ROME
-Rome was built on 7 rolling hills around the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian peninsula
-It was the midway point between the Alps and Italy's southern tip First
First Romans
- From 1000 BC to 500 BC, three groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it
- They were the Latins. Greeks, and Etruscan
- The Latins built the original settlement at Rome. It was 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 Sicily
- The cities became very prosperous and commercially active
- The brought all of Italy, including Rome, into closer contact with Greek Civilization
Etruscan
- There were native to northern Italy
- They were skilled metal workers and engineers
- They were influential in the development of Roman civilization
- Romans adopted their alphabet
- Also they adopted some of their architecture, especially the arch
Republic
Republic- is a form of government in which the power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their citizens
- In Rome, citizenship with voting right was granted only to free-born adult male 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
- The Patricians inherited their power and social status, and claimed that they had the right to rule due to their ancestry
- They 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 representative to protect their rights form the Patrician officials they called this their tribunes.
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