Download Ch. 7: The Roman World

Ch. 7: The
Roman World
Sec. 1:
Founding the
Roman
Republic
1
The Land: Its Geography
& Importance
• Italy is sheltered by
the Alps in the north
• Mtns. running
lengthwise of Italy
are called the
Apennine Mtns.,
which are low,
allowing trade
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• People & enemy
armies found
pathways through
the Alps
• Plus, Italy’s long
coastline allowed
attack from the
sea
3
Rome & the
Beginning of an
Empire
• By the mid-700s B.C.
the Latins had settled in
villages along the Tiber
R. & it was these
villages that united to
form Rome
• In the 600s B.C. Rome
was ruled by the
Etruscans from N.Italy
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• Romans adopted Etruscan written language
• The Etruscans paved roads, drained marshes,
& constructed sewers & under the Etruscans,
Rome grew into a large prosperous city
• Also, Greek city-states in S. Italy strongly
influenced Roman culture
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• Rome was built
about 15 miles
inland from the Tiber
R., protecting the
city from invasion by
sea
• It was located where
the Tiber R. was
easy to cross & at
the crossroads of
many trade routes
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The Early Roman
Republic
• 509 B.C. wealthy
Romans overthrew
the Etruscan king
• They established a
republic — a form
of gov’t in which
voters elect officials
to run the state
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• 3 groups governed the
republic: the Senate,
the magistrates, &
popular assemblies
(the Senate was the
most powerful)
• In emergencies the
Senate could name a
dictator, or absolute
ruler, who had
complete command of
the army & courts for 6
months
8
• The magistrates
included consuls,
praetors, & censors
• 2 men were elected to
one-year terms as
consuls, or chief
executives
• They ran the gov’t &
commanded the army
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• Each consul could veto, or
refuse to approve, the acts of
the other
• This division was based on
the principle of checks &
balances, which prevents any
part of the gov’t from
becoming too powerful (a
principle later adopted by the
U.S.
10
• Romans elected officials
called praetors to help the
consuls; they commanded
armies & oversaw the legal
system
• Censors registered citizens
according to their wealth,
appointed senators, &
supervised moral conduct
11
• Several assemblies of
citizens voted on laws
& elected officials
• These popular
assemblies elected 10
officials called
tribunes, who could
refuse to approve
actions by the Senate
or other officials
12
The Conflict of the Orders
• Patricians were powerful
landowners who inherited
power to control the gov’t &
society
• Plebeians (mainly farmers &
workers) made up most of
the pop.
13
• Plebeians could vote but not
hold office
• Judges were always
patricians
• Plebeians increased their
power through demands &
strikes
14
• They gained the right to join the
army, hold office, form their own
assembly & elect tribunes
• Plebeians forced the gov’t to
write down the laws
• Later, a plebeian always held
one of the consul positions
• Some plebeians became so
wealthy & powerful that they
joined the nobility
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The Republic Grows
• For 200 yrs. The
Roman army
fought to extend
the empire
• Every adult male
citizen who owned
land had to serve
in the legion
• Discipline was
strict & morale was
high
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• The Romans made people in
nearby cities full citizens
• People in more distant cities
became partial citizens, who
could own property but could
not vote
• People in distant areas
became allies, who remained
independent but supplied
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• Conquered peoples also provided land for
Roman farmers
• These policies helped the Romans
control conquered areas & spread the
Roman culture & language
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