Roman empresses from provinces
Characters:
Theme: Geographic location of Roman empresses
Competencies
Competence in Linguistic Communication
Personal, social and learning to learn competence
Competence in cultural awareness and expressions
Subjects and year by Educational System
Spain > Classical culture > 4th ESO > Classical roots of today's world. Geographical framework of Greece and Rome
Enunciation
Empress Julia Domna was not a Roman, but came from a province of the Roman Empire, like other empresses.
1.- Look up for information and complete the chart with the following data about the empresses of the High Empire: Agrippina the Younger, Faustina the Elder, Julia Domna and Pompeia Plotina. They must be listed chronologically.
Origin: Colonia Agrippina, Emesa (Syria), Ituci (Tejada la Nueva, Huelva, Spain), Ucubi (Espejo, Cordoba, Spain).
Dynasty: Antonine, Julio-Claudian, Severan.
Reign: 49-54 AD, 98-117 AD., 138-140 AD, 193-211 AD.
Husband: Antoninus Pius, Claudius, Septimius Severus, Trajan.
2.- Read the following excerpt and write a short outline, paying attention to the text in bold.
Syrian empresses such as Julia Domna, her sister Julia Maesa and her nieces Julia Soemias, mother of Heliogabalus, and Julia Mamea, mother of Severus Alexander, have been given their name because of their origin. These four eastern empresses managed to exercise control and power, which at the time was inconceivable for women. From their roles as wives, mothers or grandmothers of emperors, they influenced them, thus becoming part of politics from a hidden, indirect position; they were the true leaders of the Empire in that period.
3.- In the Imperial Crisis and the Lower Roman Empire we also find empresses of non-Roman origin, answer the questions posed about them.
a.- Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, was born near Nicomedia. What other name is she remembered with and why?
b.- Galla Placidia, daughter of Theodosius I, was born in Constantinople (in Byzantium). To her we owe the restoration of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome and the completion of San Giovanni Evangelista, in Rome. What important monument in Ravenna is named after her?
c.- Ulpia Severina, wife of Aurelianus, was from the province of Dacia (current Romania). She was the only woman to rule the Roman Empire in the interregnum period, between which emperors was this?
d.- Aelia Flaccila, first wife of Theodosius the great, was from Hispania (Douro/Italica area). What emperors were her sons?
4.- Click this link and try to find the places of origin of the empresses mentioned: https://www.geografiainfinita.com/2017/06/las-calzadas-romanas-mapa-metro/. Write the names of the empresses on the following map, next to their corresponding arrows.
5.- List the viae that the empresses of the High Empire might have taken to get to Rome.
Observations and context
The women of the Severan dynasty offer an interesting profile of autonomy and independence that brings them closer to those of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Along with Julia Domna, other prominent Syrian princesses are her sister Julia Maesa and the daughters of the latter, Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea. These Syrian women were owners of power and of Rome. Julia Maesa, Soaemias and Julia Mamaea ruled while Elagabalus dedicated himself to impose the cult of the sun god in Emesa. But Julia Maesa, who enthroned Elagabalus, determined his fall and murder, seeking the rise to power of her other grandson, Alexander. When he was named emperor, the two Julias (grandmother and mother) took charge of the state. After Julia Maesa's death, Julia Mamaea took over the power, which she exercised on her own.
La actividad va dirigida a 4º de la ESO en CUC, Bloque de Raíces clásicas del mundo actual. Marco geográfico de Grecia y Roma, pero también se podría realizar en Latín, en el Bloque El prensente de la civilizació latina, en relación con los períodos históricos.
This activity has been created for 4th of ESO classical culture, block of geography, but it can also be used in Latin, in the block of historical periods.
Description
Learning about some Roman empresses and finding their place of origin in a map.