1. Watch this clip showing the stages of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD
You can’t take notes – try to remember as much detail as you can.
 starter activity
Describe the picture or source here.

2. Write down an eyewitness statement. You have 4 minutes.
Compare your statement with your partner.
How similar / different are they?
Why do eyewitness accounts sometimes differ?
 starter activity
Describe the picture or source here.

3. What happened on 24th August 79AD
 Key words: pyroclastic surge pumice aftermath
What happened on 24th August 79AD
 Learning objectives
TBAT explain the events of 79AD
To compare accounts with archaeological evidence & prepare for an essay question

4.  Your task Read p.106-7 and take notes on the following
The impact of the earthquake of 62AD
The effects of the volcanic eruption of 79AD
Who were the two Pliny’s
Why do you think it would be another 1800 years before Pompeii was rediscovered?

5. Impact of earthquake, 62AD
Town still recovering in 79AD
Houses & temples destroyed
People buried under rubble
Reconstruction – old houses replaced with new, grandiose buildings
Forum rebuilt
Parts of Pompeii still under construction

6. Effects of eruption, 79AD
Signs beforehand: wells dried up, strange animal behaviour – dogs howling
Pompeii down-wind – debris (ash & pumice) blew over city
There was time to evacuate city
Pyrocastic surge caused by collapse of mountain side
Temperatures up to 400C

7. Who were the two Plinys?
Pliny ‘the Younger’: 17-year-old boy staying with his uncle, Pliny ‘the Elder’
Pliny ‘the Younger’ writes to historian Tacitus 27 years later explaining events
Events described from the other side of Bay of Naples
Pliny ‘the Elder’ died attempting to rescue survivors
Pliny ‘the Younger’ became prominent Roman citizen

8.  Your task
You will be given a chart to complete. First move around the class and study the extracts from Pliny and record what you can learn and what are the limitations.
Next, look in the archaeology boxes and record what you can learn from the artefacts and what are the limitations.
How useful is the animation or the BBC documentary in helping your enquiry?

9. Homework What to include… Introduction Para 1: How Pliny is useful
Para 2: What are Pliny’s limitations
Para 3: How is the archaeology useful
Para 4: What are the limitations of the archaeology
Judgement (don’t sit on the fence!)

10. Mark Scheme

12.  Homework Complete the essay for homework.
Use weblinks on Studyhistory to help you

13. What happened on 24th August 79AD
 Key words: pyroclastic surge pumice aftermath
What happened on 24th August 79AD
 Learning objectives
TBAT explain the events of 79AD
To compare accounts with archaeological evidence & prepare for an essay question