Rome
Geography
- Built on 7 rolling hills around the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian peninsula
- It is the midway point between the Alps and Italy's southern tip
First Romans
- From 1000 to 500 b.c. 3 groups fought for control of it
- Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans
- Latins built the original settlement at Rome. It was a cluster of wooden huts on top of a hill
Greek Influence
- Between 750 and 600 b.c. the Greeks established colonies along the southern parts of Italy and Sicily
- Cities were very prosperous and commercially active
- They brought all of Italy, including Rome into closer contact with Greek civilization
Etruscans
- Native to northern Italy
- They were skilled metal workers and engineers
- Very influential in the development of Roman civilization
- The Romans adopted their alphabet
- Also adopted some architecture and their arch
Republic
- Republic-is a form of gov. in which the power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
- In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted only to free-born adult males
Patricians and Plebleians
- in early rome Romans different groups struggled for power
- Patricians- the wealthy land owners who held most of the power
- Plebeians- the common person, but could sitll vote, usually farmers and merchants
- The patricians inherited thier power and social status, claimed they had the right to rule due to their ancestry
- they barred the Plebeians from holding high offices in the gov.
- In time the leaders of Rome allowed the Plebeians to frm their own assemblyand elect their own representative to to protect the rights from Patrician officials, called this their Tribunes
Roman Gov. & Military
Executive Branch
- two consuls vs one pres
- 1year term vs 4 year term
Legislative Branch
- senate
- high social and economic status
- serve for life
- advises consuls
- Centuriate Assembly
- soldiers only
- chose consuls
- serve for life
- Tribal Assembly
- ordinary citizens
- serve for life
- makes laws
Judicial Branch
- 8 judges
- 1 year by the Centuriate assembly
- 2 oversee civil and criminal courts (the others gov. provinces)
Legal Code
Twelve Tables
- this is a list of rules that was the supreme law of the land in Rome
- in America, this is equal to the constitution
Army
- along with their gov., the Romans also took great pride in their military as well
- all men who owned land were required to serve in the army
- some of the high public office positions required 10 years of military service
Legions
- the roman soldier were organized into large military units called Legions
- legions were made up of 5,000 ft soldiers
- a group of cavalry would support each legion
- the military organization and fighting skill of the Roman army were key factors in Rome's rise to greatness
Expansion
- by fourth century C, the Romans dominated central Italy
- they had defeated the Etruscan's to the north and the Greek city-states to the south
Treatment
- Latins of the Tiber became full citizens
- in territory farther from Rome, the conquered people were citizens as well but didn't have voting power
- the remaining people became "allies" of Rome
Punic Wars
- series of 3 wars
- Rome vs Carthage
- 1st- war was over control of Sicily
- 2nd- war when Hannibal became general of Carthage and he wanted to avenge first defeat. Hannibal attempted a sneak attack through the alps to attack and capture Rome
- 3rd- war Scipio attacked Carthage and Hannibal retreated and fought back at native city
- Rome defeated Carthage in all 3 wars. Each war was harder for the Romans to win though
- W1-2, Rome was on the defensive. Aggressor in the last war
- Key players- Hannibal (c) Scipio (R) Cincinnatus (R)
Lasting effects
- showed civilizations in the Mediterranean that Rome was a dominant force
- by 70 BC, Rome had conquered a lot of land around the Mediterranean coast
Roman Republic
- shortly after their victories in the Punic Wars, the quick and rapid expansion began to hurt the empire The land was going to large estate and the small farmers were not making any money and were out of jobs
- one of the reasons leading to a civil war
Julius Caesar
- debate info
- another civil war broke out because of Caesar's death
Avengers of Caesar
- Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus avenged Caesar and became the 2nd triumvirate
- even jealousy here, Octavian forced Lepidus to retire his power
- Mark Antony fell in love with Cleopatra and followed her to Egypt
- Leaving Octavian to be the sole leader
Augustus
- The term given to Octavian meaning "exalted one"
- Rome was at the peak of its power and at peace throughout Augustus's Rule and even to 180 AD
- Pax Romana- "Roman Peace"
Research:
Topic: slavery
- it was most vital to the Mediterranean region and the Hellenistic regions
in the east - countless millions of slaves were transported to Rome the Italian countryside and Latin colonies all over Europe
- on the farms and plantations it had the greatest effect
- a great number of slaves meant a sign of great wealth and power during this time
- destabilized the Roman class system
- large slave owned farms took over the small farms that once were in Rome
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