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THE GOTHIC CRISIS

Transforming the Roman World, 376-382 CE

Jay Diehl


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Negotiate the settlement of Gothic barbarians and determine the fate of the Roman Empire

Set in the Roman Empire of the late fourth century, The Gothic Crisis asks students to negotiate the terms under which Gothic refugees from beyond the Danube River will be settled within the lands of the Roman Empire. In debating issues such as military obligations and legal status, players will explore the interactions between Romans and barbarians and the diverse ways of envisioning the relationship between barbarian and Roman identity. Meanwhile, players will compete for honors and status within their factions, navigate potential conspiracies, and confront the perpetual possibility of a Gothic rebellion against the Roman Empire.

ABOUT THE GAME

Details

Disciplines
Classics/Classical Antiquity, Conflict & War Studies, Medieval History, Western Civ/History, World History

Sample Class Titles
Medieval Europe, Premodern World History, The Roman Empire

Themes and Issues  
Immigration and Identity, Romans and Barbarians, Warfare and Violence, Authority, Empire

Era 
4th Century

Geography 
Europe

Notable Roles
Emperor Valens, Themistius, Fritigern

Primary Source Highlights 
The Roman History, Ammianus Marcellinus; Latin Panegyrics; Germania, Tacitus

Level
Level 3 (what's that mean?)

Player Interactions 
Aggressive, Collaborative, Competitive, Factional

Mechanics 

Differentiated Voting, Resurrection Roles (New roles for if a character dies), Rolling Dice

Chaos and Demand on Instructor 
High Chaos; High Demand on Instructor

Using the Game

Class Size and Scalability
This game is recommended for classes with 13-36 students.

Class Time  
For this game, 2-5 setup sessions and 3-6 game sessions are recommended.

Assignments
You can adjust the assignments based on the desired learning outcomes of your class. This game includes creative writing. Speech topics are present for all characters, but the instructor can use alternate assignments if desired.


GAME MATERIALS

Reacting Consortium members can download all game materials below. You will be asked to sign in before downloading. 

Please fill out the Permissions Request Form before using The Gothic Crisis in your class!

Gamebook

Students need a Gamebook, which includes directions, resources, and historical context.

Instructor's Manual

The Instructor's Manual includes guidance for assigning roles, presenting historical context, assignments, activities and discussion topics, and more.

Role Sheets and Handouts

Students also need a Role Sheet, which contains biographical information, role-specific resources or assignments, and their character's secret victory objectives. 


Additional Resources


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jay Diehl

Jay Diehl is Associate Professor of History at Long Island University. He is a specialist in medieval European history and a dabbler in ancient and early modern history. His research focuses on monasticism, manuscript culture, and religious reform in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. He has held fellowships at Notre Dame University, the University of Ghent, and Fordham University. He currently serves on the Game Development Organizing Committee for the Reacting Consortium.


QUESTIONS

Members can contact game authors directly if they have questions about using the game. We also invite instructors join our Facebook Faculty Lounge, where you'll find a wonderful community eager to help and answer questions. 


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reacting@barnard.edu

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