)

   1.3. Roman Economy: The teacher should discuss the economy of the Roman Empire, which was mainly based on agriculture and trade. The teacher should mention that the Romans developed a standardized currency, which facilitated trade throughout the empire. The teacher should also explain that the construction of infrastructures, such as roads and aqueducts, helped boost the Roman economy. (5 - 7 minutes)

   1.4. Main characters and events: The teacher should briefly introduce the main characters of the Roman Empire, such as Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero, and Constantine. The teacher should also highlight the main events of the period, such as the Punic Wars, the Empire's expansion, the Pax Romana, and Constantine's conversion to Christianity. (5 - 7 minutes)

2. Practical activities:

   2.1. Map of the Roman Empire: The teacher should distribute maps of the Roman Empire to the students and ask them to identify the main provinces, cities, and borders. This will help students visualize the territorial extent of the Roman Empire and understand the importance of its provincial system. (5 - 7 minutes)

   2.2. Role-playing game: The teacher can organize a role-playing game, in which students take on the role of different characters from the Roman Empire. Each character would have a description of their role in Roman society and would have to interact with the other characters, reflecting on how their actions and decisions reflect the structure and functioning of the Roman Empire. (5 - 7 minutes)

   2.3. Debate on the legacy of Rome: The teacher can organize a classroom debate on the legacy of the Roman Empire. Students can be divided into groups and each group can be responsible for defending an argument, such as "Rome's legacy is predominantly positive" or "Rome's legacy is predominantly negative". This will encourage students to think critically about the lasting impact of the Roman Empire. (5 - 7 minutes)

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Connection with Theory: The teacher should start the Return by connecting the practical activities carried out during the lesson with the theoretical concepts addressed. This can be done by highlighting how the social and political structure of the Empire was reflected in the role-playing game, or how the importance of the Roman economy was evidenced during the discussion on Rome's legacy. The teacher should also reinforce the main theoretical points, reminding students of the structure and functioning of the Empire, Roman society, the economy, and the main characters and events. (3 - 4 minutes)

2. Reflection on Learning: Next, the teacher should ask students to reflect on what they learned during the lesson. Questions like "What was the most important concept you learned today?" and "What questions have not been answered yet?" can be asked. Students should have a minute to think about these questions and then be invited to share their answers with the class. This will provide the teacher with valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the lesson and help identify any gaps in students' understanding. (2 - 3 minutes)

3. Practical Application: The teacher should then encourage students to think about how what they learned can be applied in real-world contexts. For example, they may be asked to consider how understanding the structure and functioning of an empire can inform their understanding of current global politics. Or they may be invited to reflect on how the Roman economy, based on agriculture and trade, compares to today's global economy. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Suggestions for Future Studies: Finally, the teacher should provide students with some suggestions for further readings or additional activities to deepen their understanding of the Roman Empire. This may include reading primary texts, such as the works of Roman historians, watching documentaries, or visiting virtual museums that feature Roman artifacts. The teacher may also suggest that students explore related topics, such as the fall of the Roman Empire, Roman contributions to architecture and engineering, or the influence of the Roman Empire on the language and culture of the Western world. (1 - 2 minutes)

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary and Recapitulation: The teacher should start the Conclusion by summarizing the main points of the lesson. This includes the structure and functioning of the Roman Empire, Roman society, the economy, the main characters and events, and the legacy of the Roman Empire. The teacher should ensure that students understand these fundamental concepts by asking review questions and encouraging active participation from students. (2 - 3 minutes)

2. Connections between Theory and Practice: Next, the teacher should explain how the lesson connected theory and practice. The teacher should highlight how practical activities, such as the role-playing game and the debate, helped illustrate and deepen students' understanding of the theoretical concepts. The teacher should also reinforce how the study of the Roman Empire can provide valuable insights for understanding the current world. (1 - 2 minutes)

3. Additional Materials: The teacher should then suggest some additional materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the topic. This may include books, documentaries, websites, virtual museums, and other sources of information about Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire. The teacher should briefly explain what students can expect to find in each resource and how these materials can complement what was learned in the lesson. (1 - 2 minutes)

4. Importance of the Subject: Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the Roman Empire for understanding the current world. The teacher may mention how Roman political, social, and economic practices influenced the Western world, and how the legacy of the Roman Empire continues to affect our society today. The teacher should stress that the study of history is essential for understanding the world we live in and for becoming informed and engaged citizens. (1 - 2 minutes)