Grade 7 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 1, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Across the Centuries

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 1, Lesson 1: Connections in the Roman Empire (pp. 4-7)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Interconnectedness The vast Roman Empire was connected through highways and trade networks, which influenced how Romans viewed and experienced the world.

Discuss with students how people depend on communication and transportation technologies today. Use examples from business, school, and home. Make a list of advantages each technology carries. For instance, television and satellites allow information to be communicated quickly around the world. Together, discuss what daily life might be like today without these technologies. How might it impact trade, travel, and the sharing of ideas?

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have students write a report comparing transportation and communication today with transportation and communication in the Roman Empire. Encourage students to describe how people and places were interconnected in both time periods.
Have students create an illustrated flow chart showing how communication and transportation technologies connect people and places all over the world.

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