Kurtz, William / Unit 5: The Roman World

William Kurtz

The Roman World

753 BC–AD 400

(taken from Online Book Resources)

In this scene, a Roman tutor teaches two young students how to read. On one side of the illustration is a girl sitting on a bench reading a unrolled sheet of paper. There is a boy standing next to her who is doing the same thing. He is looking at us. Behind them is a structure with columns and paintings on the walls. There is an older man standing on the right. There is a pool behind him surrounded by beautifully landscaped trees. There is a muical instrument beside him on the ground that looks like a harp and a container full of papers that are rolled up on the other side of him. They are all wearing long gowns.

Explore the Art

In this scene, a Roman tutor teaches two young students how to read. What does this scene suggest about life in ancient Rome?

What You Will Learn…

From a small town in Italy, Rome grew to become the center of one of the world’s greatest empires. Like the Greeks, whom they admired, the Romans had a lasting influence on world history.

The legacy of Rome was great. The Romans made many huge advances in engineering and architecture, and they developed advanced systems of written laws and government. In the first century AD, a new religion called Christianity appeared and spread throughout the empire.

In the next three chapters, you will learn how Rome began, how it became an empire, and how Christianity became a central part of life in the Roman world.