Some of the greatest and most interesting achievements in the human story happened during the rise of the Roman Republic, its collapse into an empire, and its eventual fall. It continues to influence us today in so many ways that can only be accounted for in a proper academic setting. This course seeks to show students the importance of knowing where we come from by looking at the Roman story.

How to get the most out of Roman Civilization II with Paul Hyatt:

• First, read the course materials for each week. Reading is not punishment. It is probably the most important way that we grow in knowledge. Set aside about a half an hour to one hour each day to read your Bible, the books for your courses, and perhaps even something for the pure enjoyment of reading (in my case, anything by Tolkien). You will benefit, greatly, from this in life.

• Then, have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session. This is very important as people generally retain knowledge better by writing it down, by hand.

• Watch all pre-recorded videos for each week. In these videos, I will guide you through the key concepts that you need to have a firm grasp of in order to attain mastery of the material covered in this course. These videos are to be a tool for you to use in order to be successful. I have spent several hours making these as interesting and compelling as possible. I hope you enjoy them and come each week ready to discuss what you have learned from them. 

• Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.

• Do the assignments and any extra work assigned for that week.

• Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Special Notes: This course is Part Two of a two-part series.

Total classes: 12

Class dates: Wednesdays, January 8 to April 2, 2025. (No class Mar. 5 Ash Wednesday.)

Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)

Duration per class: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: It is recommended that a student takes Roman Civilization I first, however, it is not required.

Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested credit: 1 full semester History or Ancient History

Instructor: Paul Hyatt

Course description: In this course, students will learn about the fall of the Roman Republic, the rise of the Roman Empire, the Rise of Christianity, and the fall of Rome. Students will learn what it was like to live under the rule of a Roman Emperor and how the political situation changed when the Republic fell. The student will understand the impact of Christianity on the Roman Empire and understand how early Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. Students will also understand the multiple factors that led to the fall of Rome, but also how Rome still influences us all the way to today.

Course outline:

Weeks 1-4: The Collapse of the Roman Republic – Topics discussed: Roman citizenship, the disparity between the rich and the poor, The assassination of the Gracchi brothers, Roman Civil Wars, Marius and Sulla, Julius Caesar
Week 4-8: Roman Empire – Topics discussed: The Pax Romana, Continued Roman expansion, Bread and Circuses, Christianity, The first emperors
Weeks 9-12: The Fall of Rome– Topics discussed: The Good Emperors, The Crisis of the Third Century, The fragmentation of Rome into east and west, the desolation of the Gothic tribes

Course Materials: All course materials will be provided FREE by the instructor or will be easily accessible through the internet.

Homework: This course will utilize weekly quizzes, two short essays, and a final exam. Students should be prepared to do one to two hours of work per week to be successful in this course.

Fee: For all 12 classes: $207 if you register on or before November 15, $227 if you register after Nov. 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registrations are not guaranteed. There is a $20 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)