Roman Geography
-Rome was built on 7 rolling hills around the tiber river
-near center of the Italian peninsula
-It is the midway point between the Alps and Italy’s southern tip
First Romans
-from 1000-500 BC three groups inhabited the region
-Latins Greeks and Etruscans
-Latins built the original settlement
-Between 750 BC and 600 BC the Greeks established colonies along the southern part of Italy and Sicily
-the cities became very prosperous
-They brought all of Italy including rome in closer contact with Greek civilization
Estruscans
-native to Northern Italy
-They were skilled metal workers and engineers
-they were very influential in the development of Rome
-Romans adopted their alphabet
-Also they adopted some of their architecture especially the arch
Republic
-Republic: 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 free born males who own land
Patricians and Plebeians
-Patricians- wealthy landowners who held most of the power
-plebeians- common person but could still vote. Usually farmers and merchants
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