Chapter 6: Ancient RomeChapter 6: Ancient Rome (This is from Wikipedia)(This is from Wikipedia) Beginning in the eighth century B.C., Beginning in the eighth century B.C.,

Ancient Rome grew from a small town on Ancient Rome grew from a small town on central Italy's Tiber River into an empire central Italy's Tiber River into an empire that at its peak encompassed most of that at its peak encompassed most of continental Europe, Britain, much of continental Europe, Britain, much of western Asia, northern Africa and the western Asia, northern Africa and the Mediterranean islands. Mediterranean islands.

Among the many legacies of Roman Among the many legacies of Roman dominance are the widespread use of the dominance are the widespread use of the Romance languages (Italian, French, Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian) derived Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian) derived from Latin, the modern Western alphabet from Latin, the modern Western alphabet and calendar and the emergence of and calendar and the emergence of Christianity as a major world religion. Christianity as a major world religion.

After 450 years as a republic, Rome After 450 years as a republic, Rome became an empire in the wake of Julius became an empire in the wake of Julius Caesar's rise and fall in the first century Caesar's rise and fall in the first century B.C. The long and triumphant reign of its B.C. The long and triumphant reign of its first emperor, Augustus, began a golden first emperor, Augustus, began a golden age of peace and prosperity. age of peace and prosperity.

By contrast, the empire's decline and fall by By contrast, the empire's decline and fall by the fifth century A.D. was one of the most the fifth century A.D. was one of the most dramatic implosions in the history of human dramatic implosions in the history of human civilization.civilization.

Section I: Early Rome and The Section I: Early Rome and The Republic Republic (Pages 124-131)(Pages 124-131)

Section I: Early Rome and The Section I: Early Rome and The Republic Republic (Pages 124-131)(Pages 124-131)

This section is This section is about:about:

How the geography How the geography of Italy influenced of Italy influenced Roman civilization.Roman civilization.

The growth of the The growth of the Roman republic Roman republic and the reasons for and the reasons for its decline.its decline.

LetLet’’s start by looking at s start by looking at ““Active ReadingActive Reading”” and and ““PredictPredict”” on the top of on the top of page 126.page 126.

And, at the same time, And, at the same time, letlet’’s look at the main s look at the main ideas of Section I.ideas of Section I.

One good reading skill One good reading skill (during reading) is to (during reading) is to compare what you are compare what you are reading to something reading to something else. else.

Comparing Rome to Comparing Rome to another place (China): another place (China): what may happen in the what may happen in the history of Rome - Whathistory of Rome - What’’s s your teacher thinking your teacher thinking about?about? The Dynastic Cycle?

Can it happen in places besides China?

The Land and The Land and Geography of ItalyGeography of Italy

At the height of itAt the height of it’’s s power, Rome (the power, Rome (the ““heartheart”” of Italy), of Italy), controlled most of controlled most of Europe, Northern Europe, Northern Africa, western Asia, Africa, western Asia, and the Balkans.and the Balkans.

Italy is a 700 mile by Italy is a 700 mile by 100 mile long 100 mile long ““boot.boot.”” ItIt’’s s ““toetoe”” is Sicily. is Sicily.

The Mountains and The Mountains and the Tiber and Arno the Tiber and Arno Rivers are important Rivers are important to Italy.to Italy.

…………....

Climate / AgricultureClimate / AgricultureClimate / AgricultureClimate / AgricultureColdCold

Semi-TropicalSemi-Tropical

Warmer/WetterWarmer/Wetter Colder/Dryer Colder/Dryer

Good SoilGood Soil

Fertile Land (grapes and olives)

Fertile Land (grapes and olives)

Lots of Water

(Good for Trade)

Lots of Water

(Good for Trade)

According to legend…According to legend…Romulus and Remus Romulus and Remus (twin brothers) founded Rome(twin brothers) founded Rome

They had a big fight They had a big fight (near the Tiber (near the Tiber River), and Romulus River), and Romulus killed Remus.killed Remus.

Romulus named the Romulus named the new city after new city after himself and became himself and became the first king.the first king.

The first Romans The first Romans were probably were probably farmers and farmers and herders (their herders (their people were called people were called Latins).Latins).

The Latins werenThe Latins weren’’t the only group living t the only group living there.there.

The The EtruscansEtruscans lived in central Italy lived in central Italy (with a written language and (with a written language and skilled architects, builders and skilled architects, builders and artists).artists).

The The GreeksGreeks were also in southern were also in southern Sicily and southern Italy (the Sicily and southern Italy (the Romans liked the Greeks and Romans liked the Greeks and tried to adopt some of their tried to adopt some of their culture).culture).

When Rome started as a When Rome started as a civilization, it had civilization, it had sevenseven different different kings.kings.

Romulus (founder of the city), Romulus (founder of the city), Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Martius, Tarquinius Priscus, Ancus Martius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, and Tarquinius Servius Tullius, and Tarquinius Superbus. Superbus.

– – you donyou don’’t need to know about t need to know about any of them (although it is a little any of them (although it is a little interesting if you want to look on interesting if you want to look on your own).your own).

The last of the 7 kings was evilThe last of the 7 kings was evil(took people(took people’’s property / had enemies executed, s property / had enemies executed,

etc…)etc…)

When the people When the people revolted against him, revolted against him, they set up a they set up a republic republic (this is when voters (this is when voters choose people to choose people to represent them).represent them).

Sound like a country Sound like a country youyou’’re familiar with?re familiar with?

But – we have a But – we have a constitution – the constitution – the Romans did not.Romans did not.

LetLet’’s quickly look on s quickly look on page 128 – in your page 128 – in your textbook (on the top textbook (on the top left).left).

Each year 2 people were Each year 2 people were elected to be elected to be ““Head of State.Head of State.””

Consuls were the most Consuls were the most important important magistratesmagistrates (government officials) – who (government officials) – who held one year terms.held one year terms.

The The senatesenate had the most had the most powerpower

These These consulsconsuls proposed laws proposed laws and led the army – and they and led the army – and they had to agree (one could veto had to agree (one could veto the other).the other).

Other magistrates: Other magistrates: praetorspraetors (judges), (judges), aediles aediles (marketplace (marketplace controllers), controllers), questorsquestors (financial officers), and (financial officers), and censorscensors (counted people (counted people every 5 years).every 5 years).

They discussed issues and They discussed issues and made decisions. The first made decisions. The first senators were called senators were called patricianspatricians..

None of this was written down None of this was written down in a in a ““constitutionconstitution”” – it was just – it was just accepted.accepted.

All these people were elected All these people were elected The tribal assembly was The tribal assembly was

controlled by the plebeianscontrolled by the plebeians (common people).(common people).

Eventually, the assembly Eventually, the assembly won the right to elect their won the right to elect their own officials – called own officials – called tribunes. Tribunes could tribunes. Tribunes could veto any government veto any government action.action.

The patricians ran the The patricians ran the government, but plebeians government, but plebeians made up most of the made up most of the countries people and army.countries people and army.

Easy – huh? (maybe not)Easy – huh? (maybe not) Since they had some Since they had some

disagreements, they disagreements, they decided to come up with decided to come up with the Twelve Tables (Romethe Twelve Tables (Rome’’s s first book of laws).first book of laws).

Roman Roman SocietySociety

Patricians and Plebeians were Patricians and Plebeians were free.free.

Rome had many slaves (whoRome had many slaves (who’’s s masters had the power of life masters had the power of life and death – or even to give and death – or even to give them their freedom).them their freedom).

Women: did not have the Women: did not have the same rights as men, but it got same rights as men, but it got better for them. By the end of better for them. By the end of the republic, they could own the republic, they could own property and take part in property and take part in government decision making.government decision making.

Families: oldest male made Families: oldest male made most important decisions and most important decisions and kept the family together.kept the family together.

Religion borrowed much from Religion borrowed much from the Greeks, but 3 main gods.the Greeks, but 3 main gods.

Expanding RomeExpanding Rome’’s Controls Control

By 265 BC, Rome By 265 BC, Rome ruled most of the ruled most of the Italian peninsula.Italian peninsula.

But Carthage was But Carthage was just south of them – just south of them – so you know what so you know what happened…..happened…..

There were three There were three wars between wars between Rome and Carthage Rome and Carthage (The Punic Wars).(The Punic Wars).

The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars 1 – fought for control of 1 – fought for control of

Sicily (Romans won).Sicily (Romans won). 2 – Carthage2 – Carthage’’s general s general

(Hannibal) tried to (Hannibal) tried to invade Rome and later, invade Rome and later, Rome tried to take over Rome tried to take over Carthage (Rome won, Carthage (Rome won, but didnbut didn’’t get Carthage).t get Carthage).

3 – Rome destroyed 3 – Rome destroyed Carthage and enslaved Carthage and enslaved all survivors (Rome wins all survivors (Rome wins the Punic Wars).the Punic Wars).

So, Rome also continued So, Rome also continued on and conquered on and conquered Greece and ended up Greece and ended up ruling the entire ruling the entire Mediterranean region Mediterranean region (next slide).(next slide).

All these conquests made Rome wealthy. All these conquests made Rome wealthy. But…But…

It also caused Rome It also caused Rome to get a big to get a big difference between difference between the rich and the the rich and the poor.poor.

Romans made many Romans made many captured people captured people into slaves. They into slaves. They eventually had eventually had more more slaves than citizensslaves than citizens..

So workers would So workers would lose jobs to people lose jobs to people whowho’’d work for free. d work for free.

This caused a lot of This caused a lot of tensions and unrest tensions and unrest in Rome.in Rome.

Google Earth / Ancient Rome