In this activity, students will examine the reign of Marcus Aurelius, who ruled the Roman Empire from AD 161 to 180 while managing the devastating Antonine Plague, wars against Germanic tribes along the Danube, and the personal application of Stoic philosophy to imperial decision-making. Students will also evaluate the consequences of his decision to appoint his son Commodus as successor, considering how this choice undermined the stability that Marcus had worked to maintain throughout his rule.

It has 13 questions for students to answer, as well as a paragraph response section for them to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.