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 BC, 3 groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it.
- they were the Latins, Greeks, and etruscans
- 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 BC and 600 BC, the Greeks established colonies along the southern part of Italy and Siciliy
- the cities became very prosperous and commercially active
- they brought all of Italy, including Rome, into closer contact with Greek civilization
Etruscans - They were native to northern Italy
- they were skilled metal workers and engineers
- were very influential in the development of Roman civilization
- Romans adopted their alphabet
- Also they adopted some of their architecture, especially the arch
Republic - is 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 make landowners
Patricians and Plebeians - in the early republic, different groups of Romans struggled for power
Patricians - the wealthy landowners who held most of the power
Plebeians - the common person, but could still vote. usually farmers and merchants
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Patricians - inherited their power and social status, and claimed that they had the right to rule due to their ancestry
- the barred the Plebeians from holding high offices in the government
Tribunes - 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 were called their tribunes
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