• Rome was a small town on the Tiber River inthe central part of the Italian peninsula.

• The fertile plains could support a largepopulation.

• The Tiber provided a route to the sea,giving Rome the opportunity for foreigntrade.

• The early settlers of Rome were people calledLatin, one of many different people living in theItalian peninsula.

• Etruscans lived in prosperous trading cities tothe north and west of Rome.

• From the Etruscans, Romans learnedpractical skills in sanitation, road, building,architecture, and pottery making.

• About 17th B.C, the Etruscans controlledRome for over a hundred years.

• Rome grew into a great city built on sevenhills along the Tiber.

• The Forum – a central public square – wasbuilt between two of the hills.

• In 509 B.C, the Roman drove out their Etruscan ruler and established a republic – a government without a king.

• The Roman Republic was not a democracy.

• Leaders were from the class of wealthy landownerscalled patricians.

• 2 officials called consuls directed the daily affairsof governing and also led the army.

• Consuls held office for onlyone year; there was little riskthat they would gain too muchpower or make themselves king.

• THE SENATETHE SENATE– 300300-member council of-member council of

patricianspatricians– Most powerful Most powerful part of thepart of the

government of the Republicgovernment of the Republic– Controlled Rome’s financesControlled Rome’s finances

and foreign affairsand foreign affairs

• The The military banners military banners carriedcarried

by the Roman armies bore by the Roman armies bore thetheletters letters SSenatusenatusPPopulusopulusQQueueRRomanusomanus

– “– “the Senate and the peoplethe Senate and the people

of Romeof Rome.”.”

• An assembly of An assembly of soldier-citizenssoldier-citizens made made lawslaws

and approved the and approved the election of governmentelection of government

officials.officials.• Plebians – Plebians – “common people”. “common people”. They tookThey took

part on the assembly, but had part on the assembly, but had less powerless power

than the senatethan the senate. They . They could not hold could not hold highhigh

government positions government positions or or marry marry patricians.patricians.

They struggle to gain equality forThey struggle to gain equality for

200 years.200 years.

• PlebiansPlebians threatened threatened to to stop serving the stop serving the armyarmy

and and paying taxes.paying taxes.• They were given right to form They were given right to form their owntheir own

assembly. assembly. It could It could pass law affecting pass law affecting only theonly the

common people. common people. • Elected officials called Elected officials called tribunes, tribunes, whowho

protected the plebians right.protected the plebians right.• In In 451 B.C. 451 B.C. the plebians the plebians

succeeded in having Roman laws – succeeded in having Roman laws –

““Twelve Tables”.Twelve Tables”.

• Twelve Tables Twelve Tables – gave the plebians some– gave the plebians some

protectionprotection against unfair decisions by against unfair decisions by

patrician judges.patrician judges.

• Plebians could Plebians could nono longer be longer be enslaveenslave for for debt.debt.

They gained They gained rightright to to marry patricians marry patricians andand

hold hold the office of the office of consulconsul. Eventually, they. Eventually, they

won the won the right right to become members to become members ofof

Senate.Senate.• By By 287 B.C287 B.C., plebians and., plebians and

patricians had patricians had equal rightsequal rights..

• The Romans showed a The Romans showed a devotion to devotion to their citytheir city, a, a

toughness of character, toughness of character, and a and a genius genius forfor

warfare and diplomacy.warfare and diplomacy.

• By the By the middle of the third century middle of the third century B.C., B.C.,

Rome ruled most of Italy.Rome ruled most of Italy.

• TheThe strengthstrength of the Roman army of the Roman army was itswas its

superior discipline superior discipline andand organization.organization.

• Romans Romans adopted and improved adopted and improved upon theupon the tight tight

battle formation battle formation used by the used by the Greek Greek foot soldiers.foot soldiers.

• TheThe basic army unit basic army unit was the was the legion.legion. It was madeIt was made

up of up of 3,000 – 6,000 infantry 3,000 – 6,000 infantry soldiers soldiers and and 100100

more troops more troops on horseback.on horseback.

• Through Through wise diplomacywise diplomacy, Rome made , Rome made alliesallies ofof

some some former enemies.former enemies.

• Some defeated cities and people wereSome defeated cities and people were

granted Roman citizenship; others weregranted Roman citizenship; others were

permitted to keep their local self- permitted to keep their local self- government.government.

• Rome Rome gavegave the conquered the conquered peoplepeople

protectionprotection and and maintained maintained orderorder throughoutthroughout

the the Italian peninsulaItalian peninsula..

• In In 264 B.C. 264 B.C. Rome went to war with the Rome went to war with the NorthNorth

African city – state of African city – state of Carthage.Carthage.

• Carthage Carthage controlledcontrolled large areas large areas in thein the

MediterraneanMediterranean, including , including parts of parts of Spain,Spain,

North America, and many islands.North America, and many islands.

• The The series of war series of war that Rome that Rome fought withfought with

Carthage are called the Carthage are called the Punic Punic Wars.Wars.

• Rome’s victory in the First Punic Rome’s victory in the First Punic War gave itWar gave it

SicilySicily as its as its first province.first province.

• In In 218 B.C218 B.C., the Carthaginian general ., the Carthaginian general HannibalHannibal

decided to decided to strike at Rome strike at Rome by by invadinginvading Italy Italy fromfrom

the the north north - - “Second Punic War”.“Second Punic War”.

• The The GaulsGauls joinedjoined the the

Carthaginians Carthaginians againstagainst

RomeRome, and even some, and even some

Roman allies helped Roman allies helped

the invaders.the invaders.

• Hannibal showed his military Hannibal showed his military genius at thegenius at the

Battle of Cannae Battle of Cannae in in 216 B.C.216 B.C.

• 4 legions 4 legions of Roman soldiersof Roman soldiers

were were killed or captured.killed or captured.

• Hannibal Hannibal lackedlacked the the military strength military strength toto

capture the city of Rome.capture the city of Rome.

• Roman Roman allies near the city allies near the city remained remained loyal.loyal.

• An army led by the Roman general An army led by the Roman general ScipioScipio

attacked Carthaginians in Spain, attacked Carthaginians in Spain, preventingpreventing

help from being sent to the Hannibal.help from being sent to the Hannibal.

• In In 204 B.C204 B.C., Romans ., Romans invaded North Africainvaded North Africa

and Hannibal and Hannibal returnedreturned to Carthage to to Carthage to protectprotect

his homeland.his homeland.

• Hannibal was defeatedHannibal was defeated by Scipio in by Scipio in thethe

Battle of Zama in 202 B.CBattle of Zama in 202 B.C..

• This was This was Hannibal’s first defeatHannibal’s first defeat, and it , and it endedended

the war.the war.