Rome

509 BCE476 CE

Geography
o Ancient Rome begin as
a group of villages
along the Tiber River in
what is now Italy.
o Around 750 B.C. these
villages united to form
the city of Rome.
o Fertile soil and
strategic location

The Early People & the Republic

509 BCE 28 BCE
Latins, Greeks and Etruscans
Etruscans influence Roman
civilization
Build first temples and
public centers
Etruscan king overthrown
in 509 B.C.
Romans found a republic

Patricianswere wealthy citizens of

Rome. They usually lived in grand
houses and had slaves to do their work
for them. Because they were citizens of
Rome they were allowed to go to the
Assembly to vote. Patricians controlled
the law since they were the only
citizens allowed to be judges.

Plebeianswere usually craftsmen or

tradesmen and they worked for a living.
Because they were citizens of Rome
they were allowed to go to
theAssemblyto vote.

Slaveshad no money, no rights, no

freedom and were not citizens of Rome.
Because they were not citizens and
allowedto vote

Social Classes

 The Government
o The Roman Republic lasted from 509 BCE 28 BCE
o The Government was made up of Two Consuls - both elected to 1 year terms
One leads the army - One leads the government
The Senate -300 males that were elected made all
decisions

The Roman Army

o Well organized
o Ideas barrowed from the Greeks
A Legion - used a Phalanx 5,000
infantry soldiers +
Calvary = men on horses
could run down enemies!

Expansion & trade

o By 265 BCE the Roman Republic owned all of the

Italian peninsula
o Rome & the other Mediterranean Sea cities traded
w/ each other & tolerated one another kind
of
Goods like: olive oil, wine, pottery, marble, and grain being shipped
all across the Mediterranean.

All roads lead to Rome

Roman roads expand all over
Europe Asia & Africa All
roads lead to Rome
The Roman army built roads
that linked all the parts of the
empire.

The Romans laid more than

50,000 miles of roads to tie
together their empire.

Roads were built from layers of sand,

stone, gravel, and paving slabs. They
curved, so any rain drained away.

The Romans tried to build the roads

as straight as possible so that the army
could take the shortest route.

Many of the roads can still be seen

today.

PUNIC WARS

 Punic Wars

o Rome vs. Carthage - 264 BCE to 146 BCE

Both wanted control of Mediterranean
3 separate Wars

 1st Punic War

Carthago Delende Est"
("Carthage Must be
Destroyed!")
--Cato

o Fought mostly in the

Mediterranean
o Rome defeats Carthage
o Proves Rome is a military
super power on the water

 2nd Punic War

o Hannibal

Carthaginian General
Taught to hate Rome from his father
Took a large army + 60 war elephants into Italy
Came from the North, most of the elephants died in the Alps

 Hannibal vs. Scipio

Assembled 50,000 infantry, 9,000

Calvary, and 60 elephants, to march
though the Alps and into Italy.
o Hannibal lived in Italy, attacking for 13
years
o Attacking cities up and down Italy
o Rome refused to a head to head battle
for fear of Hannibals Elephant Calvary

 Scipio (Roman General)

o Draws Hannibal away from
Rome by leaving the war front in
Spain, and attacking Carthage
o Scipio wins by his knowledge of
Hannibal and hijacking
Elephants and attacking with
them.
o Scipio wins & is named Scipio
Africanas