I, Claudius Lesson Plan

Legal Defense

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will defend one of those accused under Tiberius' treason trials

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.B, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.E

Structure:

Under Tiberius, laws against treason were greatly expanded. Prior to his rule, offense of treason were almost only in reference to those committed in military service. With the rise of the concept of the Emperor as a deity, acts of treason became next to sacrilege in seriousness. The fact that informers also received one-fourth of the accused allotments, if found guilty, led to the rise of professional informers. When on trial, the immunity...