Download Section 5-1 The Roman World Takes Shape

Section 5-1 The Roman World Takes Shape
Roman civilization arises in Italy
A. Geography:
 Italy = centrally located peninsula in Mediterranean; Rome in center near coast of
peninsula (built on seven hills along Tiber River)
 Due to geography, easier to unify lands of Italy
o Apennine Mountains less rugged than mntns of Greece
o Broad, fertile plains north and west – rich soil
B. Early peoples settle Italy:
 Latins (Roman ancestors) migrated to Italy about 800 BC; Greek colonists in S
and Etruscans in N
 Etruscans ruled much of central Italy (incl Rome ); Romans adopted Etruscan
culture (gods, alphabet, arches)
 Romulus & Remus legend on founding of Rome
The Romans establish a Republic
 Romans drove out Etruscans in 509 BC – founding of Rome (lasted 500 yrs)
 New gov’t = republic (gov’t in which people choose some of the officials)
 At first, all gov’t officials were patricians (landholding upper class)
A. Structuring the Republic
 Senate = most powerful governing body (300 patricians; served for life)
 Senators nominated two consuls (supervised the gov’t and commanded the
armies; 1-yr term; checks on power = answered to each other and short term)
 In event of war, Senate chose a dictator (ruler who has complete control over a
gov’t; 6-month term, until Republic back in order)
B. Dissent among plebeians
 Plebeians (largest class: farmers, merchants, artisans, traders)
 Little gov’t power; fought for greater rights
o Gained right to elect own officials – tribunes (protected their interests)
o Could veto (block) laws that were harmful to plebeians
o Forced Senate to choose plebeians as consuls, appoint plebeians to high
offices, open Senate to plebeians, and provide written laws
 Twelve Tables – written laws set up in the Forum (Rome’s marketplace)
C. Romans leave a lasting legacy
 Framers of the US Constitution adapted the senate, the veto, and checks &
balances on political power
Characterizing Roman Society
 Family = basic unit of society
 Paterfamilias = Male head of household – had absolute power in the family
A. Role of women changes over time
 Could own property, run businesses
 Most worked at home, raising families, spinning and weaving
 Over time gained more freedoms – went to public baths, dined, attended theater
B. Romans educated all children
 Upper and lower classes
 Girls and boys all learned to read and write; rhetoric important for public office
C. Roman religious practices
 Believed in numerous gods and goddesses many adapted from Greek religion
(e.g., Jupiter = Zeus; Neptune = Poseidon; Mars = Aries)
 Festivals, feasts created sense of community; temples used for worship
The Roman Republic Grows
A. Roman army conquers the region
 Roman armies conquered Etruscans and Greek city-states in south – by 270 BC,
controlled most of peninsula
 Citizen-soldiers make up Roman army
 Legion = basic military unit; each included 5,000 men
 At first, fought w/out pay; supplied own weapons
 Later, rec’d small stipend and share of booty
B. Treatment of conquered lands
 Usually treated defeated enemies fairly
 Those conquered had to acknowledge Roman leadership, pay taxes, and supply
soldiers for Roman army
 In return, Rome let them keep their own customs, money, and local gov’t
 More privileged groups became citizens
 Partial citizens could marry Romans and trade in Rome
 Purpose of policies = encourage conquered lands to remain loyal to Rome
C. Maintaining the state
 Soldiers posted throughout land to protect new territory
 Network of roads linked distant territories to Rome
 Increased travel/trade encouraged unity
 Adoption of Latin language and Roman customs/beliefs