Roman Geography
•Rome 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 southern trip
First Romans
•From 1000 to 500 BC three groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it
•Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans
•Latins built original settlement at Rome. It was a cluster of wooden huts on the top of pone 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
•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
•They were very influential in the development of Roman civilizations
Romans adopted the alphabet and architecture ,
Republic- is a form of government in which the powers rests within the citizens to vote their leaders
•In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted only to free born adult males landowners.
Patricians- the wealthy landowners who held most of the power.
Plebeians the common person but could still vote. Usually farmers and merchants
(Both were from Rome in the republic)
•Patricians inherited their power and social status and claimed that they had the right to rule due to thie ancestry.
•They barred the Plebeians from holding high offices in the government
•In time the leaders of Rome allowed the Plebeian to form their own assembly and elect their own representatives to protect their rights form the Patricians officials, they called this the Tribunes.
Roman Goverment
Executive Branch
- Two consuls vs one president
- 1 year vs 4 year
Legislative Branch
- Senate
--High social and economic status
--Serve for life
--Advise 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 goven policies
Legal Code
Twelve Tables- list of rules that waas the Supreme law of the land in Rome (like US Constitutoion
Amry
- Like govenment, the ROmas also took great pride in the military as well
-All men who owned land were required to serve army
Some of the high public office positions required 10 years of millitary service
Legions= The Roman soldiers were orginized into large military units called legions
Made up of 5,000 foor soldiers
A group of calvalry would support each legion
The military organization and fihgting skill of the Romans army was a key factor in Rome's rise to greatness.
Expansion
by the fourth centrary BC the Romans dominated centeral Italy
The had defeated the Etruscans to the north and the Greek Citystates to the south
Treatment
Latins o nthe Tiber became full citizens
In territory farther from Rome, the corquered people were citiznes as well but didnt have voting power
The remaining people became allies of Rome
Punic Wars
The Punic Wars were intense against the Romans and Carthage from 264 BC to 146 BC. At the time, the Roman Republic was expanding and the Carthage Empire had a strong navy. Rome was lacking the ports to become the huge super power they will become. With a growing navy, Rome ended up winning the 1st Punic War. The second was started by Hannible. Hannible attacked Saguntun, which was a city allied to Rome. The second war is knowned for when Hannible crossed the Alps. Rome's allies were never broke from Rome. Rome won the second war. In the third war, Rome was the attacker and ended the war when they defeated the Carthage in the capital city. The effects of the Roman victory was Rome controlling the Mediteranian including North Africa, Sicily, and Spain.
Hannibal
He was the military commander of Carthage. He was defeated in the Punic Wars. He was a key player in the second punic war. He commited suciside by drinking poison.
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