State Historical Society of Iowa

The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian, c. 360

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Courtesy of Internet Archives Ammianus Marcellinus. The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian

Description

Ammianus Marcellinus was a historian in Ancient Rome. He wrote about how obsessed spectators of chariot races were. Chariot races were some of the most important sporting events in the Roman world. This source speaks to the importance of the sport in the society.

Excerpt of Ammianus Marcellinus. The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian Exceprt

Source-Dependent Questions

  • How does the author let you know the importance of chariot races in ancient Rome? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.
  • The author of this text lived during the time he was writing about. What conclusions can you make about the credibility of his observations?
  • According to the author, what unifies the common people in Rome regarding the chariot races? What connections can you make about the way ancient Romans felt about chariot racing and the way people today feel about their favorite sports?
  • How do the actions of fans in ancient times and today unify groups of people?

Citation Information

Ammianus Marcellinus. The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian Internet Archives