Download The Geography of Rome

Roman
History
Review
The Geography of Rome
The Geography of Rome
The Big Idea
Rome’s location and government
helped it become a major power
in the ancient world.
Most of Italy is covered with hills.
Italians built their cities on the
hills for defense.
The Geography of Rome
Two major mountain ranges, the
Alps and the Apennines.
The mountains created rugged
land that was hard to cross.
Some of Italy’s mountains were
volcanic.
The Geography of Rome
Their eruptions could devastate
Roman towns.
First people built cities near rivers
for a source of fresh water.
Rome lies on the Tiber River.
Rome had a mild climate that led
to a plentiful food supply and the
city’s early growth.
The Geography of Rome
Main Ideas
The geography of Italy made
land travel difficult but helped
the Romans prosper.
Ancient historians were very
interested in Rome’s legendary
history.
Once a monarchy, the Romans
created a republic.
Italy in 750 BCE
Influence of the
Etruscans
 Writing
 Religion
 The Arch
The Mythical Founding of
Rome:
Romulus & Remus
According to legend, the founders of
Rome were orphaned twin brothers
raised by wolves.
Romulus killed Remus because he
mocked one of Romulus’s ideas.
Romulus then built the city and
named it Rome after himself.
Republican Government
The Romans created a republic in
509 BC.
In which elected officials ran the
city.
They protected against anyone
staying in power for too long by
limiting terms to one year.
Republican Government
During difficult wars, the Romans
chose dictators.
Rulers with almost absolute power.
To lead the city.
They could stay in power only six
months.
To avoid abusing their power.
Republican Government
One of Rome’s famous dictators was
Cincinnatus.
He quickly defeated his enemies.
Returned to farming long before his
six-month term was up.
Republican Government
2 Consuls
(Rulers of Rome)
Senate
(Representative body for patricians)
Tribal Assembly
(Representative body for plebeians)
Republican Government
Rome’s government would not
have worked without the participation
of the people.
People participated because
they felt it was their duty to the city.
Republican Government
Checks and balances were created
to ensure that no one part of the
government had more power.
Citizens attended assembly meetings.
They also voted.
The Twelve Tables, 450
BCE
 Providing political and social
rights for the plebeians.
The Roman Forum
Written laws helped keep
order in Rome.
The Roman Forum was the
heart of Roman society.
Rome’s Early Road System
Roman road specifications, shown in profile
with over 1 yard in thickness (compare to present day
18 inches).
Roman Roads:
The Appian Way
Roman Aqueducts
Roman Aqueducts
Roman vs. Modern
The Roman Colosseum
The Colosseum Interior
Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
Carthaginian Empire
Carthaginian War
Romans declare war on Carthaginians
which starts second Punic War.
Hannibal has a lot of hatred toward
Rome and wants to defeat the Romans.
Hannibal decided to attack Rome through the
north of Italy
He knew he couldn't invade Rome by sea because
of the great Roman navy.
Hannibal decided to go through the Alps.
Carthaginian War
He took 50,000 foot soldiers,
9,000 horse riding soldiers,
a baggage train to carry supplies
and 37 trained war elephants.
- The Alps had many dangers
- Very hostile tribesmen
- A lot of ice and snow
- Very steep
- Very cold
Carthaginian War
Carthaginian War
It took his army 15 days to cross the Alps.
Although the Carthaginians lost many soldiers.
Romans were shocked when the
Carthaginians entered Italy.
The Romans sent armies to fight Hannibal.
They were all killed.
Hannibal’s Route
Reform Leaders
 Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
•
the poor should be given grain and
small plots of free land.
Military Reformer

Gaius Marius
• recruited an army from the poor
and homeless.
• professional standing army.
Crossing the Rubicon, 49
BC
The Die is Cast!
Beware the Ides of
March!
44 BCE
Octavian Augustus:
Rome’s First Emperor
Pax Romana: 27 BCE – 180
CE
The Greatest Extent of
the Roman Empire – 14
CE
Imperial Roman Road
System
The Empire in Crisis:
3c
Diocletian Splits the
Empire in Two: 294 CE
Constantine: 312 - 337
Constantinople: “The 2nd
Rome” (Founded in 330)
Barbarian Invasions: 4c5c
Attila the Hun:
“The Scourge of God”
Byzantium:
The Eastern Roman
Empire
The Byzantine Empire
During the Reign of
Justinian
The Byzantine Emperor
Justinian
The Legacy of Rome
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Republic Government
Roman Law
Latin Language
Roman Catholic Church
City Planning
Romanesque Architectural Style
Roman Engineering
• Aqueducts
• Sewage systems
• Dams
• Cement
• Arch