Transcript The History of Early Rome

The History of Early Rome
Geography of Rome
 Rome is located on the
boot shaped peninsula that
is modern day Italy.
 Rome is located centrally in
Italy. The Italian peninsula
is located centrally in the
Mediterranean.
 The geography of Rome
made it easier to unite than
Greece.
 Italy is less mountainous
than Greece, and has the
advantage of broad fertile
plains in north and south.
The people of Ancient Rome
 The Latin’s were the
ancestors of the Romans.
They migrated to Italy
around 800 B.C.
 The Latin’s settled on the
Tiber River. They settled
villages around 7 low-lying
hills that would become the
city of Rome.
 Etruscans lived in the
north of Italy and Greek
Colonist lived in the South.

Etruscan Helmet. The Romans learned a great
deal from the Etruscans.
The Roman Republic
 The Romans drove out
their Etruscan ruler in
509 B.C.
 The Romans formed a
government in which
some of the officials were
elected by the people.
This form of government
was called a Republic.

Tarquin the Proud, the last Etruscan King of
Rome.
Roman Republic Government
 The most powerful governing
body in the early republic was
the senate. Its 300 members
were all patricians or land
holding elite.
 The senate elected two
consuls each year whose job
was to run the business of the
government and command
armies.
 In the event of war or crisis,
the senate could elect a
dictator, or ruler that had
complete control over the
Government.
 The Roman Senate
Roman Republic Government
 In the beginning, all of the
government officials were
patricians.
 Plebeians were the farmers,
merchants, artisans, and
traders that made up the bulk
of the population.
 In 450 B.C. the laws of Rome
were inscribed on twelve
tablets and set up in the
market place so the Plebeians
could see them.
 In time plebeians could elect
their own officials called
Tribunes, who would protect
their interests.
Roman Society
 The family was the basic
unit of Roman society. The
male, by law, was the head
of the house hold.
 Roman women played a
larger role in society than
in Greece.
 Women from all classes
had the opportunity to run
a variety of business, from
small shops to ship yards.
 Most women worked at
home raising their families.
 Patrician Roman Woman
Roman Society
 Both girls and boys learned to
read and write, as well as
lower class citizens in Rome.
 Many wealthy Romans hired
private tutors for their
children. These tutors were
often Greek.
 Roman gods and goddesses
resembled those of the
Etruscans and Greeks.
 There were many Roman
religious celebrations
throughout the year, which
inspired a sense of
community.
 Romans celebrating the
holiday of Saturnalia.
Expansion in Italy
 By 270 B.C. Rome
controlled most of the
Italian Peninsula.
 Rome’s success was due
to its skillful diplomacy
and well trained army.
 The Roman Army was
comprised of citizensoldiers.
 The basic military unit
was the Legion made up
of about 5,000 men.
 Roman Legionnaire
Expansion in Italy
 Roman’s usually treated their
defeated enemies with justice.
 Conquered peoples had to
acknowledge Roman
leadership, pay taxes, and
supply soldiers to the Roman
Army.
 In return, they could keep
their own customs, money
and local government.
 To protect their conquered
lands, Rome posted soldiers
throughout the land and built
a network of all weather roads
to link distant territories.
 The Roman Road, The Appian
Way, linked Rome to
Southern Cities in Italy.