Rome
It was 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
From 1000 to 500 BC, three groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it. They were the Latin’s, Greeks, and Etruscans.
The Latin’s built the original settlement at Rome. IT was a cluster of wooden huts on top of one of the 7 hills.
Between 750 BC and 600 BC, the Greeks established colonies along the southern part of Italy and Sicily.
The cities became very prosperous and commercially active.
They brought all of Italy, including Rome, into closer contact with Greek civilizations.
Etruscans- They are native to northern Italy, skilled metal workers and engineers, very influential in development of roman civilization, and romans adopted their alphabet they also adopted some of their architecture, especially the arch.
Republic- a form of government 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 male landowners.
Patricians and Plebeians- in early republic, different groups of romans struggled for power. Patricians- They were wealthy landowners who held most of the power. Plebeians- the common person, but could still vote. Usually farmers and merchants.
Patricians- inherited their power and social status, claimed that they had the right to rule due to their ancestry, barred the plebeians from holding high offices in the government, in time the leaders of rome, allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect their own representatives to protect their rights from the patrician officials, they called this their tribunes.
Executive Branch- two consuls vs one president and 1 year term vs 4 year term.
Legislative- Senate: high social and economic status, serves for life, and advises consuls.
Centuriate Assembly: soldiers only, chose consuls, serve for life.
Tribal Assembly: ordinary citizens, serve for life, makes laws.
Judicial- 8 judges, 1 year by the Centuriate Assembly, two oversee civil and criminal courts (the other govern provinces)
Legal code- Twelve Tables: This was a list of rules that was the Supreme law of the land in Rome. This is equal to the Constitution.
Army
Along with their government, 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 soldiers were organized into large military units called legions.
The legions were made up of 5,000 foot 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 BC, the Romans dominated central Italy.
They had defeated the Etruscans to the north and the Greek city-states to the south.
Treatment
Latin’s on 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 three wars
Rome vs Carthage
1st war was over control of Sicily
2nd war was when Hannibal became general of Carthage and he wanted to avenge the first defeat. Hannibal attempted a sneak attack through the Alps to attack and capture Rome.
3rd war was Scipio attacked Carthage and Hannibal retreated and fought back at native city.
Rome defeated Carthage in all 3 of the wars. Each war was harder for the Romans to win though.
War 1-2, Rome was on the defensive.
Key players- Hannibal, Scipio, and Cincinnatus.
The Lasting Effects
It showed the 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.
It was one of the reasons leading to a civil war.
Julius Caesar
Debate information
Another civil war broke out because of his 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.
It left Octavian to be the sole leader.
Augustus
The term given to Octavian meaning “exalted one”
This is the name that he went by.
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- Emperors after Augustus
When Augustus died there was a lot of mourning over his death. His stepson, Tiberius, took over and he was a cruel tyrant that put men to death because he merely suspected they had done something. The next one, Caligula, was pretty much crazy. Next was a man, Claudius I, that was naive and let bad things happen under his command. Finally there was Nero, was a monster that burned much of Rome so that he could rebuild it the way he wanted it.
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