This document provides an 8th grade history lesson plan on the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Dark Ages. The objectives are to analyze factors leading to Rome's fall, understand why this period is called the Dark Ages, examine the feudal system and role of the Catholic Church. Key topics covered include the invasion of barbarian tribes, plagues, weak emperors, Christianity's rise, and how the fall of Rome led to less travel, education only in the Church, and a drop in life expectancy. Students will discuss factors for Rome's fall in groups and compare modern issues to Rome's decline.

1. 8TH GRADE HISTORY
SEPT. 6TH-7TH 2015
LESSON 1:
ROME FALLS AND DARKNESS COVERS THE
LAND

2. OBJECTIVES:
• Analyze the contributing factors that led to the Roman Empires fall.
• Discover how and why this time period is called the Dark Ages.
• Develop a concept of the feudal manorial system as it applies to the rise of the Dark
Age/Middle Age government.
• Examine the role the Catholic Church had in everyday life and how it planted the seeds
for later human social, economic, and educational development.
• Interpret the significant role played by the Black Death as a transition from the Dark
Ages to the Middle Ages and finally to the Renaissance.

3. LESSON CYCLE
• Warm up
• Anticipatory question
• Introduction to lesson
• Teacher given lecture
• Group questions
• Exit ticket

4. WARM UP
• Imagine that Egypt has been invaded by an enemy. This attack on the country has
eliminated the government. Food and fresh water are in short supply. The troops of the
invading army are everywhere, taking the best of what Egypt has to offer. It is a DARK
time in Egyptian history.
• You will write 5 sentences minimum on what planning this experience might involve .
Think about how you would gather supplies to live, where you would go, what you would
take with you, and how you communicate this experience with the world. (Hint: the
internet may not be available).

5. BURNING QUESTIONS FOR THE DAY
• What factors contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire?
• Why do we call this period the Dark Ages?
• Is this title accurate?
• Why do you think the Church was a place of continued education?

6. • Dynasty
• Empire
• Legacy
• Barbarian
• Merchant
• Plague
• A family or group that maintains a
position of power over several
generations.
• A large territory governed by a single
authority, such as an emperor.
• Something that is handed down from a
previous time.
• Germanic tribesmen that invaded the
Roman Empire.
• A person who buys and sells goods.
• A disease that spreads quickly,
infecting and killing large numbers of
people.
KEY VOCABULARY WORDS

7. WHY THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE FELL

8. GERMANIC HORDES INVADE

9. DECAY

10. BAD EMPERORS

11. PLAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12. DISTRABUTION OF WEALTH

13. ROMAN CIVIL WAR

14. RISE OF CHRISTIANITY

15. SIZE OF EMPIRE WAS UNMANAGEABLE AND WAS
SPLIT IN HALF

16. 4 TETRARCHS

17. LEAD POISONING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18. SO, WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO HOW THE
DARK AGES BEGIN?
• LITTLE TRAVEL BETWEEN CITIES AFTER FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE.
• ROADS ARE UNSAFE AND EVENTUALLY FORGOTTEN.
• EDUCATION COMES TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE HALT EXCEPT IN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH. (FOOLS CAN NOT READ!!!!)
• CATHOLIC CHURCH USES THE “EVILS” OF THE TIMES TO CONTROL THE
POPULATION.
• LIFE EXPECTANCY DROPS DRASTICALLY.

19. QUESTIONS YALL!
• With your partner, list and explain 5 factors that caused Rome to fall.
• Examine some issues today that are occurring in Egypt or in another country you are
familiar with and compare/contrast these issue with the issues that brought down Rome.
Write 3 comparisons with your partner.
• With your partner, list 3 reasons you think education continued within the church.