Famous Men of Rome · Ch. XI, part 2 · Unit 2: The early Republic
14. Camillus, part 2: Exile, and the Gauls come
Goal: Your child can tell why Camillus left Rome, who the Gauls were, and what happened when they reached the city.
You'll need
- The book, open to this chapter
- A map of Italy and the Mediterranean (a free online map or a globe)
- Paper and colored pencils
What's in the book
Sections III and IV of Chapter XI: Camillus is accused of keeping more than his share of the spoils of Veii and leaves Rome rather than stand trial. The Gauls under Brennus cross the Alps, beat the Romans at the River Allia, and enter Rome. The people flee, brave men hold the Capitol, and old men wait in the Forum in their chairs.
The lesson, step by step
Set the scene
Find the Alps on the map, and the land beyond them that is now France. The Romans called it Gaul.
Read the chapter
Read sections III and IV of Chapter XI. Section III begins:
Not long after this time one of the tribunes brought a charge against Camillus
Stop at the end of section IV, when the Gauls begin to plunder.
A note on the Gauls
The book describes the Gauls the way the frightened Romans saw them: tall, wild and terrible. Say: That is how the Romans felt about them. The Gauls had their own skills and ways of life too.
Tell it back
Prompts:
- Why did Camillus leave Rome, and what did he pray as he went?
- What happened at the River Allia?
- Where did the brave Romans go to hold out?
Talk it over
Read this:
They marched on to the Forum and found the old men, with long white beards, sitting in their chairs, so still that they looked like statues.
Ask: Why did the old men stay? What did they hope would happen?
Remember it
SayBrennus was the king of the Gauls. Remember his name; he says something famous next time.
Answers to the book's problems
The old men hoped that if the Gauls killed them, the Gauls would be satisfied and spare the city.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.