Download ancient rome - Mr. Champion

ANCIENT ROME
INTRODUCTION
WHAT DO WE ALREADY KNOW
ABOUT ANCIENT ROME?
People? Places? Gods/Goddesses?
Roman built cities from England to Africa and
connected them with roads an other architectural
marvels including aqueducts.
The Land of the Peoples of Italy
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Italy is a peninsula which stretches about 1207 km
from North to South. It averages about 193 km in
width and has the Apennine Mountain range dividing
the East and the West and The Alps in the North.
Italy has a few major rivers and areas of fertile plains
that can support farming.
The Apennine Mountain range is not as rugged as the
Greek landscape and therefore did not hinder the
growth of connectedness between communities. The
Alps provided some protection from invaders.
Apennine Mountains
THE LAND OF THE ROMANS
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The land of the Romans was about 3x larger than that of the
Greeks. Italy had 3200 km of coastline but unlike Greece there
were few harbors (most on the west coast).
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Trade was lively because of its geography as Romans could
reach the Middle East, Greece, Spain and North Africa by
sea.
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Hilly and mountainous area made transport and
communications difficult but hills in the north helped
protect Rome from invasion .
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Rome itself was located 29 km up the Tiber River which
allowed sea access and safety from pirates and marauders.
Fertile Land
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Italy has three main areas that were for
farming that could support a large population.
Northern Plain – Enriched by fertile deposits
from the Po River.
Plains of Latium and Campania which were
enriched by phosphate from volcanoes.
Despite these fertile plains the Roman still
needed colonies to supplement food supplies.
Rivers
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Italy benefited from 3 major rivers:
The Po River in the far north.
The Arno River, just south of the Po.
The Tiber River, a 406 km river that
started in the Apennines Mountains and
emptied into the Tyrrhenian Sea, Rome
was built on the Tiber.
The Tiber Running Through Rome
Ancient Rome
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Began as an agricultural village in the 8th Century BC.
Good soil
Supplies of wood and stone(marble and concrete-like
mixture from volcanic ash) nearby for building.
7 hills helped defend the city.
Level ground near the river for the forum (city center)
24 km from sea- close to sources of fish and salt.
River route to the sea- meant trade with other
civilizations.
Located in the centre of the peninsula- ideal for
communication and trade with rest of Italy.
Influences on Rome:
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Two influential groups occupied the
Italian Peninsula: The Greeks and the
Etruscans.
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GREEKS
 Built colonies in the south (750-550 BCE),
which grew into prosperous city-states
 Greek culture flourished- this would
have a profound effect on Roman
culture, art, literature and language.
Etruscans
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They were most influential on development of
Rome.
 Developed a civilization just north of Rome
 Highly sophisticated society
 Expanded into Rome when it was a village and
ruled for almost 100 years as it grew to a large
city.
 Ruled by the Tarquin family
 The last King, known as Tarquin the Proud, was
overthrown by the Romans in 509 BCE.
Video: Etruscan influence on Rome
Questions: Text p.196-202
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See handout