Roman Roads

Our first problem based Learning (PBL) project was to try and redevelop enthusiasm in Roman Roads and Bridges for younger children. We were in a fictional contest that was trying to win $5,000 for a trip, and we had to raise interest in children about Roman Roads and Bridges. From the start of the assignment my group started to blend really well with each other, developing great ideas on how to achieve this problem. As the weeks went on the group learned each other’s potentials and took advantage of each of these. For example Jordan created the following video and is a very good speaker and leader:



Tyler was very knowledgeable in the area of roads and bridges because he is studying Civil Engineering and also a good speaker. Rachel is a great cook and good speaker. I created the PowerPoint that we used; also I feel that my background in giving speeches helped. Each of these skills and others helped make our presentation both exciting and professional.
We decided that the best way to accomplish the PBL was to create a play/story for younger children that would create enthusiasm and keep the children’s attention. Like I said we focused the PBL around a story where each of use was a different person from the Roman Empire that would have had specific background on the Roman Roads and Bridges. Tyler portrayed Cornelius Scipio Africanus who was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic. Scipio would have used the roads and built them while he was in the Roman Army, because the main functions of roads were for military purposes. Rachel portrayed Matella who was a fictional character that we made, the purpose of her was to be the Emperors main historian, and Rachel was the narrator of the PBL story. Jordan portrayed Pliny the Elder was an ancient author, naturalist or natural philosopher and naval and military commander of some importance who wrote Naturalis Historia. He is known for his saying "True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read". We used this character for the artistic side of the roads and bridges. Finally, I portrayed Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Magnus was a Politician and Commander in the Roman Empire. Magnus would have used the roads for both military and political purpose, as well as economic. By using this strategy we were able to highlight all the major portions of the roads and bridges by making it fun and intellectually interesting.

The following are Pictures from the PowerPoint:

Appian Way





Arch of Titus



Road Network



Miliarium Aureum



Pont Julian