October 3

[5thMarea]

Rome

1. Roman Geography
   1. Rome was built on 7 rolling hills around the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian peninsula
   2. It is the midway point between the Alps and Italy’s southern tip
2. First Romans
   1. From 1000 to 500 B.C., three groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it
   2. They were Latin’s, Greeks, and Etruscans
   3. The Latin’s built the original settlement at Rome. It was a cluster of wooden huts on top of one of the seven hills
3. Greek Influence
   1. Between 750 B.C. and 600 B.C., the Greeks established colonies along the southern part of Italy and Sicily
   2. The cities became very prosperous and commercially active
   3. They brought all of Italy, including Rome, into closer contact with Greek civilization
4. Etruscans
   1. They were native to northern Italy
   2. They were skilled metal workers and engineers
   3. They were very influential in the development of Roman civilization
   4. Romans adopted their alphabet
   5. Also they adopted some of their architecture, especially the arch
5. Republic
   1. Republic- is form of government in which the power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
   2. In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted only to free-born adult male landowners
6. Patricians and Plebeians
   1. In the early republic, different groups of Romans struggled for power
   2. Patricians- the wealthy landowners who held most the power
   3. Plebeians- the common person, but could still vote. Usually farmers and merchants.
   4. The Patricians inherited their power and social status, and claimed that they had the right to rule due to their ancestry
   5. They barred the Plebeians from holding high offices in the government
   6. In time, the leaders of Rome, allowed the Plebeians to form their own assembly and elect their own representative to protect their rights from the Patrician officials, they called this their tribunes.
7. Roman Government
   1. 2 consuls vs. 1 president
   2. 1 year term vs. 4 year term
   3. Legislative Branch

                                          i.    Senate

1. High social and economic status
2. Serve for life
3. Advises consuls

                                        ii.    Centuriate Assembly

1. Soldiers only
2. Chose consuls
3. Serve for life

                                       iii.    Tribal Assembly

1. Ordinary citizens
2. Serve for life
3. Make laws
4. Judicial Branch

                                          i.    8 judges

                                        ii.    1 year by the Centuriate Assembly

                                       iii.    2 oversee civil and criminal courts (the other govern provinces)

1. Legal Code

                               i.   Twelve Tables

                                        ii.    This was a list of rules that was the Supreme law of the lad in Rome

                                       iii.    In America, this is equal to the Constitution

1. Army
   1. Along with their gov’t, the Romans also took great pride in their military as well
   2. All men who owned land were required to serve in the army
   3. Some of the high public office positions required 10 years of military service
   4. Legions

                                          i.    The Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called legions

                                        ii.    Legions were made up of 5,000 foot soldiers

                                       iii.    A group of cavalry would support each legion

                                       iv.    The military organization and fighting skill of the Roman army were key factors in Rome’s rise to greatness

1. Expansion

                                          i.    By fourth century B.C., the Romans dominated central Italy

                                        ii.    They had defeated the Etruscans to the north and the Greek city-states to the south

1. Treatment

                                          i.    Latin’s on the Tiber became full citizens

                                        ii.    In territory farther from Rome, the conquered people were citizens as well but didn’t have voting power

                                       iii.    The Remaining people became “allies” of Rome

Punic Wars and Hannibal

Fought between Rome and Carthage. Romans won the wars. Hannibal was the great general of Carthage and he won many battles, but he was defeated by Scipio Africanus the Elder, Rome's commander. Scipio Africanus the Younger destroyed the city of Carthage in 146 BC and turned Africa in to another province of the Roman Empire.