Download Early Rome - White Plains Public Schools

Early Rome
In this lesson, students will identify
characteristics of early Rome.
Students will be able to identify and/or
define the following terms:
Italy’s Geography
Latins
Patricians
Plebeians
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Italy is a country in western Europe.
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The Geography of Italy
• Italy is a boot-shaped peninsula in western
Europe.
• Italy is a long, narrow, boot-shaped
peninsula extending into the
Mediterranean Sea.
• The seas and the Alps mountains in the
north protected Italy from most invaders.
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Rome was a city-state located on a fertile
plain in the middle of Italy.
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The Latins and the Etruscans
• The Latins were a group of people who
lived on a plain called Latium in Italy.
• They learned many ideas from their Greek
neighbors.
• The Etruscans lived in the north. The
Etruscans conquered Rome and the plain
of Latium.
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The Etruscans conquered Rome and
the plain of Latium.
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The Roman Republic
• The early Roman city-state contained two
main social classes: patricians (wealthy
landowning families) and plebeians ( small
farmers, craftsmen, and merchants).
• Eventually, the Romans overthrew their
Etruscan king and made Rome into a
republic.
• A republic is a form of government where
citizens have political power.
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A republic is a type of government in
which a few people represent many
people. Rome was a republic and the
United States is a republic.
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The Republic
• In 509 B.C., the patricians rebelled against
their cruel Etruscan king and established a
republic.
• In a republic, citizens vote to elect
representatives.
• The Roman Republic lasted from 509 B.C.
to 27 B.C. – almost 500 years.
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Only patricians
were allowed to
vote. They were
from the oldest
and richest families
in Rome. They
made up only 10%
of Rome’s
population.
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The Plebeians were citizen-soldiers. The
Patricians needed them to defend Rome.
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The Plebeians Gain Political Rights
• In 494 B.C., the Roman Republic gave the
plebeians the right to elect two tribunes.
• These two representatives protected the
rights of the plebeian class.
• The tribunes could veto any law they did
not like. The senate could only pass laws
to which the tribunes said yes.
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The Roman Senate was a governing
body.
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Questions for Reflection:
• List two geographic features of Italy and
state an effect for each.
• Who were the Latins?
• Describe Rome’s Republic.
• How did Patricians differ from Plebeians?
• Why did Plebeians gain greater political
rights?
• What were tribunes?
• Define veto.
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