GeographyEarly Rome

Roman Republic

Objectives

• Summarize how geography shaped the early development of Rome.

• Explain the major characteristics of government and society in the Roman republic.

Key Terms

• Republican• Patrician• Plebeian• Consul• Dictator• Twelve Tables

Geography

• With a partner• List the similarities and

differences in the geography between Italy and Greece.

• You will have 5 minutes to complete this question.

Geography between Greece and Italy

• Mountains• On Mediterranean Sea• Peninsula• Valleys• Some islands

• Italy bigger• Italy has more islands• Mountains do not

separate Italians• Land more fertile

Similarities Differences

Geography

• With a different partner• Describe the location of

Rome and some of the advantages of building it on that site.

• You will have 3 minutes to complete this question.

Location of Rome

• Description of location.• On the Tiber River• Center of Italy• Near port on

Mediterranean.

• Advantages of location.• Good for trade• Good for farming• Able to unify Italy• Central location in Italy

Early Rome

• Latins – 700 B.C.• Farmers and herders

from the North.• They adopted the

Greeks’ military systems and styles of literature, art, and architecture.

Early Rome

• Etruscans – 600 B.C.• They extended their

power over northern Italy, including Rome.

• From the Etruscans the Romans learned…– The alphabet– Road building skills– Architecture– Pottery-making– Sanitation

Roman Republic

• In a group list all the advantages and disadvantages of the Roman Republic and the Roman people.

• Your group will have 10 minutes to complete this task.

Roman Republic• Advantages• Republic – Government

without a king or queen• Patricians – Wealthy

landowners• Plebeians – common people• Senate – 300 member

council• Veto – Reject, “I Forbid”• Twelve Tables – Roman laws

• Disadvantages• Consul – Two people

who ruled Rome.

• Dictator – Person with complete control.

Objectives

• Summarize how geography shaped the early development of Rome.– Like Greece, mountains, peninsula…Mountains did

not impact traders.• Explain the major characteristics of

government and society in the Roman republic.– People have a say in their government.

Key Terms• Republican

– Government in which people have a say.• Patrician

– Rich Romans• Plebeian

– Common Romans• Consul

– Two people who ruled Rome.• Dictator

– Person with complete control.• Twelve Tables

– First Written Laws.

GeographyEarly Rome

Roman Republic