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Rise of the Romans
Geography of Rome
 800 B.C.: small settlement called Rome built along Tiber
River
 Rome lies near the center of the Italian Peninsula
 Region was called Latium, and people living there were
called Latins
 Language they spoke was called Latin.
Geography of Rome
• City’s hills provided natural defense from enemies
• Tiber River provided nearby port and transportation
• Rome was located on key trade routes
• Trade routes crossed the Tiber river
• Extends into Mediterranean Sea
• Mountains: Alps and Apennines
• Plenty of farming land and rivers to travel
Romulus and Remus
The Founding of Rome
Legends and Facts (P. 311)
• 1) According to legend, who founded the city of
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Rome?
2) Who were the mother and father of Rome’s
founders?
3) In two paragraphs, summarize the story of Rome’s
creation.
4) Why do you think that historians do not believe this
legend?
5) What is it that archaeologists have discovered about
Rome?
People of Italy
Who influenced the Romans?
Greeks
Etruscans
• Many Greeks had settled in the
• Most powerful people in central
Italian Peninsula
• Greek Mythology influenced
Roman mythology
– Ex. Zeus became Jupiter
• Romans also adopted Greek
Italy when Rome was founded
• Lived north of Latium
• Skilled artists and builders
• Sailed around Mediterranean
legends and heroes
• Learned from Greeks and
Phoenicians
Roman Society (P.322)
 1) Define: patriarchal society
 2) What could be some of the disadvantages of having a
patriarchal society?
 3) Define: paterfamilias
 4) What kind of power did paterfamilias have?
Roman Society – Women (P.322)
Women in Rome
Women in Greece
Life in Rome
Rich and Poor (P.323)
Wealthy Romans
Poor Romans
Life in Rome
Slaves (P. 324)
 What was life like for slaves in Rome? Provide detailed
answers.
 What was a famous example of slaves fighting back?
Early Roman Republic
A Look at the
Roman Government
Patricians
• Wealthy
Landowners
•Have a say in
government
•Held military and
religious positions
Plebeians
•Lower Class
(workers)
•95% of people
•No say in
government
•Served in the army
Forms of Government in the World
Monarchy
rule by one person (king or queen)
Democracy
rule by the people
Oligarchy
rule by an elite few
(aristocracy)
one person absolute rule
Dictatorship
What are the pros and cons of each of these forms of
government?
Roman Government
Before the Republic
 Rome began as an independent city-state led by monarchs
 Kings (monarchs) ruled with much power
 Leader of army
 Main Priest
 Supreme Judge
 Monarchs built first buildings in the Forum
 Kings ruled with consent from wealthy aristocrats.
 Senate (“Old Man”): Older, wealthy men who advised the king in
important matters.
 Opinion: Why do you think that Roman kings needed the approval
from wealthy Roman aristocrats?
Tarquin the Proud
The Last of the Roman Kings

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus

7th and final king of Rome

Etruscan Origin

Mistreatment of his people led to
rebellion by Brutus and aristocrats.

After him, Rome became a republic
 Citizens have the right to vote and
elect officials

Do you think that people in the United
States would allow for a king to rule
them? Why or why not?
The Roman Republic
 Romans chose a complex government, which included:
 Roman Constitution
 System of laws by which a government is organized
 Rule of law
 Law Applied to everyone
 written laws to protect themselves and their liberty
 12 Tables
 Mixed government combined strengths of all forms of
governments
Roman Republic Also Included
 Three branches
 Assemblies, Senate, and Magistrate
 Separation of powers
 no one group has all the power
 Each branch had different responsibilities and powers
 One branch could stop (check) another branch from misusing
power
 Limited Power for Officials in Government
 Two consuls instead of a top leader
 Each consul could cancel the action of the other (veto power)
 Government officials were chosen for one year
 Why was a veto power necessary for Roman consuls?
The Roman Republic
The System of Checks and Balances
Monarchical
Aristocratic
Democratic
Magistrates
2 Consuls +
(elected officials)
Senate
Assemblies
Directed government and army Controlled state budget
Acted as judges
Could pass laws
Acted as chief priest
Advised Consuls
Powerful Part of Government
Approved/rejected laws
Decided on War
Could veto actions of
magistrate
Open to Plebeians
Basis of power:
need for leadership
Basis of power:
members were richest men in
Rome.
Basis of power:
provided most of the soldiers
Limits on power:
one year term
each could veto
Limits on power:
could not control army
Limits on power:
Could not suggest laws
Assemblies
 Democratic part of government
 All adult males could participate
 Elected officials and passed laws
 Had power because it was composed by most Roman
citizens, who were the soldiers at the time.
Senate
1. 300 men
2. Chosen for life
3. Advise Consul
4. Deal with other countries
5. Proposes laws
6. Approve public works
7. Deal with daily government
problems
The Magistrate
The Race of Honors: How to Become a
Consul
Lower Offices of Magistrates
Quaestor
 Elected by popular vote
(patricians and
plebeians)
 Financial officer
 Kept track of the state’s
money
Aedile
 If a quaestor did well, he
could seek election as an
aedile
 Duties:
 Public buildings
 Public Games
Offices of the Magistrate
Tribune of the Plebs
 Defend lives & property
Praetors
 8 elected annually
of plebeians
 Judicial duties
 Gathered plebeians to
Assembly
 Gathered Senate
 Could veto laws
 Supervise defense of Rome
 10 elected annually
 Govern province after term
Consuls
1. Top government officials
2. Two chosen every year
3. Headed the army and ran the government
4. Served for a short term, avoiding risk of
abusing power
5. Veto Power
• The right of the consul to reject the
other’s decision. Latin for “I forbid”
Occasional Magistrates
 Dictator
 Named by the Senate in times of emergency
 Served only for 6 months but had complete power
 Why do you think that during times of emergency (ex. War)
Romans would want to give power to only one man?
The Roman Army
The Roman Legion
 Army was made of professional
soldiers who were Roman
citizens
 Pay and retirement opportunities
made people join
 Non-citizens were promised
citizenship after 20 years of loyal
service
 Soldiers received choice of land
or money when they retired
The Roman Legion
 Roman soldiers swore loyalty
to Rome and emperor
 Loyalty to emperor was
reinforced through holidays
recognizing them
 How could emperors make
sure that Roman soldiers
would remain loyal to them?
Why was it important that
they remained loyal to them?
The Roman Legion
 Emperors had to work at maintaining
loyalty of army
 Officers received appointments
through the emperor (received
prestige, status, connections and
wealth)
 Generals were moved like chess
pieces within empire to avoid loyalty
from men
 Men more loyal to leadership than
emperor
 Why would soldiers have more
loyalty towards generals than
emperors?
Roman Legion
 A legion was usually made up of about
5,000 soldiers
 Centurion commanded 80 men
(century)
 A cohort was made up of 6 centuries
(480 men)
 10 cohorts made a legion that was
supported with a cavalry unit and
engineers
 Majority of legions protected Roman
frontier (borders)
Roman Legion: Military Training
 Military training was rigorous and
involved marching (20 miles a
day) and carrying of equipment
 Extensive training in various
weapons and formations
 Responsible for constructing forts,
bridges, roads and protective walls
 Maintain constant presence in
conquered territories
Roman Weapon
Pilum Sizes
Over 20 feet
Roman Weapons
 Gladius: The Romans
created their short
swords after those of the
Spanish Celts.
 Spatha: Sword used by
the cavalry. Much
longer blade and easier
to use than the gladius
 Pugio: The legionaries
carried a dagger starting
in the 2nd or 1st
centuries BC.
More Roman Weapons
 Roman ballista : heavy
weapons that launched
stone balls, large arrows
and multiple arrows
 Used for sieges and
protection of fixed
positions also found on
naval warships
Auxiliaries
 Men from conquered
territories who received
similar training like Romans
 Majority served as archers
and were sent far away from
original homes
 Granted citizenship after 25
years and were paid lower
wages than Roman troops