Table of Contents Lesson Teaching Lesson Title Social Studies Lessons New York Standards Page Number A Productive Partnership LE7.1c 4 Lesson 1 Filling in a Map 3.2a 10 Lesson 2 The World in 1492 2.2c 14 Lesson 3 In Mountains 3.1d 18 Lesson 4 The Congo Rain Forest 3.1d 22 Lesson 5 The Kingdom of Kush 2.1b 26 Lesson 6 Great Zimbabwe 2.1b 30 Lesson 7 West Meets East 2.2c, 2.3a 34 Lesson 8 Building an Empire 2.1b 38 Lesson 9 Democracy in Athens 2.2c, 2.3a 42 Lesson 10 Mystery of the Indus Valley 2.1b 46 Lesson 11 The Great Breakthrough 2.1b, 2.2c 50 Lesson 12 The Silk Road 4.1g 54 Science Lessons Lesson 13 Food Chains and Food Webs LE5.1e; 6.1a, b 58 Lesson 14 Weather Vs. Climate PS2.2i, j 62 Lesson 15 Putting on the Brakes PS5.2d, f 66 Lesson 16 Glaciers: Rivers of Ice PS2.1i 70 Lesson 17 Using the Sun s Energy PS4.1a; 4.2a, b 74 Lesson 18 Hardworking Hydropower PS4.1b 78 Lesson 19 Building the Egyptian Pyramids PS5.1f 82 Lesson 20 Energy at Rest, Energy in Motion PS4.1c, e 86 Lesson 21 Charged Up for Dinner LE5.1b 90 Lesson 22 A Well-Kept House LE6.1a, b 94 Lesson 23 Nature s Balancing Act LE5.1f; PS4.2a, 5.1c 98 Lesson 24 Fixing Longitude PS1.1f 102 Glossary 106 Performance Projects 107
Lesson 8 A Building an Empire Around a.d. 115, the Roman Empire had reached its greatest extent. The empire stretched from England to Iraq. More than 30 countries on today s map were controlled by Rome. How were the Romans able to win and hold such a huge empire? One reason was their army. But other peoples had brave soldiers and clever generals, too. What they didn t have was Roman technology. Take the Roman roads, for example. The Romans built them in order to move armies, supplies, and messages quickly across their empire. Roman engineers made them as straight as possible, except when they crossed mountains. The roads were built in four layers over a base of sand. First, large stones were piled up to make a bed. Next came a layer of smaller stones mixed with lime. The third layer was made of concrete, one of Rome s few inventions, but an important one. Finally, flat stone blocks were set on top of the concrete. The Romans placed the blocks so that the road sloped down from the center. This let water run off the road and into ditches on either side. Roman roads were built so well that some are still in use today. Roman aqueducts brought water into cities and towns all over the empire. Rome alone had 14 of them. The aqueducts used gravity to keep water flowing from its sources. This meant they often were built high above the ground. The Romans could do this because they had concrete. They had also learned that an arch could support much more weight than a column, so they built their aqueducts with arches on top of arches. Some Roman aqueducts were still doing their job well into the 20th century. Once the water reached a city, it flowed through pipes to private homes and public buildings. These included fountains and public baths, which had pools of cold, warm, and hot water. The water was heated by a furnace under the floor, which also gave off hot air that was sent through pipes to warm the rooms above. Roads, plumbing, and other conveniences help explain why most conquered people accepted Roman rule. It was no worse than being ruled by their own kings. As long as they paid their taxes and didn t make trouble, the Romans left them alone. But some people did resist Rome. That brought on the powerful Roman technology of war. Roman attack weapons could hurl boulders or flaming darts over city walls. Soldiers used other machines to climb over the walls and to tear them down. In Jerusalem today, there is a great stone wall where many people pray. It is all that remains of an ancient Jewish temple. The temple was destroyed in a.d. 70 after the Jews rebelled against the Roman Empire. Stones torn from the city walls by Roman war machines can be seen in Jerusalem to this day. 38 New York Content Reading
Lesson 8 B Building an Empire The Roman Empire reached its greatest extent around a.d. 115. It controlled more than 30 countries on today s map, from England to Iraq. The Roman army helped win and control this huge empire. But the empire s success depended on more then its soldiers. It had to do with technology. A great empire needs great roads to be able to quickly move armies, supplies, and messages. Roman engineers made their roads as straight as possible, except when they crossed mountains. Roman roads were built in four layers over a base of sand. First, large stones were piled up to make a bed. Next came a layer of smaller stones mixed with lime. The third layer was made of concrete, one of Rome s few, but significant, inventions. Finally, flat paving stones were set on top of the concrete. The Romans placed the blocks so that the road sloped down from the center. This let water run off the road and into ditches on either side. Roman roads were built so well that some are still in use today. Water can make or break a civilization. People need water to live, and empires need water to succeed. Roman engineers figured out ways to get water from sources that were often far away from cities and towns that needed it. They designed and built structures called aqueducts. Rome alone had 14 of them. Aqueducts rely on gravity to keep the water flowing from its source to its destination. Many were impressive structures built high above the ground. The Romans could do this because they had concrete. They had also learned to design bridges and aqueducts using arches, which can support much more weight than a column. Many Roman aqueducts were constructed with arches on top of arches. Some of these ancient aqueducts were still functioning well into the 20th century. Once the water reached a city, it flowed through pipes to private homes and public buildings, including the public bath, which had pools of cold, warm, and hot water. A furnace under the floor heated the water and gave off hot air that was sent through pipes to warm the rooms above. Sometimes conquered people resent their new rulers. But Roman roads, plumbing, and other conveniences help explain why people accepted Roman rule more easily. Some people did resist, however. Then they had to contend with the Roman technology of war. Roman attack weapons could hurl boulders or flaming darts over city walls. Soldiers used other machines to climb over the walls and to tear them down. You can see an example of this in presentday Jerusalem where people gather to pray at a great stone wall. This is all that remains of an ancient Jewish temple that was destroyed in a.d. 70 after the Jews rebelled against the Roman Empire. Stones torn from the city walls by Roman war machines can be seen in Jerusalem to this day. New York Content Reading 39
Read each question. Circle the letter of the best answer. 1 Which of these was a Roman invention? A roads B concrete C weapons D the arch 2 Which of these sentences expresses the main idea of the article? A The Romans were able to win and hold a huge empire. B The Roman army could move quickly over well-built roads. C Roman technology helped hold the huge empire together. D Roman engineers built roads and aqueducts to last. 3 You can conclude from the second paragraph that Roman roads. A were used only by Roman armies B were as wide as today s highways C were usually build alongside aqueducts D did not flood in heavy rain 4 In building a Roman road, which of these was laid down last? A concrete C flat stones B large stones D sand 5 Which of these statements is a fact? A The Romans were all very practical people. B Roman engineers were the best in the world. C Roman attack weapons could hurl boulders over city walls. D For most people, the Romans were no worse than their own kings. 6 Because the Romans built aqueducts using arches, these structures. A were higher and stronger than those built with columns B were able to carry water above the ground C were less costly than those built with columns D could also serve as roads 7 The word extent means. A age B size C alive D leader 40 New York Content Reading
Write your answer to each question on the lines. 8 Imagine that you live in a city conquered by the Romans. Explain to a visitor why you do or do not like living under Roman rule. 9 What would be the benefits of a good road system through such a large area? Who would use it besides the army? New York Content Reading 41