How does the location of Italy benefit the Roman’s in its ability to conquer the Mediterranean region?

Tyrrhenian Sea

Adriatic Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Apennines Range-runs from the northto the south of Italy

Po Valley-low land betweenthe Alps and theApennines

The Italian peninsula has some valleys The Italian peninsula has some valleys and plains.and plains.

Most of them are at higher elevations.Most of them are at higher elevations. The land is less rugged than Greece, soThe land is less rugged than Greece, sotravel by land was much easier. travel by land was much easier. Travel by sea was more difficult becauseTravel by sea was more difficult becauseItaly had few good harbors. Italy had few good harbors. This made trade with others living on the This made trade with others living on the peninsula easier than trading with outsiders.peninsula easier than trading with outsiders.

There was much more arable land in Ancient Rome than in Greece.The fertile land and mild climate were ideal for farming.The Ancient Romans didn’t need to import as much, soextensive trade wasn’t necessary.

Rivers carried mineral rich silt that created good farmland.

Volcanic ash made the soil rich. (Most of the volcanoesare now extinct.)

Early Rome 900 BC

Greeks sail up the coast. 750-500

Greeks establish farming communities. Italian Peninsula

Divided Mediterranean Sea in Half Center of trade Rich Soil from rivers Shallow Rivers Mountain Topography

Greek Influence Alphabet (to the Etruscans) Columns Religion (Jupiter/Zeus; Mars/Ares; Neptune/Poseidon) Agriculture (grapes and olives)

Jupiter

Latins - Helped to overthrow overlords for the Romans

1. Italy: long, narrowpeninsula in theMediterranean Sea

2. Rome was created between15001000B.C.E. by agroup of people called theLatins

3.The name “Latins” comesfrom the plain on whichRome is located, theLatium Plain

Latium Plain

1. Latium Plain:- People able to worktogether- Provided richfarmland

2. Early Rome was acollection of straw-roofedhuts

The Rise of Rome

800-700 Latin people unite on seven hills Etruscans rule Northern Italy 900-500 B.C.E.

Etruscan Rule 600 BC Tarquins kings of Rome

Build with bricks – tile the roof Drained marshy lowlands Laid out streets Create the Forum (seat of Roman Govt. and Law) Religious rituals Increased Rome’s wealth Used Greek Alphabet Art is expressive

The Etruscans

1. Etruria: North of Rome,home of the Etruscans

2. Conquered the Latins inapproximately 650 B.C.E.

3. The Etruscans ruled Romefor more than 100 years

Greek Settlements There were many Greek settlements in

southern Italy and Sicily between 750 – 550 B.C.E.

Etruscan Influence Alphabet (to Etruscans

from Greece) Arches (helped with bridges, stadiums, aqueducts) Cuniculus: sewers Fortifications (walls) Sporting events (gladiators and chariot races)

Around 600 B.C. the Etruscans, peoplefrom the northern part of Italy, tookcontrol of Rome. They had traded withthe Greeks, and they brought many of theGreek ideas and customs with them. After100 years of Etruscan rule, the Romansrebelled. The old monarchy ended and therepublic was formed.

Social Group Patricians

Wealthy aristocratic class Declare Rome a republic

A community in which the people elect their leaders. Plebeians

Majority of Inhabitants Wealthy, non-aristocratic townspeople, landowners Could not hold public office

Both Right to vote Duty to pay taxes Serve in the Military

A small number ofwealthy Roman families

that held all governmentalpower.

Most of the population –artisans, shopkeepers,peasants, etc. A few were wealthy, most

werepoor.

Class was determined by birth. Wealthy plebeians could not become patricians. Both classes had the

right to vote, but only patricians could hold political, religious, or military offices. Plebeians

had to serve in the army and pay taxes.

Family wealth determined social class.Upper Class –

Wealthy held jobs as government officials.Many lived in large homes.Their needs were taken care of by slaves.Some owned 500 or more slaves.

Lower Classes ranged from the fairly wealthy to the very poor.

They held jobs such as: Soldiers Farmers

Merchants Craft workers

Most lived in apartment-style dwellings. Some

families lived in one room.

Slaves were at the bottom of society. They were not counted as citizens. They were not well protected by laws. Many were freed when their owners’ died. Some were given a chance to buy their

freedom. Living conditions depended on the owner.

In all classes the men ruled the households.Women helped make decisions and gave adviceto their husbands.Women could own property!Women could take NO part in government.

Republic Government

Executive Branch – Consuls 2 Patrician elected for one year. In times of emergency a dictator could be appointed for 6

months.

Legislative Branch Assembly of Centuries Senate (300 men for life)

By 367 B.C. the government had become more democratic, and by 287 B.C. complete equality had been reached.

Two consuls – One patrician & One plebeian300 Senators

patriciansand plebeians

10tribunes

CitizensAssemblies

Plebeians fight for their rights Plebeians go on strike in 494 B.C.E.

Refused to serve in the Army Left city to set up their own republic

Patricians agree to demands Recognize plebeians’ representatives – Tribunes Granted veto power Recognize Assembly of Tribes

Old and New Laws Govt. must write down Laws Right to serve in Public Office Make laws for the republic

Plebeians protested unwritten laws because only the patrician leaders knew exactly what they were.

The Roman government began recording lawson clay tablets. The “Twelve Tables” were posted in Rome’s Forum.

Many plebeians couldn’t read thelaws, but the laws were no longerhidden.Plebeians eventually gained equalrights.

Tribunes Were elected to protect plebeians rights

Held office for one year

Could be re-elected

Could defend citizens against unfairacts by magistrates or judges

Could initiate laws

Could veto measures made by thesenate

By 500 B.C. the Romans had extended theirBy 500 B.C. the Romans had extended theirpower to most of the Italian peninsula.power to most of the Italian peninsula.

By 272 B.C. all of the peninsula was under By 272 B.C. all of the peninsula was under Roman control and a rivalry developed Roman control and a rivalry developed between Rome and Carthage (a city-state inbetween Rome and Carthage (a city-state innorthern Africa founded by the Phoenicians)northern Africa founded by the Phoenicians)over who would control sea trade in the over who would control sea trade in the western Mediterranean.western Mediterranean.

Began in 264 B.C. when both Carthage and Rome wanted to control the island of Sicily.

The Romans sent an army to Sicily to prevent a Carthaginian takeover.

The Carthaginian’s were determined to stop the invasion. The Romans quickly built a large fleet of ships and went to war at

sea. The war was more than 20 years. In 241 B.C. Rome crushed the

navy off the coast of Sicily.

VICTORY

Carthage expanded its empire into southern Spain, due to the loss of Sicily. Roman leaders were unhappy so they helped people living in Spain rebel against Carthage. Carthage sent its greatest general Hannibal to attack in 218 B.C.

Hannibal took his army of about 46,000 men and landed his forces in Spain and then marched east to attack Italy. His forces suffered severe losses and lost almost half of his men.

Romans suffered a severe loss in 216 B.C. at this battle in Southern Italy.

Hannibal’s army was outnumbered but it overpowered the Roman force and began raiding much of Italy.

A Roman force led by Scipio invaded Carthage in 202 B.C.

Hannibal had to return home to defend his people

Scipio’s troops defeated the Carthaginians Carthage gave up Spain to Rome

Rome now RULED the

western Mediterranean.

In 146 B.C. Rome finally destroyed its great rival in the Third Punic War.

Roman soldier's burned Carthage and enslaved

50, 000 men, women and children.

Hannibal

Rome successfully battled states in the eastern Mediterranean

In 148 B.C. Macedonia came under Roman rule In 146 B.C. rest of Greece became RomanIn 129 B.C. Rome gained its first providence in

Asia.

The Roman Republic was divided into provinces

and a governor was appointed to rule each one.The people of the new provinces had to pay taxes

to Rome and some were taken into slavery.Results:Results: The rich became richer.The rich became richer. The poor lost jobs and land because theirThe poor lost jobs and land because their

work was turned over to the slaves.work was turned over to the slaves. Conflict between rich and poor led to Conflict between rich and poor led to civilcivil

war.war.

Consuls to Dictators In 107 BCE Marius became consul.

Hired the poor farmers to become soldiers. The poor didn’t feel Patriotism – rather fought

for money and land Lead to problems in the military

Consuls to Dictators In 82 BCE Sulla, a rival general, invaded and

named himself dictator. He weakened the council of the Plebs and

made the Senate stronger. Rome went into a period of civil war for the

next 50 years.

Consuls to Dictators After Sulla gave up his dictatorship in 79 BCE,

Pompey (106-48 BCE) began to gain power. a. He was famous because he stopped a slave revolt led by Spartacus.

To do this he had to team up with his rival Crassus who was very wealthy.

b. Together they marched their armies into Rome and demanded that they be made consuls for the year 70 BCE.

i. They won because the Senate was weak even though Pompey was too young.

ii. After their year in office, they resigned.

Consuls to Dictators A major literary figure of the time was Cicero

(106-43BCE). a. He was a lawyer and a politician. b. In his works we read about government.

i. However, during his time, people were selfish and didn’t listen to what he had to say.

Consuls to Dictators Problems between Pompey, Crassus, and the Senate

led to distrust. a. A third powerful person Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE)

joined with them to try and take control from the Senate. b. Together they formed the First

Triumvirate. c. During this time Caesar was in charge of Gaul (today

France) and Crassus went to war with Syria, where he died in 49 BCE.

Consuls to Dictators In 49 BC the Senate began to use Pompey against

Caesar, who they were afraid might try and get too much power. a. They passed a law ordering Caesar to put down his

weapons (even though he wasn’t fighting at the time) and convinced Pompey to attack him.

b. Meanwhile, the Senate threatened the lives of anyone who supported Caesar.

c. Caesar used this as justification to invade his own country with the goal of protecting the rights of ordinary people.

Consuls to Dictators Caesar advanced quickly and Pompey had to retreat

to Greece. Caesar beat him in a battle, so he retreated to Egypt, but was killed before their boat landed. a. Caesar chased them their, and after he found out that

Pompey was dead helped end a civil war between the King of Egypt.

Ptolemy XIII and his sister Cleopatra VII.

i. (Caesar and Cleopatra fell in love, but Caesar did not take over Egypt, he left it to them to rule.)

In 79 B.C., Sulla retired and the government returned to consuls.

In 59 B.C., Julius Caesar was elected as consul. He wanted to rule all Roman Lands.

He formed an army and captured Gaul (France).

He became the governor of Gaul and watched Rome closely.

In 49 B.C. he returned to Rome and a civil war began.

After three years of war, Caesar was appointed dictator for 10 years.

Julius Caesar -

-Strong leaderStrong leader-improved livesimproved lives-made laws to help the poormade laws to help the poor-created new jobscreated new jobs-gave citizenship to more gave citizenship to more peoplepeopleIn 44 B.C., Caesar was appointed dictator for life. The

Roman Republic was then a dictatorship, and senators feared he would make himself the king. Caesar was stabbed to death on the way to the senate on March 15th (the Ides of March). Another civil war began.