2. Theories on the Fall of the Roman Empire California Standard: 7.1

3. Cartoon 1 Will there be any money for education?

4. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

5. Cartoon 2

6. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

7. Cartoon 3

8. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

9. Cartoon 4

10. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

11. Cartoon 5

12. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

13. Cartoon 6

14. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

15. Cartoon 7

16. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

17. Cartoon 8

18. What do you see happening in this cartoon? What is the cartoonist’s intended message? To which theory on the fall of the Roman Empire does this cartoon most closely relate? What are the similarities and/or differences between the Roman Empire and the U.S. today on this issue?

19. Wrap Up What problems does our country have today that are similar to those faced by the Romans?

20. Which of these problems do you think was the most serious for the Romans?

21. Which of these problems do you think the most serious for the United States?

22. Why is it too simplistic to blame the fall of Rome on one issue?

23. What lessons can the American government and people learn from the fall of the Roman Empire?