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Rome’s Beginnings
 Legend of Romulus and Remus. Rome named
after Romulus.
 Greeks came to Southern Italy around 750 BC
to form colonies. *Remember Greece had
little farmland.
 Romans learned to grow olives and grapes
from the Greeks.
 They also adopted Greek architecture,
literature, religion and their ALPHABET.
Rome’s Beginnings
 Historians are not sure how Rome
began. They think that Latins (from
Latium) arrived around 1000 BC and
were shepherds and farmers.
 They may have banded together
between 800 and 700 BC for
protection.
The Etruscans
 Etruscans lived in Etruria, north of Rome.
 Around 650 BC, they moved south and
conquered Rome.
 The Etruscans ruled for 100 years.
 They turned Rome into a true city---from huts
to brick buildings, streets, and temples.
 The Etruscan army served as a model for the
later Roman army.
How Did Rome Become So
Strong?
 509 BC: After the Romans revolted
against the Etruscan “Tarquin
Dynasty,” they continued to fight for
more than 200 years against their
neighbors.
 Eventually, they conquered the Latins,
Etruscans, and the Southern Italians
making them the dominant force in
Italy.
How Did Rome Become So Strong?
 Every Roman male citizen had to serve
in the army. Deserters were put to
death.
 Romans stopped marching shoulder to
shoulder like the Greeks and began
forming legions.
 They formed legions: small groups of
soldiers (6000 men broken down into
groups of 60 to 120 soldiers). They
could cut quickly into enemy lines.
How Did Rome Become So Strong?
 Romans were great planners. They planned
military settlements in each conquered region.
 To rule their new conquered nations, the
Romans set up the Roman Confederation which
gave citizenship to some conquered peoples.
 Rome also allowed other people to become allies
where they could continue to rule their own local
affairs as long as they provided soldiers and paid
taxes to the Roman government.
 Rome would use military force against those
who tried to rebel.
The Political Structure of
the Roman Republic
 509 BC: Etruscans overthrown by the
Roman army and formed a REPUBLIC.
 A republic is a system of government
where citizens choose representatives
to govern on their behalf.
SOCIAL CLASSES in the Roman
Republic
Two Social Classes
a. Patricians: wealthy landowners
b. Plebeians: commoners (artisans,
shopkeepers, and owners of small
farms.
 Patricians and plebeians could not
marry (in the early Republic).
Political Structure in the
Roman Republic
 Patricians can hold the highest position
in government.
 The highest position is consul.
 There are two consuls. They can only
serve a term of one year.
 Consuls have the power to veto.
 Veto: to reject (e.g., a proposed law)
Political Structure in the
Roman Republic
 Consuls were elected from the Senate,
but not by the senate.
 Senate was composed of 300 lawmakers
who were elected for a life term.
 Assembly: allowed plebeians or common
citizens into its membership.
 Assembly discussed matters at the forum.
 Forum: marketplace and business center
of Rome.
Political Structure in the
Roman Republic
 Assembly was in charge of choosing
the consuls.
 471 BC: Plebeians were allowed to
create their own body of
representatives called The Council of
the Plebs.
Political Structure in the
Roman Republic
 The Assembly elected tribunes who
brought the concerns of the plebeians to
the attention of the government.
 Tribunes won the right to veto.
 455 BC: Patricians could now marry
plebeians.
 300s BC: Plebeians were allowed to
become consuls.