Now, return to your thematic map and add what you have learned about the reach of the Roman Empire and the effects of the Silk Road. Refer to the lessons from the previous two pages, paying close attention to the thematic maps in each slideshow. You may also need to do some research of your own to discover how large the Roman Empire was at its most powerful, and exactly where the Silk Road lay.

As you fill in your thematic map, use color-coding to show the different areas and how the empire grew over time. Here's how someone might create a thematic map that focuses on the empire of Alexander the Great, who turned his small kingdom of Macedonia into the most powerful state in the world. Such a map might use different colors to show how Alexander's empire grew from its humble beginnings on the Aegean sea (green) to cover over five million square miles (orange). Again, note that the map below is meant to provide an example only. Your thematic map should show the rise of Rome and the establishment of the Silk Road.