What Rome Left Behind

History · Ancient Greece & Rome · ages 9-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

In ancient Rome, laws were written down and were supposed to apply to everyone.
Circle one: True False
Which word came into English from Latin?
- annual
- house
- friend
Which religion became the official religion of the Roman Empire?
- Greek mythology
- Christianity
- Buddhism
A country writes down its laws so every citizen is judged the same way. Which ancient civilization influenced that idea?
- Rome
- Vikings
- Aztecs
Spanish, French, and Italian are called Romance languages because...
- they were invented in Rome, Italy
- they use the Roman alphabet only
- they all grew out of Latin
Before Constantine, how did the Roman Empire generally treat Christians?
- It welcomed them as full citizens right away
- It often persecuted them
- It ignored religion completely
A history book says Christianity spread partly because of Roman roads and trade, not just belief. What does this mean?
- Travel and trade helped ideas move between cities across the empire
- Christianity spread only after Rome fell
- Roads only carried soldiers, not ideas
Ravi says English is a Romance language since words like 'annual' and 'exit' come from Latin. What's wrong?
- English has no Latin words at all
- Romance languages don't use Latin words
- English borrowed Latin words but isn't a Romance language

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

True · Romans believed the same written laws should apply to everyone, not just be decided case by case.
annual · Annual comes from the Latin word 'annus,' meaning year. House and friend come from Old English, not Latin.
Christianity · Christianity spread across the empire, and Emperor Constantine later made it official.
Rome · Roman law's idea of the same written rules for everyone became a model that later legal systems copied.
they all grew out of Latin · As the Roman Empire spread, Latin slowly changed into these separate languages over hundreds of years.
It often persecuted them · Early Christians were often persecuted before the religion later spread and gained acceptance.
Travel and trade helped ideas move between cities across the empire · Roman roads and trade connected cities across the empire, which helped new ideas like Christianity travel between them.
English borrowed Latin words but isn't a Romance language · English comes from a Germanic language. It only borrowed Latin words along the way, which doesn't make it a Romance language.