Bring the fall of the Roman Republic into your classroom with a complete, evidence-based mock trial experience.

In Julius Caesar on Trial: Tyrannicide or Treason?, students investigate the assassination of Julius Caesar and decide whether Brutus, Cassius acted to defend Roman.

Designed for Grades 9–12, Honors, advanced history, civics, classical studies, rhetoric, and literature courses, this classroom-ready bundle develops historical argumentation, sourcing, corroboration, public speaking, active listening, media literacy, and evidence-based deliberation.

What Is Included

Complete Classroom Kit

Historical background on Caesar and the late Roman Republic
Roman government and simulated legal framework
Charges, burdens of proof, trial procedures, and evidence rules
Prosecution and defense strategy guides
Classroom roles and trial schedule options
Evidence-based verdict and reflection activities

Student Case File and Trial Workbook

Prosecution and defense case-planning materials
10 reconstructed witness affidavits
Direct- and cross-examination planners
12 evidence exhibits
Source-analysis worksheets
Opening and closing argument organizers
Objection guide
Jury notes and verdict forms
Knowledge check, writing prompts, and student rubric

Teacher Guide and Answer Key

Three-day, five-day, and eight-day implementation plans
Historical-accuracy guidance
Witness-coaching and exhibit notes
Model prosecution and defense arguments
Two defensible model verdicts
Debrief questions
Assessment rubrics, quiz answers, and essay guidance
Differentiation and enrichment ideas

Jury Deliberation Packet

Burden-of-proof and certainty ladder
Element-coded evidence logs
Prosecution and defense tracking charts
Five C’s witness-credibility scale
Exhibit-reliability tracker
Ten-step deliberation protocol
Foreperson script
Structured verdict framework
Minority report and juror self-assessment

Courtroom Press Corps Packet

Student newsroom roles and ethics code
Live trial reporting log
Quotation ledger
Headline-writing laboratory
Breaking-news report template
Five-level fact-checking system
Analysis-column prompt
Press-conference planner
Front-page layout activity
Publication checklist and press rubric

The jury packet requires students to connect evidence to specific charge elements rather than vote based on performance or personal preference. The press packet adds structured journalism activities involving attribution, fact-checking, headline writing, reporting, and media literacy.

Skills Developed

Students practice:

Historical sourcing and corroboration
Evidence-based argumentation
Legality versus legitimacy analysis
Direct and cross-examination
Public speaking and rhetorical strategy
Witness-credibility evaluation
Jury deliberation and civil discussion
News writing, attribution, and fact-checking
Analytical and argumentative writing
Flexible Classroom Use