Download Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome
Origins of Rome
• Story of “Romulus & Remus”
• In reality, men NOT mortals
built Rome
Rome’s Geography
• Built on 7 rolling hills at a curve on the
Tiber River
• Near the center of the Italian Peninsula
The First Romans
• Arrived in PRE-HISTORIC times
• 3 groups inhabited the region:
1. Latins (original settlement @ Rome)
2. Greeks (southern Italy & Sicily; colonies)
3. Etruscans (northern Italy)
***Begin Organizer NOTES***
• 1st 500 years roots are from Etruscan culture
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Writing system, metalworkers, alphabet adopted by
Romans
Greek & Latin Influences as well
Early Republic
• Last king of Rome (Tarquin the Proud)
• Driven out of power b/c he was a
TYRANT
• Created a REPUBLIC
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Where power rests citizens who have the
right to vote its leaders
Social Classes
1. Patricians (inherited power & social status)
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Nobles of Rome (wealthy landowners)
Forced out King
Declared a republic in 509 BC
Elected leaders
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Majority of population
Wealthy, working class, & poor
Had some rights (could vote)
Couldn’t hold office
2. Plebeians
• Eventually allowed to form assembly & elect representatives
(TRIBUES)
Twelve Tables
• Tablets that Patricians were forced to write
laws
– Hung throughout Rome’s Forum
• Established that ALL FREE CITIZENS had
right to protection under laws
Twelve Tables Images
Government Under Republic
• Executive Branch:
• 2 consuls (officials)
– Commanded army & directed government
• 1 year terms for Patricians
– Could not be elected again for 10 years
• Consul members could overrule, or VETO,
each other
Government Under Republic
• Legislative Branch:
• Senate
• 300 members
• Chosen from upper class of Roman society
(only Patricians originally)
• Served for LIFE
Family Life
• Very important
• Close-knit and large
• Father=absolute authority
• Could sell family into slavery
• Could kill w/out penalty
• Roman women had higher positions than
Greek women
Religion
• Early Romans worshipped nature/spirits
• Borrowed Greek gods (Zeus and Jupiter)
• Believed in foretelling the future
Army
• Well trained
• Deserter = death
• EVERY MALE citizen served
• Legions (multitude) of 5000 men in units
of 60-120 men
Punic Wars
• Began in 264 BC (lasted until 146 BC)
• Between Rome and Carthage
• Officially were 3 Punic Wars
• Second Punic War:
• Mastermind was Carthaginian general
Hannibal
• Goal: avenge Carthage’s early defeat
Hannibal
• Assembled a HUGE army
• Capture ROME!
• Initially, Hannibal was successful
• Rome had many allies
that offered support
• Third Punic War:
• Rome TRIUMPHS
– Set Carthage afire and sold
50,000 inhabitants into slavery
Outcomes
• Rome dominates Western Europe
• Set out to conquer Eastern Europe
• Will stretch the Roman Empire from
Anatolia (present day Turkey) to Spain