Rome: The Orgins

1. Rome: The Orgins

2. Legend… or Reality • Legend • 753 BC Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the God Mars and a Latin Princes • Abandoned on the Tiber River as infants and raised by a She-wolf. • Twins decided to build a city near the spot • Reality • Men and women chose the spot to build a city because it was strategic

3. Rome’s Geography • Built on seven rolling hills at a curve on the Tiber River near the middle of the Italian Peninsula • Midway between the Alps and the Southern tip of Italy • Also sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea • Great soil and Great trade location

4. The First Romans • Earliest settlers on the Italian Peninsula were arrived in prehistoric times • From 1000 to 500 BC, three groups inhabited the peninsula and battled for control. • The Latins, the Greeks, and the Etruscans • Latins built first settlement at Rome • Considered the first Romans.

5. The Greeks • Between 750 and 600 BC the Greeks established colonies along southern Italy and Sicily • The Greek cities were huge trading cities and they helped connect all of Italy with Greece • Including Rome

6. The Etruscans • Natives to Northern Italy • Skilled metal workers and engineers • Strongly influenced the development of Roman Civilization • Had a system of writing • Romans adopted their alphabet • Influenced architecture in Rome • Used the arch in building.

7. Government in Rome • Around 600 BC a Etruscan became king of Rome • Combined Rome from a collection of villages covering nearly 500 square miles • Ordered the Forum to be built which was the center of Roman Government • Created the Great city of Rome • Around the late 500 BC Tarquin the Proud to the throne • Harsh Tyrant who was forced out of power in 509 BC

8. The Republic • Romans declared they would never be ruled by a king again • Became a republic, from the latin res publica or “public affairs” • A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders • Roman male citizens would elect their leaders

9. Patricians and Plebeians Patricians Plebeians The common farmers, artisans, and merchants The Majority Barred from most positions in government Allowed to form their own assembly and elect representatives called Tribunes Protected the Plebeians from unfair acts of the Patricians • The wealthy land owners held most the power • Inherited power from social standing • Claimed ancestry gave them power

10. The Twelve Tables • The Plebeians was to force the creation of a written law code • Patricians would mold unwritten laws to benefit themselves • In 451 BC a group of 10 men began writing Rome's laws. • Carved on 12 tables, or tablets and hung in the forum • Focused on the idea that all free citizens had a right to the protection of the law.

11. Government • Romans thought it was a balanced government • Taken monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy and combined the best of all of them • Lead by two officials called Consuls • Directed the government and lead the military • Power was limited • One term of a year, cant be re-elected for 10 years • Other consul could veto the other decision

12. Government • The Senate was the aristocratic branch of Rome’s Government • Legislative and administrative functions • 300 members voted in from the upper middle class of Roman Society • The Tribal Assembly • Plebeians elected tribunes to make laws for the common people

13. The Roman Dictator • In times of crisis the republic could appoint a dictator • A leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army • Power lasted only 6 months • Chosen by the consul and elected by the senate

14. The Roman Army • All citizens who owned land required to serve in the army • Seekers of public office had to perform ten years of military service • Organized into large military units called Legions • 5000 heavily armed foot soldiers and horseback soldiers • Divided into smaller groups of 80 men, called century • Played a Huge role in the greatness of Rome

15. Roman Conquests • Italy • Roman power grew slowly but the legions soon gained control of the Italian Peninsula • By 4th century controlled central Italy • Defeated the Etruscans to the North and the Greeks in the south and controlled all of Italy by 265 BC • Ruled Italy • Allowed the neighboring latins to become full citizens of Rome • Further territories had the laws of Rome and the rights but couldn’t vote • Everywhere else became an Allies of Rome • Rome didn’t interfere as long as they didn’t threaten Rome in any way. • This policy allowed for a long lasting empire

16. Roman Commerce • Rome’s Location gave it easy access to the riches of the lands ringing the Mediterranean Sea. • Traders traded by land and by sea • Had success in almost every traded good • Grew so successful caused conflicts with neighboring trade cities. • Carthage • Rome and Carthage went to war in 264 BC • Known as the Punic Wars

17. The Punic Wars • First War • 264 BC • Fought for control of Sicily and the Western Mediterranean • Lasted 23 years • Carthage Lost • Second Punic War • Began in 218 BC • Organized by Hannibal

18. Hannibal's War • 29 year old Carthaginian General • Brilliant military strategist who wanted to Avenge the first loss • Assembled an army of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants • Didn’t attack head on went around through Spain and France and the alps • Lost half his men and most the elephants had early success in Italy • Dominated most of the Italian peninsula, but never made it into Rome.

19. Rome Triumphs • As Hannibal ran all over Italy, the Romans found a General daring enough to end the war • Scipio • Brilliant leader who devised a plan to attack Carthage • Forced Hannibal to return to defend his city • Romans defeated Hannibal at Zama near Carthage • Third Punic War • Rome took control of Carthage and in 146 BC the city was set on fire and the 50,000 citizens were sold into slavery • Carthage became a Roman Province

20. Outcome • Rome became the leader of the Western Mediterranean Sea • Roman Empire soon stretched from Anatolia to Spain • Became the main power in the Mediterranean and one of the greatest Empires in History