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ROME
Greece retold or something new?
Geography's impact

Italy is shaped like a
boot with protective
mountains (Alps in the
north) and the Sea
(Mediterranean and
Adriatic) surrounding it

The Tiber River ran
down the middle

At this point in history
why would this be a
positive and negative?
The Founders 700-600’s BC

People from the north formed cities in the central western
section of Italy called Latium

Etruscans from the northern kingdoms established a
monarchy and tried to rule all of Italy

Greeks sailed west and settled southern Italy and the
Island of Sicily

Romulus and Remus create Rome
A REPUBLIC IS BORN

509 BC the monarchies are overrun by wealthy landowners
who establish a Republic


A Republic is a government run by elected officials (in this case
elected by only men)
The Republic is run by 3 different government groups

The Senate

The Magistrates

The Popular Assemblies
The Senate

Senators could control public funds

They managed foreign affairs

Acted as a court to determine guilt

At times when necessary they could propose a
dictator to the magistrates to rule for a period of
6 months
Magistrates

Consuls: Two men were elected to each serve
one year terms as chief executives. They ran
the government, governed the military, and
could appoint dictators. They also could veto
each other and the senate

Praetors: Helped the Consuls run military
when at war and the judiciary when at peace

Censors: Registered citizens to determine
social standing and oversaw morals in society
Assemblies

10 Tribunes were elected to oversee the
government
 They
could override the work of the Senate
 Could
 Could
act as secondary courts
deny the Consul the right to make war or peace
if the people did not approve. They were supposed to
be the voice of the people
Society

Patricians: Wealthy landowners that
controlled most of the government

Plebeians: Poor farmers or other day laborers.

Initially not allowed to hold public office but could
vote

In 450 BC forced the government to write down the
laws (Twelve Tables) so they could understand the
law

Gained the right to hold public office

Forced the government to allow one consul to
always come from Plebeian class

Began to use the law to enforce genuine equality
Military

All males needed to serve in the army

The army was divided into legions with about
5000 legionnaires

Sometimes there were groups of non-citizens
forced into units called auxilia

Conquered people could not vote, paid taxes,
provided men as soldiers, and gave land to
Roman farmers to link civilizations