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Ancient Rome & Early
Christianity
Chapter 6
Foundations of Rome
• Rome grew from a small town on the Tiber River in present
day Italy to control the entire Mediterranean region
• Essential Question: How did Rome grow from a small town to
the center of an empire spanning the entire Mediterranean
region?
Foundations of Rome
• Legend traces Rome’s origins to the story of Romulus and
Remus
• Romulus and Remus were twin brothers who founded Rome in
753 BCE
• The twins were to be drowned in the Tiber River as infants, but
were rescued by a she-wolf. As the boys grew they were found
and adopted by a shepherd. When the twins grew to adults they
decided to build a city, but fought about what the city should be
named. During the argument, Romulus killed Remus, and named
it Rome after himself.
Foundations of Rome
• The legend of Romulus and Remus is a creation story that may
have some historical basis
• An Indo-European tribe called the Latins built Rome from a
small town to a busy and prosperous city
• Rome grew because of its location on the Tiber River which
ran along trade routes and out to the sea. The Alps mountain
range to the North also protected Rome, but did not isolate it
Foundations of Rome
• Rome was ruled by Latin kings until 616 BCE when a king from
another tribe, called the Etruscans, came to power
• Originally influenced by the Greek culture, the Etruscans
influenced Rome’s culture and government
• Built Rome’s first city walls and sewer system, and introduced the
arch as a building technique
• Introduced an alphabet and number system
• Introduced gladiator games and chariot races
• Helped shape the system of government
• Influenced styles of painting and sculpture
The Etruscan monarchy ruled Rome until 509 BCE when
the Romans revolted
Knowledge Checkpoint
• How did the Alps north of Rome aid the growth of Roman
civilization?
• What was unusual about the legendary founders of Rome, and
what were their names?
• In what way do you think the rule of the Etruscans might have
been good for Rome?
Foundations of Rome
• The Romans replaced the monarchy with a new system of
government called a Republic
• In a republic, elected officials govern the state
• The Roman Republic was governed by patricians (puh-trishans) – Roman aristocracy who were kept in power through a
patronage system – elected officials have loyalty by doing
favors for their wealthy constituents
• Social classes and divisions form between the patricians and
the plebeians (pli-BEE-uhns) – common people, who had few
rights
Foundations of Rome
• When invaders threatened Rome the plebeians refused to
fight until their rights were expanded
• The patricians agreed to the plebeian's demands and the an
assembly called the Plebeian Council was formed to protect
their rights
• The plebeians gained the right to vote and elect tribunes –
elected officials who protected the rights of plebeians
• The laws protecting the plebeians were written on 12 large
bronze tablets and posted in the Forum – center of Roman
life, which is called the Law of the Twelve Tables – Rome’s
first written code of laws
Foundations of Rome
• The patricians and plebeians worked together to create a
constitution, which created three government branches:
• 1) Senate – 300 members who advised Magistrates, and
controlled finances and foreign affairs
• 2) Assemblies and Tribunes – voted on laws and elected officials
• 3) Magistrates – enforced the laws
• Two Magistrates were elected to one year terms as Consuls – who
serve as chief executives and commanders of the army
• Additional high ranking officials: Censors – recorded city population
and personal property data, and could select new senators; Praetors
– acted as judges and as consuls, if the consul was away
• Rome’s new government worked well because a system of
checks and balances was implemented that allowed each
branch of government to limit what the others could do
Foundations of Rome
Magistrates
-Ran Rome’s daily affairs
-Led the army
-Issued edicts
-Acted as judges & priests
Magistrates
presided over
the Senate
Senate
-Controlled finances
-Controlled foreign affairs
-Reviewed proposed laws
-Advised Magistrates
Senate could
refuse to give
Magistrates
money
Assemblies & Tribunes
Tribunes
could veto
Magistrates’
actions
-Elected Magistrates
-Approved Laws
-Tried court cases
-Declared war
Assemblies
could reject
laws approved
by the Senate
FOUNDATIONS OF ROME
Rome
• 3 branches of government
• Senate, Magistrates, Assemblies
and Tribunes
• *See chart of Roman branches
and checks and balances*
United States
• 3 branches of government
• Legislative, Executive, Judicial
• Legislative (Senate and House of
Representatives)
• Make laws, control finances, declare war,
establish military, approves executive actions
and appointments, remove officials from office,
override veto, reject treaties
• Executive (President)
• Enforces laws, appoint officials and judges,
commander of military, foreign affairs, domestic
affairs, veto proposed laws, make treaties
• Judicial (Courts)
• Interprets the laws, determines
constitutionality of laws,
Comparison of Roman and
United states Governments
Foundations of Rome
• Life in Rome – The Forum was the center of city
• The Forum served as a political center and a place where Romans
could celebrate, shop, and mingle
• Romans considered farming and land ownership the noblest of
occupations, which is grounded in their agrarian history
• One of Rome’s greatest generals, Cincinnatus, was a farmer. One
of Rome’s early stories told of how Cincinnatus was made dictator
during a time of crisis when Rome was under siege and he
defeated the invaders
Knowledge Check Point
•
•
•
•
How did rich patrician families maintain their power?
How did plebeian life change after 494 BCE?
How might having a flexible constitution be valuable?
Name two ways Roman government was much like the US
gov’t.
• What is one way the forum might have influenced Roman
government?
Foundations of Rome
• As Rome grew it began to conquer its surrounding areas,
largely because it had a well trained and powerful army
• All men between 17-46 were required to serve in the army during
times of war
• The army was organized into legions of 100 men commanded by
a centurion
• Rome had conquered Italy by 265 BCE, and continued to
expand into Europe, Africa, and Asia
Foundations of Rome
• On page 168- read under the Section “The Punic Wars”
• The Punic Wars – Rome fought a series of 3 wars over a
course of 80 years against the Carthaginians
• Carthage had a powerful navy. Which contributed to much of
their success against Rome during the first Punic War
• During the second Punic War, Hannibal, one of Carthage’s
greatest generals led an army from Africa into Spain, crossed the
Alps into Italy
• Scipio (sip-ee-oh), a Roman nobleman, led an army into Carthage,
which would cause Hannibal to withdraw from Italy. Rome
conquered Carthage, destroyed the city, and enslaved the
population
Foundations of Rome
• Following the Punic Wars Rome conquered Hellenistic
kingdoms
• Rome used its military to conquer Macedonia, Persia, and Egypt
• Rome annexed Greece – The Greek culture would influence
Roman art, religion, and architecture
• After Rome conquered a land, it would allow the people to
continue practicing their own traditions as long as it did not
challenge Roman authority
Foundations of Rome
• Citizenship was one of the most sought after rights in Roman
society
• By becoming a citizen one could vote and participate in
government. They could also enter into legal contracts and get
married
• Only citizens were considered truly Roman
• Citizenship was more difficult to obtain in ancient Rome than
modern day United States
Knowledge Check Point
• What led to the Roman’s defeat of Carthage?
• How might Romans have reacted when they saw Hannibal
descending the Alps with forces of was Elephants?
• What tactic did Scipio employ to wear down his opponent?
• What happened to the city of Carthage in 149BC?
• Name two effects of the Second Punic War on Rome.
• How did early Romans think of participation in gov’t?
Assignment
• Work on 6.1 Vocab and Questions