Download An Introduction to Rome

An Introduction to Rome
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU
ALREADY KNOW A LOT
ABOUT ANCIENT ROME?
WELL IT’S TRUE!
DOES ANYTHING LOOK
FAMILIAR?
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS
BEFORE?
ARE WE STUDYING GREECE
AGAIN?
WHY DO WE STUDY
ANCIENT ROME?
 We study the Romans because…
- They made very important contributions in
architecture and government.
 Our own culture reflects parts of Ancient
Roman culture.
- We are able to learn from the events of the
past and make wise decisions for the future.
WHERE ON EARTH IS ROME?
WHY IS THE GEOGRAPHY OF
ROME IMPORTANT?
• Big Idea
– Rome, with its central
location on the Italian
peninsula, was able to
extend its influence
over the entire
Mediterranean Basin.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF ROME
The Alps
ROME
Greece
Egypt
HOW DID GEOGRAPHY HELP
THE ROMANS?
– Located in the center of the Mediterranean
– Far away from eastern powers/empires.
– On Italian peninsula, with few geographic
neighbors/enemies.
– Alps (Mts.): provided natural protection.
– Med Sea: Gave protection, allowed for trade.
Basically, Rome’s place in the world kept it safe
from harm, but allowed it to interact with
other people.
TRADE AND INFLUENCE
ANCIENT ROME
LET’S RECAP
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
THE LEGEND OF ROMULUS
AND REMUS
According to Roman
legend a princess
named Rhea Sylvia
had twin boys by
Mars, the god of war.
A jealous uncle who
had stolen the
throne from her
father ordered her
twins to be drowned
in the Tiber River.
Fortunately, a servant had pity on the twins
and placed them in a basket. Eventually,
the basket washed onto the shore and
the twins were discovered by a female
wolf. The wolf nursed and protected the
babies for a short time before they were
found by a shepherd. The shepherd then
raised the twins.
When Romulus and Remus became adults, they
decided to found (or set up) a city where the
wolf had discovered them. The brothers
fought over exactly where the city should be
built, and as a result, Remus was killed by his
brother. Without Remus, Romulus became the
sole founder of the new city and named it
Rome. The date given for the founding of
Rome was 753 BC.
BELIEVE IT, OR NOT?
1. What parts of the story seem too
unlikely to be true?
2. If the legend does not explain how
the city was really founded, why do you think
Rome was built?
Although the Legend of Romulus and Remus
makes it seem as if Rome was built in a day, the
truth is probably very different.
It is more likely that…
Rome grew out of a number of settlements that
developed around the seven hills near the Tiber
River. In order to be safer from invasions, the
settlements joined together as one.
However, regardless of how Rome was
founded, thank goodness for the
contributions of the Ancient
Romans!
1. ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
A TOUR OF
ROME
The Aqueducts
A TOUR OF
ROME
Roman Roads
A TOUR OF
ROME
The Pantheon
A TOUR OF
ROME
The Colosseum
2. ROMAN ART
A TOUR OF ROME
Mosaics
A TOUR OF
ROME
Sculptures
3. ROMAN GOVERNMENT
A TOUR OF
ROME
The Roman
Republic
(a representative
democracy)