History · Rome · 1904

Famous Men of Rome

John H. Haaren and A. B. Poland's 29 short life stories of famous Romans, from Romulus to the fall of the Western Empire, for children about 8 to 11. 42 guides cover every chapter, with the right page of the book beside each one.

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Turn this on to see every lesson as a simple checklist: what to get out, what to do and what to say, one line at a time.

How to use it

  • One story at a time. About 20 to 30 minutes, two or three times a week. A few long chapters are split into two or three guides.
  • Read it, then tell it back. After each reading, your child tells the story in their own words. Telling it back is how it sticks; the prompts in each guide help when they get stuck.
  • Keep a timeline. Tape sheets of paper into one long strip and add a date and a little drawing each lesson. B.C. years count down toward year 1; A.D. years count up.
  • Find it on a map. Keep a map of Italy and the Mediterranean (a free online map or a globe) nearby. Most guides start by finding the places in the story.
  • Legends and hard parts. The first chapters are legends the Romans told about themselves. Many chapters have battles and cruel deeds; the guides flag the hardest ones so you can read ahead and soften them for a younger child.
  • Words from Rome. The book often shows where an English word comes from (Senate, census, veto, colossal). Keep a list on the back of the timeline.

Unit 1 The kings of Rome

Romulus founds Rome, and six more kings follow until Tarquin the Proud (Chapters I to IV). Lessons 1–6.

  1. 1Romulus, part 1: The twins and the wolfCh. I, part 1✓
  2. 2Romulus, part 2: The Sabines, Tarpeia and the SenateCh. I, part 2✓
  3. 3Numa PompiliusCh. II✓
  4. 4The Horatii and the CuriatiiCh. III✓
  5. 5The Tarquins, part 1: Ancus Marcius and Tarquin the ElderCh. IV, part 1✓
  6. 6The Tarquins, part 2: Servius Tullius and Tarquin the ProudCh. IV, part 2✓

Unit 2 The early Republic

Consuls replace kings, and heroes like Horatius, Cincinnatus and Camillus defend the young republic (Chapters V to XII). Lessons 7–16.

  1. 7Junius BrutusCh. V✓
  2. 8HoratiusCh. VI✓
  3. 9Mucius the Left-HandedCh. VII✓
  4. 10CoriolanusCh. VIII✓
  5. 11The FabiiCh. IX✓
  6. 12CincinnatusCh. X✓
  7. 13Camillus, part 1: Veii and the schoolmasterCh. XI, part 1✓
  8. 14Camillus, part 2: Exile, and the Gauls comeCh. XI, part 2✓
  9. 15Camillus, part 3: The geese, the gold and CurtiusCh. XI, part 3✓
  10. 16Manlius TorquatusCh. XII✓

Unit 3 Pyrrhus and the wars with Carthage

Rome fights Greek Pyrrhus and his elephants, then Carthage and Hannibal, until Carthage is destroyed (Chapters XIII to XVI). Lessons 17–22.

  1. 17Appius Claudius, part 1: Roads, water and a stained togaCh. XIII, part 1✓
  2. 18Appius Claudius, part 2: Pyrrhus and his elephantsCh. XIII, part 2✓
  3. 19RegulusCh. XIV✓
  4. 20Scipio Africanus, part 1: Spain, and Hannibal crosses the AlpsCh. XV, part 1✓
  5. 21Scipio Africanus, part 2: Africa and ZamaCh. XV, part 2✓
  6. 22Cato the CensorCh. XVI✓

Unit 4 The end of the Republic

The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla, Pompey, Caesar and Cicero, as rich and poor quarrel and generals fight for power (Chapters XVII to XXII). Lessons 23–32.

  1. 23The GracchiCh. XVII✓
  2. 24Marius, part 1: Jugurtha and the northern invadersCh. XVIII, part 1✓
  3. 25Marius, part 2: Marius and SullaCh. XVIII, part 2✓
  4. 26SullaCh. XIX✓
  5. 27Pompey the Great, part 1: Pirates and the theaterCh. XX, part 1✓
  6. 28Pompey the Great, part 2: Rome in Pompey's dayCh. XX, part 2✓
  7. 29Julius Caesar, part 1: The young Caesar and the conquest of GaulCh. XXI, part 1✓
  8. 30Julius Caesar, part 2: Crossing the RubiconCh. XXI, part 2✓
  9. 31Julius Caesar, part 3: The Ides of MarchCh. XXI, part 3✓
  10. 32CiceroCh. XXII✓

Unit 5 The first emperors

Augustus becomes the first emperor; then cruel Nero, good Titus and great Trajan (Chapters XXIII to XXVI). Lessons 33–38.

  1. 33Augustus, part 1: Octavius, Antony and CleopatraCh. XXIII, part 1✓
  2. 34Augustus, part 2: The first emperorCh. XXIII, part 2✓
  3. 35Nero, part 1: The young emperorCh. XXIV, part 1✓
  4. 36Nero, part 2: The great fire and the fall of NeroCh. XXIV, part 2✓
  5. 37TitusCh. XXV✓
  6. 38TrajanCh. XXVI✓

Unit 6 The later Empire and its fall

Marcus Aurelius, Constantine and the end of the Western Empire in 476 A.D. (Chapters XXVII to XXIX). Lessons 39–42.

  1. 39Marcus Aurelius, part 1: The philosopher emperorCh. XXVII, part 1✓
  2. 40Marcus Aurelius, part 2: Troubles, wars and the Thundering LegionCh. XXVII, part 2✓
  3. 41Constantine the GreatCh. XXVIII✓
  4. 42The end of the Western EmpireCh. XXIX✓

The book itself

Each guide covers one chapter of the book, shown beside the title; a few long chapters are split into two or three parts. The guides are written for this site; the book is in the public domain.

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