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ROME
Romulus was the
1st king of the city
of Rome. He was
the first of 7 kings.
The city of Rome
was named after
King Romulus.
The last 3 kings of
Rome were not
Roman. Instead, they
were Etruscan. There
is a land known as
Tuscany north of
Rome where the
Etruscans were from.
The Etruscans had a
heavy influence on
Roman Culture.
However, the
last Etruscan king
was said to be a
bad ruler. The rich
people of Rome
(patricians)
wanted a different
kind of government
so they kicked out
the king and started
a new kind of
government known
as a republic.
Vote for me
as your
leader
In a republic
people vote for
their leaders to
make laws for
them. This type
of government
is still used in
many modern
countries today,
including the
United States.
After I’m done
here I’ll go make
some laws!!!
Gee, I wish I could
make some laws but
I’m just a plebeian
Gee, I wish I
could make
some laws but
I’m just a
plebeian
Gee, I wish I could
make some laws but
I’m just a plebeian
Rome was NOT
a democracy
though. Only the
rich people
(patricians) of
Rome could join the
roman senate.
Common people
known as
plebeians were not
allowed to make
laws for
themselves. The
plebeians were
most of the
population of
Rome.
Gee, I wish I could
make some laws but
I’m just a plebeian
You better
share some
power or
Else!!
All right ,
don’t have a
cow man!!!
In 494 BCE the
plebeians started their
own government and
began making their own
laws and put their own
people in charge. The
patricians quickly
realized that if they
wanted to have any
power they would have
to compromise with the
plebeians. Eventually,
the patricians and
plebeians formed one
single government
where both groups
shared power.
IN 387 Rome
was attacked by a
group known as the
Gauls. Rome had to
pay the Gauls a lot
of gold to leave
them alone. After
the Gauls left,
Rome realized that
it was important to
build up their army.
The Romans
realized that it
was important to
have a strong
army. In time the
Roman army
became the
most powerful
army in the
Mediterranean
region.
One of the
most powerful
generals was a
man named Julius
Caesar. Caesar
conquered many
new lands in the
name of Rome. He
built up a powerful
army whose
soldiers where
loyal only to
Caesar.
I’m in charge
of all this !!!!
The Roman senate
soon realized that
Caesar was gaining too
much power. They
ordered Caesar back to
Rome. They wanted
Caesar to give up his
army and his power.
Caesar did return to
Rome. However, he told
the Senate that he
would not give up
power and then he
forced them to make
him into a dictator who
was in charge of Rome
and all its territory.
You better
run !!!!
Most
Senators feared
Caesar and his
big army. So
they did
whatever he
said. Those that
opposed Caesar
fled Rome. They
thought Caesar
would kill them.
Caesar forced the
senate to make him a
dictator for life. Many
people thought that
Caesar had too much
power. Those people
secretly planned to kill
Caesar. On March 15, 44
B.C.E. Caesar was
stabbed to death by a
group of senators. His
reign as dictator ended.
I’m in
charge !!!
No, I’m in
charge !!!
No, I’m in
charge !!!
After Caesar’s
death power was
split among 3
different leaders.
This was known as a
Triumvirate.
However, the 3
leaders could not get
along and a civil
war soon started. A
civil war is when 2 or
more groups from
the same country or
empire fight each
other for power.
I WON !!!
The leader that won
the Civil war was
Octavian. Octavian
tried to give up his
power to the
senate. But they
wanted him to
remain the
supreme leader. In
27 BCE Octavian
was named the
emperor of Rome
and all its territory.
He changed his
name to Caesar
Augustus.
Augustus started
what is known as the
Pax Romana. This
term is latin for
“Roman Peace”. The
“Pax Romana” was an
era of over 200 years
of peace. Rome was
so powerful it did not
have to fight any
major wars during this
time. This period is
considered one of the
greatest in Roman
history.