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Ancient Rome
Geography of Ancient Rome
I.
Italy or Rome like Greece was not a river valley
civilization.
A. At the base of Italy’s two mountain ranges lie
fertile regions such as the Latium plain.
B. It is in this region that Rome was built.
II.
Italy’s fertile plains were well used by local farmers
as well as colonists from Greece.
A. Greek colonists came to Italy because of its
fertile plains.
B. Major crops were beans, cabbage, wheat (for
bread and pasta), lettuce, figs, olives, and grapes
(for wine).
III. According to the legend of Romulus and Remus the
city of Rome was founded on the seven hills where
they were rescued.
A. They helped protect it from attack.
B. The Tiber River provided water, transportation,
and a good harbor.
C. The Latium plain provided fertile farm land.
IV. Etruscan Kings ruled Rome and other regions of
Italy until 509 B.C.
A. 509 B.C. the nobles (wealthy land owners) over
threw Traquinius and formed the Roman
Republic.
The Rise of the Roman Republic
I.
After 509 B.C. Rome’s wealthy citizens over threw
the Etruscan Kings and created a republic in which
citizens elected leaders to govern them.
A. Roman nobles over threw the last of the Etruscan
Kings, Tarquinius takes control of the
government.
B. The Patricians (wealthy land owners) or nobles
had most of the power.
C. The Plebeian’s (common citizens) had little or
no power in the government.
II.
After the threat of a Plebeian Revolt, the Republic
of Rome was divided into main branches: the
Consul, Senate, Tribunes, and the Citizens
Assembly.
A. The Consul is one of the elected officials of the
Roman Republic who commanded the army and
were supreme judges.
B. The Senate is the most oldest and powerful
branch of the republic. The Senate was
controlled by Rome’s Patricians.
1. Determined how Rome would act toward
other countries.
2. Controlled all money and collected taxes.
C. Tribunes made up of plebeians they protected
plebeian’s rights and had veto power over
consuls’ laws.
1. Protected plebeians instrumental in
establishing the Twelve Tables (Rome’s
written code of laws).
D. Citizens Assembly- formed by the plebeians,
they elected tribunes who worked to gain rights
for plebeians. Tribunes were the leaders of the
Assembly.
1. Tribunes bought plebeian complaints
before the Senate and Consuls.
2. Assembly elected Consuls (patricians) to 1
year terms.
3. Could veto or stop any consuls’ actions.
III. The defeat of Carthage in the Punic War made
Rome the leading power in the Mediterranean
region by 202 B.C.
The Roman Empire
I.
In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar takes control of Rome and
declares himself dictator.
A) As dictator, Caesar makes many important
changes to life in Rome.
B) He changes the way time is measured and
creates the basis for the calendar we used today.
C) Caesar also gives land to his soldiers and free
grain to poor citizens.
D) He increased the number of people who could
serve in the Senate and he grants Roman
Citizenship to many people born in Rome.
II.
These actions cause some Senators (Patricians), to
become very angry with Caesar. They think he is
reducing their power.
A) On March 15th 44 B.C. Caesar is killed by his
enemies as he enters the Senate.
B) After Caesar’s death, Rome is thrown into a
civil war.
III. By 27 B.C. Octavian (Caesar’s adopted son), had
defeated many of Rome’s must experienced
generals.
A) These victories cleared the way for Octavian to
become dictator.
B) Octavian took the name of Augustus or
“Honored One”.
C) This singled the beginning of the Pax Romana
or 200 years of peace.
IV. It was during the Pax Romana that the Roman
Empire goes through its “GOLDEN AGE”.
A) Rome begins to use a single system of
government and money.
B) Many public work projects are started:
1) Roads throughout the empire - a majority
leading to Rome
2) Aqueducts to bring fresh water to the cities
and many grand buildings and temples.
C) Police and fire departments were also formed.
V.
Roman religion shared many similarities with that
of Ancient Greece.
A) Both were polytheistic – belief in many gods.
B) Romans worshiped Egyptian and Persian gods
and goddesses as well.
Beginnings of Christianity
I.
Christianity developed in Roman occupied Judea
during the Pax Romana.
A) The story of the birth is told in a collection of
books called the New Testament.
B) The Old and New Testament form the Christian
Bible.
C) The life and teachings of Jesus are recorded in
the New Testament of the Christian Bible.
D) The New Testament says that the followers of
Jesus believed that he was the Messiah.
E) Two of Jesus’ followers, Peter and Paul, helped
to spread Christianity throughout the Roman
world.
The Decline of The Roman Empire
I.
Invasions, tax collection problems and other factors
weakened the Roman Empire in the A.D. 200’s
A) These invasions bring to an end the Pax
Romana.
B) The invaders from Northern Germany were
attacking an empire that had gotten to big to
control.
II.
In about 284 A.D., Diocletian divided the Roman
Empire into two parts – Western and Eastern.
A) This made it easier to rule the empire.
B) Three assistants ruled the western empire while
Diocletian took control of the eastern
empire – Greece, Egypt, and Palestine.
III. Constantine established the Byzantine Empire in the
east.
A) He stops persecution of the Christians and
becomes Christian himself.
B) He gives money to help build Christian
Churches and Christianity gains more power – it
becomes the religion of the Roman Empire.
C) Appoints Christians to important government
posts.
D) Result Roman Catholic in Rome and Eastern
Orthodox in the East.
IV. In A.D. 410, Western Empire collapses with the fall
of Rome. While the eastern empire continued to
live on.
A) After the fall of the Western Empire, the
Eastern Empire lives on for another 1,000 years.
B) It became known as the Byzantine Empire
1. This was in honor to the Greek city of
Byzantium.
2. Many Greek and Asian
influences – people started to speak Greek
not Latin.
V.
Rome left us many legacies of government
language, arts, and architecture.
1. They also helped spread Christianity to the
world.