Roman Geography-Built on 7 rolling hills around the TIber River. It is the midway point between the Alps and Italy's southern tip.
First Romans-from 1000 to 500 b.c., the Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans inhabited the region and fought for control of it. The Latins built the original settlement at Rome. It was a cluster of wooden huts on top of one of the seven hills.
Greek Influence- between 750 b.c. and 600 b.c., 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 into closer contact with Greek civilization
Etruscans-native to Northern Italy, skilled metal workers and engineers, very influential in the development of Roman civilization. Romans adopted their alphabet and 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 -wealthy landowners who held most of the power in ancient Rome, inherited their power and social status, claimed they had the right to rule
Plebians- the common person but could still vote, usually farmers and merchants. formed their own assembly and elected their own representatives to protect their rights, this was called their tribunes
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