Download A.P. World History Rome Review Sheet Location/Geography

A.P. World History Rome Review Sheet
Location/Geography
- City of Rome is in Central Italy
- At it’s greatest extent spanned from
what is now Portugal in the west to Syria in the East.
From the Scottish border in the north to Egypt and North Africa.
- The Alps to Rome’s north, formed a natural barrier against
Gallic invaders.
- The Apennine mts. Protected developing Rome from other Italian powers
Beginnings
- Founded ~753 B.C.E (according to legend: created by Romulus and Remus)
Kingdom of Rome: 753-509 B.C.E
-Up to 509 B.C.E. Rome is ruled by a line of seven Etruscan kings.
The Roman Republic (SPQR): 509-44 B.C.E
- Romans rebel against the last Etruscan king (the very unpopular Tarquinius Superbus) and form a “Res
Publica” (rule of the people)/Republic.
- Ruled by the Senate, the Republic’s governing body consisting of members of the Patrician (nobility) class.
- Two co-consuls were elected annually by the Senate to serve as an executive branch.
- Governors were appointed by the senate to administer captured territories/provinces.
- With Roman victory in the Punic Wars (1,2,3) against Carthage, Rome became the dominant power in the
Western Mediterranean.
- Rome successfully expanded into Greece, Anatolia (Turkey), Syria, Israel, and Egypt either through direct
conquests or by making client-states.
- As Rome’s power grew civil wars occurred, such as when the roman general and politician, Sulla, took Rome by
military force and ruled as dictator.
The First Triumvirate
- Towards the end of the republic, three men rose to prominence (Crassus, Pompey Magnus, and Julius Caesar).
- After Crassus’s death, tension grew between Caesar and Pompey, culminating in another civil war.
- Caesar emerged victorious, declared himself dictator for life, some senators rebel and Caesar is assasinated.
The Roman Empire: 40 B.C.E.-476 C.E.
- After Caesar’s assassination a second triumvirate was created constituted of Caesar’s grandnephew and
appointed heir Octavian, his right hand man and best friend Mark Antony, and Lepidus.
- Octavian emerged victorious in the civil war that ensues and changes his name to Augustus, become emperor.
- Emperor Diocletian led many reforms and in 293 A.D divided the empire between four co-emperors
- Constantine became the first Christian emperor, reunited under one ruler, and moved the capital to
Constantinople.
- Rome split into eastern and western halves
- Internal Power Struggles, Corruption, barbarian invasions, Rome (although sacked before), fell in 476
Economy
- Originally agriculture based, became trade focused as they gained control of trade routes.