In May 2024, the S.P.Q.R. – Schools and People of Europe project hosted its first Learning, Teaching, and Training (LTT1) event in the historic city of Nicopolis ad Istrum, Bulgaria. Nestled in the heart of Bulgarian history, Nicopolis ad Istrum provided the perfect setting for an immersive educational experience that brought Roman history to life for students and teachers from across Europe.
This exciting event marked a significant milestone in the project, combining historical reenactments with modern technology to deliver an engaging and educational experience for all participants.
Reenacting Roman History in the Heart of Bulgaria
LTT1 was designed to give students and teachers a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience Roman life firsthand. The event focused on key aspects of Roman governance, military strategies, and social customs, offering participants the chance to engage directly with historical events that shaped the Roman Empire.
Held at the Regional History Museum in Nicopolis ad Istrum, the event’s location added to the authenticity of the experience. As a city known for its rich historical heritage, Nicopolis ad Istrum offered the ideal atmosphere for this educational journey into the past.
The S.P.Q.R. project’s partner countries—including Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, and Romania—sent students and teachers to participate in the reenactments. The collaboration between these countries fostered a sense of shared European heritage and allowed participants to exchange knowledge about how Roman history has influenced their modern cultures.
Participants and Their Roles
The students who took part in LTT1 weren’t just spectators; they played an active role in the reenactments, portraying Roman citizens, soldiers, and senators. This hands-on approach allowed them to experience Roman history from a new perspective. For many, it was an opportunity to understand the importance of civic duty, military discipline, and the daily challenges faced by ordinary Roman citizens.
Teachers from partner countries acted as facilitators, helping students understand the educational objectives behind each reenactment. In addition to guiding students through the historical scenarios, teachers also received training on how to incorporate immersive learning tools like 360° video and virtual reality (VR) into their classrooms.
Local experts and historians from Veliko Tarnovo also played a crucial role in the event, offering insights into the Roman Empire’s influence on the Balkan region and how these ancient lessons can still be applied to today’s society.
Learning Through Action: Bringing Roman History to Life
The core objective of LTT1 was to create an immersive learning environment where students could gain a deeper understanding of Roman history by actively participating in it. The reenactments covered pivotal moments in Roman governance, military drills, and social interactions, allowing students to experience firsthand what it was like to be a Roman citizen or soldier.
Among the most engaging scenarios were those that portrayed Senate meetings, where students debated crucial political decisions, and military formations, where they learned the tactics that helped the Roman Empire expand and maintain its power for centuries.
The event also included living history lessons that focused on daily life in Rome, such as how Roman citizens interacted in their communities, the role of religion, and the importance of trade in the Empire’s prosperity. These lessons were designed to align with the national curricula of the participating countries, ensuring that students could take home valuable knowledge to apply in their regular studies.
Technology and History: 360° Video and Virtual Reality
LTT1 wasn’t just about reenacting history—it also embraced the future of education by incorporating 360° video technology to capture the entire event. This footage will later be used to create Open Educational Resources (OERs) in virtual reality format, allowing students from all over Europe to experience the event virtually, even if they couldn’t attend in person.
The use of this modern technology in historical education is a key part of the S.P.Q.R. project’s mission to make history more engaging and accessible to students. The 360° videos filmed during LTT1 will soon be available on the IEDU360 platform, giving schools across Europe access to immersive content that allows students to explore Roman history in a completely new way.
By combining technology with hands-on learning, LTT1 demonstrated how modern educational tools can enhance traditional teaching methods, making history more relatable and exciting for today’s students.
Corresponding with the Project Plan
The LTT1 event was executed in full alignment with the S.P.Q.R. project’s work plan for Work Package 3 (WP3). The organizational planning, selection of participants, and reenactment scenarios all adhered to the timeline and educational objectives set for the event. The collaboration among the project partners was seamless, ensuring that the event ran smoothly and that the content was relevant to the educational goals of each participating country.
Looking Ahead: From Nicopolis ad Istrum to the Classroom
LTT1 was just the beginning. The footage captured during the event is now being processed and will be transformed into OERs, which will soon be accessible on the IEDU360 platform. These resources will allow students who couldn’t attend the event to experience it virtually and benefit from the immersive learning opportunities that LTT1 provided.
As we move forward, the S.P.Q.R. project is set to continue its mission of transforming history education across Europe. The next step will be to integrate the lessons learned from LTT1 into classroom settings, providing teachers with new ways to engage their students in Roman history through VR and other interactive tools.
By blending historical reenactments with modern technology, the S.P.Q.R. project is paving the way for a new era of interactive, immersive education, where students don’t just read about history—they experience it.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey to revolutionize history education with innovative learning tools and unforgettable educational experiences!
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