Curriculum:
Essential Questions for Latin

GRADE 11: Who are we? What are the concepts of "self" in Roman culture and in diverse societies? How does self-identity change?

See curricular units and lesson plans for this grade

What do we know about the Romans based on their remains?

•  What things are left behind?
•  How have we found them?
•  What do they tell us about the Romans?

What do the Romans tell us about themselves in literature?

•  Who are the famous Roman authors?
•  How has Roman literature survived?
•  What does it tell us about the Romans?

How do we interpret the evidence we have of Roman culture?

•  How does personal bias affect our interpretation?
•  What evidence is missing?
•  Whose voices are expressed in the extant evidence?
•  Whose voices are not expressed? Why?

What did it mean to be a Roman citizen in Rome ?

•  How did one become a citizen?
•  What rights did citizens have?
•  What were the advantages of being a citizen?

What did it mean to be a non-Roman citizen in Rome ?

•  Who were the non-citizens? How were non-citizens treated by citizens?
•  What rights did non-citizens have?
•  What rights did they not have?

Why would someone from the provinces move to Rome ?

•  What were the advantages of living in Rome rather than in the provinces?
•  What opportunities were available to someone moving to Rome ?
•  How did non-Romans maintain their cultural practices in a new environment?

What ethnicities and cultures were present in the empire?

•  From where did non-Romans come to the capital?
•  What languages were spoken by non-Romans? What other languages were spoken?
•  How wide-spread was the knowledge of Latin?

What was the role of religion in cultural identity in Rome ?

•  What was the role of religion for a typical Roman?
•  What religions existed in Rome ? How did Rome view other religions?
•  What is the role of philosophy in the development of religion in the Roman world?

How did foreign cultures influence Roman culture?

•  What foreign influences do we see in Roman culture?
•  How readily did the Romans accept foreign influence?

What were the different social classes?

•  How many social classes were there? How were the social classes divided?
•  What rights and privileges were available to each social class?
•  How was it possible to move from one social class to another?