starter activity

Describe the picture or source here.

Watch this clip showing the stages of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD

You can’t take notes – try to remember as much detail as you can.

starter activity

Describe the picture or source here.

Write down an eyewitness statement. You have 4 minutes.

Compare your statement with your partner.

How similar / different are they?

Why do eyewitness accounts sometimes differ?

What happened What happened on 24on 24thth August August

79AD 79AD

TBAT explain the events of TBAT explain the events of 79AD79AD

To compare accounts with To compare accounts with archaeological evidence & archaeological evidence &

prepare for an essay questionprepare for an essay question

Learning objectives

Key words: pyroclastic surge pumice aftermath

Your taskYour task

Read p.106-7 and take notes on the Read p.106-7 and take notes on the followingfollowing The impact of the earthquake of 62ADThe impact of the earthquake of 62AD The effects of the volcanic eruption of The effects of the volcanic eruption of

79AD79AD Who were the two Pliny’sWho were the two Pliny’s

Why do you think it would be Why do you think it would be another 1800 years before Pompeii another 1800 years before Pompeii was rediscovered?was rediscovered?

Impact of earthquake, 62AD

Town still recovering in 79AD

Houses & temples destroyed

People buried under rubble

Reconstruction – old houses replaced with new, grandiose buildings

Forum rebuilt

Parts of Pompeii still under construction

Effects of eruption, 79AD

Signs beforehand: wells dried up, strange animal behaviour – dogs howling

Pompeii down-wind – debris (ash & pumice) blew over city

There was time to evacuate city

Pyrocastic surge caused by collapse of mountain side

Temperatures up to 400C

Who were the two Plinys?

Pliny ‘the Younger’: 17-year-old boy staying with his uncle, Pliny ‘the Elder’

Pliny ‘the Younger’ writes to historian Tacitus 27 years later explaining events

Events described from the other side of Bay of Naples

Pliny ‘the Elder’ died attempting to rescue survivors

Pliny ‘the Younger’ became prominent Roman citizen

Your taskYour task

You will be given a chart to complete. You will be given a chart to complete. First move around the class and study First move around the class and study the extracts from Pliny and record what the extracts from Pliny and record what you can learn and what are the you can learn and what are the limitations.limitations.

Next, look in the archaeology boxes and Next, look in the archaeology boxes and record what you can learn from the record what you can learn from the artefacts and what are the limitations.artefacts and what are the limitations.

How useful is the animation or the BBC How useful is the animation or the BBC documentary in helping your enquiry?documentary in helping your enquiry?

Homework

What to include…IntroductionPara 1: How Pliny is usefulPara 2: What are Pliny’s limitationsPara 3: How is the archaeology usefulPara 4: What are the limitations of the archaeology Judgement (don’t sit on the fence!)

Mark SchemeMark Scheme2 Responses are likely to hinge around candidates’ interpretation of revealing. Pliny’s account certainly offers a more personal, emotional and detailed account of the eruption itself. Candidates might consider some of the following points from his account: • Ash and pumice • Darkness • Details of his uncle’s rescue attempt and ultimate demise • Behaviour of people trying to escape • Tremors • Fires on the mountainside • Date • Duration of eruption

However, the archaeological record perhaps allows more immediacy and a sense of connection with the tragedy and also, by interpreting this evidence, offers more evidence about what life was like in Pompeii and what people were doing during the eruption. Candidates might want to consider: • The casts of bodies • Men with money which might suggest looting • Animals still tethered up – did people panic and flee?

• Layers of pumice and ash show that Pompeii was covered in debris from the volcano etc

HomeworkHomework

Complete the essay for homework.Complete the essay for homework. Use weblinks on Studyhistory to Use weblinks on Studyhistory to

help youhelp you

What happened What happened on 24on 24thth August August

79AD 79AD

TBAT explain the events of TBAT explain the events of 79AD79AD

To compare accounts with To compare accounts with archaeological evidence & archaeological evidence &

prepare for an essay questionprepare for an essay question

Learning objectives

Key words: pyroclastic surge pumice aftermath