2. Beginnings
Geography
Not a hindrance as in Greece
Land good for farming
No rugged mountains to separate people
3. Beginnings
Early Inhabitants
Came from across Alps
Settled in N. Italy
Called “Latins”
Eventually moved southward
Settled western coast of Italy
Portions of Italy colonized by:
Phoenicians
Greeks
Etruscans
4.
5. Beginnings
Etruscans
Came to Italy 900-
800 BC
Probably from Asia
Minor by sea
Became competitors
with Greece in trade
Probably introduced
Greek culture to
Romans
8. Beginnings
Founding of Rome
Villages established near Tibet River and West Coast
of Italy
7 villages allied (League of 7 Hills)
Beginning of city of Rome
Developed myths about beginnings
Twins, Romulus and Remus
founded Rome 753 B.C.
Thrown out by evil uncle,
found by wolve and raised them
9. - Digging for the city wall
of Rome
- Peasants
exchanging
produce at border
separating their
lands
10. Early Society & Government
Basic Unit of society = FAMILY
Self sufficient and self ruled
Father authority figure
Religion, discipline, power of life and death
Pride in family heritage
Loyalty Submit to Authority
Hard
Working
Patriotism Self Control
11. Early Society & Government
Tribe
Clan Clan
Family Family Family Family
12. Early Society & Government
Patricians Plebeians
• Wealthy • Majority of
landowners people
• Nobility based on • Common people
birth • Inferior class
• Held high • Tradesmen,
positions in craftsmen,
society farmers
13. Early Society & Government
Early government = Monarchy
Monarch chosen by people
Imperium – absolute authority to govern
Monarch would advise with senate
15. Early Roman Republic
509 B.C. overthrew monarchy and established
republic
Consuls
Senate
Assemblies
16. Consul
ONLY Patricians
Elected for 1 year terms
Took care of:
Every day government affairs
Commanded army
Supreme judges
17. Senate
Most powerful body in government
Served the interest of ALL people
300 elite people appointed for life by consuls
Took care of:
Finances
Pass laws
Foreign affairs
19. Assemblies
People could express their views
Voted legislation submitted by consul
Took care of:
Declare war
Elected high
ranking officials
Power to Veto
20. Struggles within
Republic
Patricians controlled government
Plebeians had no voice in government
For 200 years struggled for representation
Constant warfare with neighbors made Patricians dependent
upon plebeians for army force
Plebeians demanded more say in gov’t or else no more army
participation
Plebeians get their own assembly and gov’t. officials
Voted resolutions plebiscites (apply only to plebeians)
Tribune – elected official who protected plebeian rights (rights of
common people)
21. Law of 12 Tables
Plebeians demanded written law
Laws written on 12 tablets and hung in Roman
Forum
What other civilization wrote laws on tablet?
What other civilization publicly displayed law
throughout land?
Law applied equally to ALL
Boys memorized law as school work
22. “The women
shall not tear
their faces nor
wail on account
of the funeral.”
“Marriages
should not take
place between
plebeians and
patricians.”
“Let them keep the road in order. If they
have not paved it, a man may drive his
“A dreadfully deformed child shall be team where he likes.”
quickly killed.”
“If one is slain while committing theft by
“A child born after ten months since night, he is rightly slain.”
the father's death will not be
admitted into a legal inheritance.”
23. Changes in Society
Plebeians’ social status gradually improved
Began to gain government positions
Some became senators
Intermarriage allowed
Tribal Assembly created 287 B.C.
Pass laws that apply to ALL people
Division between patricians and plebeians
began to disappear and a new division
appeared:
Rich vs. Poor
Wealthy patricians and wealthy plebeians allied together and took
control over government
24. The Mediterranean – Roman Sea
From 509 B.C. to 133 B.C. Rome grew from a small city to biggest
empire in ancient world
How?
First Rome became master of Italy
War with neighbors
Defeated Etruscans in North
Turned towards south to fight Greeks
Seek help from Pyrrhus and his war elephants
Victory over romans but with GREAT losses
Says another such victory will cause his ruin!
By 265 BC- Rome controls all Italian Peninsula
Treated all conquered people with dignity and respect
Mercy and fair
Some even granted Roman citizenship
26. Rome dominates Western
Mediterranean B.C. Carthage war
241
First Punic War (264 B.C. – 241 B.C.) weary, signs peace treaty
Rome wins Sicily
Fight over island of Sicily Carthage has to pay war
loss
Only way to win is to beat Carthage navy supremacy
Built their own boats
New fighting tactics
Instead of ramming
into boats
Drop plank onto
enemy boat
Soldiers run over and
take over
27.
28. Rome dominates Western
Mediterranean
Second Punic War (218 B.C. – 201 B.C.)
Carthage recovers from first war and spreads into Spain
Attacks roman ally city, Sagantum
Start war
29. Hannibal
Carthaginian Commander
Strong character and leaders
Military tactics were genius
Once dropped barrels of snakes on enemy ship
Wanted to invade Italy and capture Rome
Crossed into Italy through Alps
Never gave up fighting against Romans
Lived to be 64 years old
Died from poison in his ring
31. Battle of Cannae
Carthage losses- 6,000
Rome losses – 60,000
It took Rome a whole
generation to recover from
this loss.
32. Scipio
Young Roman commander
Defeated Carthaginian forces in Spain
Moved on to attack Carthage, N. Africa
Hannibal called home to defend Carthage
Scipio and Romans won victory before he got home
Battle of Zama (202 B.C.)
Carthage had to give up all territory outside of N. Africa
Reduce fleet to 10 vessels
Pay Rome war damages
33. 3rd Punic War
149 B.C. – 146 B.C.
Romans fearful and jealous of Carthage prosperity
Carthage breaks one provision of peace treaty
Rome demands they move city ten miles inland
This would have hurt their trade and commerce
Carthage refuses
Fighting begins, 3 year siege
Rome takes city and destroys it
Sells inhabitants into slavery
Land becomes new roman province = Africa
34.
35.
36. Rome Dominates Eastern
Mediterranean
Power struggle in Eastern Mediterranean
Macedonia
Syria
Egypt
Macedonia Conquers Syria Conquers Egypt Allies
Rome provinces remain free as long as they did not rebel
Pay tribute to Rome (money or grain)
Rome offered them protection and order