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Chapter 9
Ancient Rome
Lesson 1- Geography of Ancient
Rome
Where did Ancient Rome develop?
On the Italian Peninsula
It is shaped like a boot
On land with mountains
The Alps and the Apennine Mountains run through it
Lesson 1- Geography of Ancient
Rome
How did Ancient Rome develop?
The civilization developed in the fertile plain
surrounding the Tiber River
The first group of people to settle in this area
were called the Etruscans
Some people believe it developed according to
the legend of Romulus and Remus
Lesson 1- Geography of Ancient
Rome
What was farming like in Ancient Rome?
As a result of volcanoes, the plain around the
Tiber River was very fertile
Farmers were able to produce large surpluses
They grew wheat, beans, cabbage, lettuce,
olives, figs, and other fruits
Grapes were their most important crop
Lesson 2- The Rise of the Roman
Republic
What were the people of Rome like?
There were two main groups of people in
Roman society
Plebeians
– Was the largest group
– Made up of men who were farmers, traders, or
craftworkers
Patricians
– Were members of Rome’s noble families
– They owned farms and had plebeians work for them
Lesson 2- The Rise of the Roman
Republic
How did the Roman Republic begin?
Because the plebeians weren’t allowed to
become government leaders, they began to
protest
Patricians and plebeians worked together to
create a new government called a republic
Lesson 2- The Rise of the Roman
Republic
What was the Roman Republic like?
They had elected representatives
They had three different branches of government
Senate (300)
– Was the oldest and most powerful
– Was controlled by the patricians
Tribunes (10)
– Were elected by the plebeians
– Ruled over the large citizens assembly
Consuls (2)
– Elected by the citizens assembly
– These two men were army commanders and powerful judges
Lesson 2- The Rise of the Roman
Republic
What was the Roman Republic like?
Over time, people realized there was a need to
have laws written down
This led to the development of the Twelve
Tables
These laws governed everything from marriage to
slavery
These laws were posted in the Forum
– Was similar to an agora in Ancient Greece
Lesson 2- The Rise of the Roman
Republic
What happened during the Punic Wars?
There were three separate wars that spanned
118 years
They started when the Roman Republic tried
to take over the island of Sicily
The wars were fought against the northern
African empire of Carthage
Rome ended up winning all three wars and
became the most powerful nation in the
Mediterranean
Lesson 3- The Roman Empire
Who was Julius Caesar?
After the Punic Wars, Rome was left in
turmoil
Julius Caesar, a patrician, was elected consul
and a military leader
He led a rebel army into Italy and declared war on
Rome
He defeated Rome with the help of Cleopatra
He declared himself dictator of Rome
He made big changes to Rome
– He was killed by the senators for making these changes
Lesson 3- The Roman Empire
Who was Emperor Augsutus?
He won control of Rome after Caesar’s death
He was Caesar’s adopted son (Octavian)
His rule began the Pax Romana
It was a time of “Roman Peace”
During this time Rome started many building
projects
– Aquaducts
– Colosseum
- Roads
- Pantheon
Rome enforced laws, collected taxes, and took a
census every 5 years to keep the empire running
Lesson 4-Beginnings of
Christianity
What was Christianity?
A religion that started during the Roman Empire
Was based on the teachings of Jesus
Who was Jesus?
He was considered to be the Messiah (savior)
His closest followers were called apostles or disciples
The story of his life, and his teachings, can be found in
the New Testament of the Bible
Because the Romans were threatened by his popularity,
they sentenced him to death on the cross
Lesson 5- The Decline of the
Roman Empire
What brought the Roman Empire to an end?
Diocletian, an emperor, divided the empire into two
parts (Eastern and Western)
Power shifted away from Rome
Who was Constantine?
The emperor who moved the capital to Constantinople
The emperor who became a supporter of Christianity
The Roman Empire ended when invaders from the north
took over Rome
The eastern part of the civilization continued on for
1000 more years as the Byzantine Empire