ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

Unit IV

Peoples

Latin's migrated into Italy about 800 BC.

The Romans shared the Italian peninsula with Greek colonists.

Etruscans- ruled central Italy, including Rome.

Romans borrowed their alphabet from the Etruscans.

Etruscan Gods merged with Roman deities

Ancient Italy (c. 6th century B.C.)

PEOPLE:

The Latins-Rome: “The First Romans”

The Etruscans-Northern Italy-Urbanized Rome: Building Programs (the Forum)-Influence on Romans: the arch, alphabet

The Greeks-Southern Italy and Sicily-Influence on Romans: art, architecture, literature, ..government, engineering

GEOGRAPHY:

-Tiber River & Mediterranean Sea-Fertile Soil & Strategic Location

Geography of Rome

Rome began as a small city-state in central Italy.

Geography of Italy made unifying Italy as one nation much easier then Greece

Very fertile growing areas Central Location in the Mediterranean

The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)

509 B.C., Romans rejected Etruscan king (monarchy) and established a republic. Power rests with the citizens who have the right to

vote for their leaders. In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted

only to free-born male citizens.

The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)

STRUGGLE FOR POWER: CLASS CONFLICT

Patricians- wealthy landowners who held most of the power: inherited power and social status

Plebeians- (Plebs) common farmers, artisans and merchants who made up the majority of the population: can vote, but can’t ruleTribunes- elected representatives who protect plebeians’ political rights.

Roman Government takes Shape

2 Consuls (Rulers of Rome)

Senate (Representative body for patricians)

Tribal Assembly (Representative body for plebeians)

The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)

A “Balanced” Government Rome elects two consuls– one to lead army,

one to direct government Senate- chosen from patricians (Roman

upper class), make foreign and domestic policy

Popular assemblies elect tribunes, make laws for plebeians (commoners)

Dictators- leaders appointed briefly in times of crisis (appt. by consuls and senate) Typical during times of War

Plebeians plea for Equality

Plebeians were the lower class, farmers, merchants, artisans, and traders.

1st Breakthrough- 12 Tables

2nd Breakthrough- tribunes- could veto, or block those laws that were harmful to the Plebeians.

Eventually Plebeians were elected to offices of high importance

The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)

THE TWELVE TABLES 451 B.C., officials carve Roman laws on

twelve tablets and hung in Forum. Laws confirm right of all free citizens to

protection of the law Become the basis for later Roman law

Roman Society

Family was the basic unit of Roman society.

Father had absolute rule in the family

Women were expected to follow husbands authority.

Roman women did however have a larger role in society then did Greek women.

Education

Girls and boys alike learned to read and write.

By the late Republic, many wealthy Romans were hiring Greeks as private tutors for their children.

Religion

Roman Gods resembled those of the Etruscans and Greeks. Like the Greek god Zeus, the Roman god Jupiter ruled over the other gods.

God Comparisons

Roman Gods Jupiter Mars Juno Venus Diana Saturn Minerva Mercury Pluto Neptune Vesta

Greek Gods Zeus Ares Hera Aphrodite Artemis Bacchus Athena Hermes Hades Poseidon Hestia