Post on 18-Dec-2015
ROMEWHI.6
Geography (6a)
How was the geographic location important to the economic, social, and political development of ancient Rome?
Rome’s Geography..
Located in Italy ( Boot-shaped Peninsula) South of Europe and extends into the
Mediterranean Sea(Half way between Africa and Europe)(Half way between East and West
Mediterranean)
Rome Geography..
Mountains Located in the North Protects, but does not isolate Rome High mountain ranges= Alps
Rome Geography
Sea Located in South, East, and West Protects Rome Provides transportation and trade
Geography
Rich soil and pleasant climate Balance between agriculture and
fishing Rivers are short and swift
Provides little means of internal navigation.
Geography
Rome grows in center of peninsula Several small villages, grouped around a
central market (Forum)
Geography results
City prospered from its location Bridge City- Control access across river Valuable trade routes Sea access
Roman Mythology
Based on the Greek Polytheistic religion
Explained natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events
Roman Mythology
The Roman gods and goddesses included..
Jupiter
Ruler of the Gods
Juno
Wife of Jupiter Protector of marriage
Apollo
God of beauty, poetry, music and the sun
Diana
Goddess of earth, wildfire, and hunters
Minerva
Goddess of war and peace and wisdom
Venus
Goddess of love
Mythology
Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from Ancient Roman mythology Owls: Wisdom Cupid St. Valentine’s Day Opposites: Yin/Yang Olive Branch: Peace
Conquest of Italy
Latin's Arrived around 1000 BC Created small sheep herding villages
Greeks• Arrived ~750 BC• Trade colonies in the South• Brought religion, trade, & architecture
Etruscans• Arrived ~800 BC from Asia Minor• Brought writing, omen reading (auspices),
trade, & architecture
Etruscans
They were great metal workers, jewelers, enjoyed dancing, banquets, women enjoyed greater freedom
Revolt 509 BC Roman aristocracy threw out Tarquinis
Superbus (The last Etruscan monarch)
The Roman Republic
Republic- elected officials governed the state
Women, aliens, and slaves were excluded from the governing process
Became a foundation of modern democracy
Roman society
Divided between patrician families and plebian families
Social structure
Determined by birth, not wealth Patricians: descendants of the
founding fathers of Rome Made laws for Rome
Plebeians: free citizens, merchants, artisans, soldiers Could vote
Social structure
Slaves Not race based Prisoners of war, debtors, or poor
Citizenship
The citizens of the Roman Republic were the Patrician and Plebian men No women and only selected foreigners
Rights and responsibilities of citizenship Examples: paying taxes and military
service
Conflict of the Orders
Patricians belief: Only people with land would fight well Established property qualifications to
serve in military (plebeians became increasingly disqualified)
Problems of debt and land forces small landowners and poor into debt slavery Threatened the protection of the people
Plebeians gain more power
Invaders threaten city Plebeians refused to fight in the
army until reforms were made Form their own assembly “Plebeian
Council” Gained the right to elect own officials,
called tribunes, Protect them from unjust treatment
Twelve Tables
451 BC Law written on 12 tablets and hung in Forum
the basis for Roman law All free citizens had the protection of
the law
Government of Rome
Executive 2 Consuls
Elected to 1 year terms Had power to veto (could cancel laws)
Government
Legislative Senate
Made of patricians Lifetime terms Made laws
Assemblies Made of citizen soldiers Eventually gained the power to make
laws
Government
Judicial Praetors
Judges chosen for one year to oversee courts
Roman Dictator (sometimes) 6 month terms only in times of
crisis Appointed by consuls & approved
by senate
military
All males required to be in military Fought in Legions: 4000-6000 soldiers,
mixed with Calvary Legions broke into 60 Centuries (80-100
men)
THE PUNIC WARS
The Roman Army
Who could be apart of the army? All Roman citizens 17-46 yrs old with
the minimum amount of property 10 yrs in cavalry or 16 yrs infantry
The Roman Army
Success depended on military organization
Believed the citizens who had land to protect would fight bravely
Roman Army
Military tactics First used Greek Phalanx Replaced by maniples
Better suited for rough terrain maniples were combined into larger
groups called cohorts 10 cohorts of 600 men made up a legion
Roman Army
Legions Commanded by officers called
centurions Disciplined and well trained
Rome and Carthage
Rome is located in Italy Carthage is located on the northern
coast of Africa (established by the Phoenicians, major trading center)
Rome and Carthage
Come into conflict with each other because of competition with trade
Rome extends southward Carthage feared its commerce would be
threatened Carthage = powerful navy, little
interest in dominating large areas of land
Rome = Powerful land army
1st Punic War
Punic- Latin for Phoenician Started in 264 BC and lasted for 23
yrs. Who won?
Rome Used planks on their ships to let their
men run across to attack the enemy
Result of the 1st Punic War Monetary (Money) settlement to
Rome Rome took over Sicily and other
islands off of the coast of Italy.
2nd Punic War (Hannibal’s Invasion)Hannibal= great Carthaginian general Bitter from previous war Lead 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry,
and 60 elephants to Rome Went through the Alps Lost more than half of his men
2nd Punic war
Defeated Romans repeatedly Battle of Cannae (216 BC) =
killed/wounded as many as 50,000 Romans
Publius Cornelius Scipio Roman general Plan to attack Carthage Hannibal returned to Carthage to defend
the city Rome WON!
Conquest of the Mediterranean World Rome imposed a harsh peace Carthage loses its navy, Spanish
possessions and independence Citizens were outraged by Rome’s
decision not to destroy Carthage
“Carthage Must Be Destroyed!! 149 BC = Rome decided to destroy
its old enemy once and for all Declared a third Punic War Following a three year siege, Carthage
fell Rome enslaved the population and
destroyed the city Poured salt all over the soil/ground in
Carthage, so that they could no longer grow anything
After Rome’s Victory
Rome dominated the Mediterranean basin for 100 yrs. This contributed to the spread of Roman
culture throughout the area.
After Rome’s Victory
Mediterranean basin (Africa, Asia, Europe, Including the Hellenistic world of the Eastern Mediterranean)
Western Europe (Gaul, British Isles)