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OUTCOME: GEOGRAPHY �& EARLY REPUBLIC

Ancient Rome

& The Origin of Christianity

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Constructive Response Question

  • Who were the earliest Romans and how did each contribute to the founding of Rome?
  • Compare and contrast the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire using specific examples:
  • What contributions did the Romans make to the cultural advancement of the world?

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What will we learn?

  • Origin & Geography of Rome
  • The Earliest Romans (Latins, Greeks, & Etruscans)
  • Early Roman Culture (The Roman Republic)
  • The Punic Wars (Rome vs. Carthage)

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Geography & Early Republic

  • Setting the Stage
    • With the defeat of the Persians by Alexander and the eventual decline of the Greek Civilization, power would eventually shift west towards the Italian peninsula
    • The Romans would build an amazing empire filled with many different cultures and help spawn a brand new religion: Christianity

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Geography & Early Republic

  • Origins of Rome
    • Legend says that twins Romulus and Remus were abandoned on the Tiber River and raised by a she-wolf
    • Later the two boys decided to build a city
    • Eventually Romulus kills Remus & city of Rome is named after Romulus

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Geography & Early Republic

  • Geography
    • Rome was built on 7 rolling hills of Tiber River
    • Located on Italian Peninsula (Italy)
    • Bordered by Adriatic Sea to the east
    • Near midpoint of Mediterranean Sea
    • Mediterranean Climate: warm year round- encouraged outdoor activities

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Geography & Early Republic

  • The First Romans
    • Three groups settled on Italian Peninsula from 1000-500 B.C.
      • The Latins
        • Built original settlement of wooden huts
        • Considered to be the first Romans
        • Helped spread Latin derived languages to the area

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Geography & Early Republic

      • The Greeks
        • Moved north into Italy during decline of Hellenistic Culture
        • Settled in Southern Italy and Sicily
        • Brought all of Italy, including Rome, into contact with the Greek civilization
        • Brought architecture, democracy, and philosophy

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Geography & Early Republic

      • The Etruscans
        • Skilled metal workers native to northern Italy
        • Strongly influenced Roman civilization
        • Influenced Roman arch
        • Influenced Roman lust for killing (ex. Gladiator battles)

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Geography & Early Republic

  • Early Rome
    • Early Etruscan kings and successors built temples and public centers in Rome
    • The Forum was the heart of the Roman political life
    • After Rome’s last king was driven from power in 509 B.C for being too harsh, the Romans declared they would never again be ruled by a king
    • Instead they established a republic, which meant “public affairs”
    • A republic is a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
    • In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted only to free-born male citizens

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The Roman Forum

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Roman Forum Ruins

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Geography & Early Republic

  • People of Rome
    • Rome was divided up into several different groups who struggled for power
    • Patricians: wealthy landowners who held most of the power
    • Plebeians: the common farmers, artisans, and merchants; majority of pop.

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Geography & Early Republic

    • Tribunes: elected representatives who protected the rights of the plebeians from patrician officials

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Geography & Early Republic

    • Consuls: two officials with limited power and one year terms; one controlled the army the other directed the government
    • Dictator: in times of crisis, the republic could appoint a leader with absolute power to make laws and control the army; power lasted for 6 months
    • Legions: military units made up of 5,000 soldiers

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Geography & Early Republic

  • Roman Power Expands
    • Steadily the Romans conquered the Italian Peninsula
    • As Rome conquered lands, people were absorbed into their ever growing territory
    • Some people were accepted as citizens, others simply became allies
    • Rome went to war against Carthage; a powerful city in North Africa
    • The struggle became known as the Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)

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The Punic Wars

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Geography & Early Republic

    • Carthage was led by a brilliant general named Hannibal
    • Hannibal assembled an army of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants intent on capturing Rome
    • He led his troops up through Spain and crossed the Alps into Italy

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Hannibal Crossing the Alps

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Geography & Early Republic

    • The Romans regrouped and prevented Hannibal from sacking Rome
    • Rome defeated Hannibal in 202 B.C. near Zama
    • Rome eventually defeated Carthage in the third Punic War extending its power across the Mediterranean Sea

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Geography & Early Republic

    • Rome’s territory and power would only get bigger and stronger…

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Constructive Response Question

  • Who were the earliest Romans and how did each contribute to the founding of Rome?

2. Compare and contrast the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire using specific examples:

3. What contributions did the Romans make to the cultural advancement of the world?

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