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THE ROMANS Building the west RISE of Rome: Geography Italy is a Peninsula of land that extends about 750 miles in length from North to South, and is not very wide with an average width of about 120 miles across. The Peninsula has a central “spine” of Mountains that run from North to South along the entirety of the nation. The “spine” of Italy, has long served as a haven for Italians, and Romans during times of attack and as a hindrance to commerce at times. RISE of Rome: Geography Italy is divided into 3 regions: I.) The Po River Valley in the North II.) The Plain of Latium – the site of the city of Rome. III.) The region of the Campania, which makes up the southern portion of the peninsula. As we have observed in the other civilizations that we have studied, geography played a crucial role in the history and development of the Roman civilization. The Italian landscape possessed more farmland than did the Greek city states, and therein could support a LARGER population. The Apennines were not as rugged as the mountains of Greece and therefore did NOT separate the cities of Italy, and the Roman world into separate self sufficient city centers. City of Rome The city of Rome is located in an especially favorable location. It is 18 miles inland, upstream along the Tiber river. This location means that it was safe from PIRATES during its early days, and because it was located along the banks of the Tiber river it was in an excellent position to trade. Rome’s location is the ONLY place the Tiber river can be easily crossed in central Italy. Rome was built on 7 hills, and at first was actually seven cities. During this time the Romans or Latin's were ruled by the Etruscans. According to legend… The People of Italy The people of Italy were descended from Indo-Europeans much like earlier civilizations that we have studied. These Indo Europeans moved into Italy beginning about 1000 BC. The earliest group that we know of that lived in the Italian Peninsula was the Latin’s who spoke Latin and lived on the Plain of Latium in central Italy. After 800 BC several other groups moved into Italy, the most prominent being the Etruscans, who conquered the city of Rome in 650 BC, and built the city of Rome, gave the Romans the Toga, and organized the first Roman military units. By 500 BC there were 3 Primary cultural groups in Italy. They were the: a.) Etruscans b.) Greeks c.) Latins The Etruscans dominated most of the peninsula from the ALPS to Campania in the South. The Latins, occupied the small area around Rome in the Plain of Latium. The Greeks, occupied the extreme South of Italy and half of the Island of Sicily. The Roman Republic Early Rome was under the control of 7 Kings throughout the period 753-509 BC. In 509 BC, the Romans (latins) overthrew the last of the Etruscan kings and established a Republic or a form of government that establishes a vote for its citizens through elected leadership. The Romans established their government around the first elected ruling body in western history – the SENATE. The Roman Republic Immediately following their revolt, and the creation of the Roman Republic, the Romans began a series of wars designed to grant control of the entirety of Italy to the Latins alone. By 340 BC – Rome had conquered ALL the Latin states around the city of Rome. For the next 50 years the Romans waged a series of wars against the people of central Italy and the Apennines. The Etruscans were conquered during this fifty year period. By 267 BC, the Romans had conquered the Greeks and therein controlled the entire Italian Peninsula. To keep control of Italy the Romans developed a system of confederation. Meaning that they taught the ethnic groups that they conquered Roman language, mathematics, dress, religion and could become a Roman citizen over time. This gave the conquered peoples a stake in Rome, because they could be more successful if they worked with the Romans. Why were the Romans so successful??? 1st – The Romans were good diplomats – meaning that they were capable of reasoning with enemies, and talking a problem out before going to war. 2nd – The Roman military was the strongest in the region. The Roman Army was relentless, they were accomplished soldiers, and they did NOT give up until they were victorious. 3rd – The Romans created a political system that was flexible in its response to the needs of its citizens, and was also capable of changing as Rome grew and incorporated new people into the Republic. The Roman State Early Rome was divided into 2 Groups based on social class or standing. Your social class in early Rome was affected by how much money your family had acquired. Patricians were more wealthy; Plebeians less so. Patricians ruled; Plebeians were: farmers, merchants, and crafts people. Roman Government The Ruling portion of government in ancient Rome was the Senate. The Senate was composed of Patricians, or wealthy land owners. Both Patricians and Plebeians could vote, however ONLY patricians could hold office. Within the Senate, there were 2 Consuls who were elected from among the senate every years. The consuls would lead the government jointly, and lead the Armies of Rome into battle if necessary. The second type of Chief executive was the Praetor. The Praetor was responsible for civil law, and the Treasury of Rome. Once elected as a Senator, you held the position for life our until you decided that you would retire. The Roman State: Social Structures There was often conflict between the Plebeian and Patrician social classes. Plebeians had the right to vote but didn’t have the right to: Marry a Patrician Excuse themselves from service in the Army (pay their way out like a patrician) Ultimately the situation would be resolved when Rome founded a second legislature body known as the “Council of Plebes” in 287 BC. This body was in affect the “lower house” of the Roman Republic and therein very much like our bicameral legislature – ie Congress. This gave the plebeians a voice, and therein an ability to draft laws that would affect ALL Roman citizens, wherein before 287 – only the Patricians could do so. Roman Law Roman Law was based upon a code of law known as the “Twelve Tables”. This code of was not adequate however so the Romans developed a system of civil law based on an idea known as the “Law of Nations” The Law of Nations proposed that ALL men had certain rights including: Being presumed innocent until proven guilty. Having the right to a trial by a jury of your peers. Mandating that you have a judge who was to be impartial and guarantee a fair trial. Being able to defend yourself by confronting your accusers. Decisions in a court room should be made on Reason and Precedent All of these principals of law lived on beyond the Roman Republic and ultimately have served as the basis for most of western law including the Laws of the United States. The Punic Wars After the conquest of Italy, the Romans found themselves face to face with another strong power in the Mediterranean basin. This other power was focused around the City of Carthage. Carthage was founded by the earlier studied Phoenicians as a trading colony in 800 BC. In its extensive history before the founding of Rome; Carthage became the dominant economic power in the Southern and Western Mediterranean. Let’s examine the causes of the Punic Wars… The First Punic War Rome’s first War with Carthage began in approximately 264, BC. It is from this war that we get the term “Punic” wars, because Punicus, is the Roman term for Carthage. The 1st Punic War was over the nation of Sicily. REENANCTMENT TIME Why was the 1st Punic War Fought? Rome was having a problem with grain supplies and Sicily was known as the “bread basket” of the Mediterranean. The Romans invaded Sicily, and that was the initial spark of the Punic War, because the Carthaginians considered Sicily to be there property. The Romans, once they started the war, realized that since they were a LAND power and the Carthaginians were a SEA power, then they could NOT hope to win if they did not make a bigger better navy. After 15 years of fighting the Romans Created a powerful Navy. By 241 BC, the Romans had defeated the Carthaginians and their leader Hamilcar Barca. The Carthaginians had a pay a fine. Sicily became the 1st Roman province outside of the Italian Penninsula. The Second Punic War After their defeat in the 1st Punic War, the Carthaginians annexed Spain. Hamilcar’s son, Hannibal Barca, vowed revenge for the embarrassment that his father had endured during the 1st Punic War. This embarrassment came from the fact that Hamilcar blamed for the loss of the war as he was the commanding general, even though Hamilcar won more often than he lost. Hannibal Barca vowed revenge and 217 launched attacks on Roman Territory. By 216 BC Hannibal brought a large Army across the Alps into Northern Italy. The Second Punic War Hannibal's army included: 40,000 infantry and archers 6,000 horses and Calvary And many elephants The Second Punic War In the Spring of 216 BC the Romans decided to meet Hannibal’s army as it marched southward across the Italian Peninsula. This turned out to be a mistake. Rome lost armies of 40,000 men on two occasions. Hannibal was a gifted tactician and many times won when outnumbered 2 to1. The Romans received a break, due to the fact that Hannibal did not bring the siege craft necessary to take Roman cities. The Romans did however possess this technology and by 206 BC they had used it to take over ALL of Spain and cut Hannibal’s line of supply from Carthage. At the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, the Romans besieged the city of Carthage, and Hannibal had to sneak his army out of Roman territory to go home and protect his people. After this defeat, the Carthaginians surrendered; they were ordered to pay heavy Roman taxes, to give up territory in Spain, to destroy their Navy, and to limit the size of their Army. This made Rome the dominant economic, and military power across the Mediterranean. The 3rd Punic War The 3rd Punic war occurred 50 years after the 2nd Punic War ceased. The third Punic War was fought over the fact that the Carthaginians over time had stopped paying retributions for their previous wars, and had begun to rebuild their commercial Navy. Many powerful Romans had no desire to see Carthage emerge again as an economic or social competitor, so in 147, BC the Romans set out to destroy Carthage. In 146 BC – The Romans arrived at Carthage with a force of nearly 100,000 men. They attacked Carthage to 10 days. At the end of the 10 days the Romans tore the city of Carthage down brick by brick, sold the 5o,ooo women and children of the city into slavery and executed every male over the age of 12. This would conclude the Punic Wars.