Ancient Rome

World Studies

5 Major Characteristics of Roman Civilization

•Advanced Cities

•Specialized Workers

•Complex Institutions

•Record Keeping & Writing

•Technology/Science

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colosseo_di_Roma_panoramic.jpg

What is the Relative Location of the city of Rome? Where is the city of Rome?

• Central Italy• On a peninsula in N.

Mediterranean Sea• Southern Europe• West of Greece• Absolute location

• 41°54′N 12°30′E

Regional Location

Origins of Rome

• Legend states…

• City founded in 753 B.C.

• Romulus and Remus• Twin sons of war god Mars

• Romulus killed Remus-1st Roman king

• City of Rome• Tiber River

• 7 hills

• Mid-point of peninsula

• Middle of Mediterranean

The First Romans

• 1000-500 B.C.

• Latins

original settlers in Rome

• Greeks • Southern Italy

• Trade

• Etruscans• Northern Italy

• Metalwork/alphabet

• What made Rome an ideal location for a city?

Advanced Cities-City of Rome• Center of the Roman Republic

– Known for:

• Government

• Disciplined Military

• Coliseum

• Pantheon

• Forum

• Aqueducts

Specialized Workers

• Gladiators

• Soldiers

• Architects

• Sculptors

• Slaves

• Senators

• Consuls

• Doctors

Complex InstitutionsGovernment

•Rebellion against Etruscan king= a Republic

• government of elected representatives

•Patricians – wealthy landowners 10%

• Power from ancestry

•Plebeians – merchants, farmers, traders 90%

• Vote, but no leadership

Complex Institutions:Republic

• Comes from Latin word “respublica” meaning, “a matter of the people” - 509 B.C.– A “REPRESENTATIVE” type of government

• Roman citizens elected governmental officials to represent them

– Patricians - Wealthy/Noble class - landowners– Plebeians - Merchants, farmers, traders

• Three components of the Republic– Senate - made up of senators elected by citizens– Consul - elected officials who acted as leaders of the Senate– Assemblies - gathering of citizens to vote on decisions made

by the Senate

Law• Republic

• Rule of Law• 1. People equal under the law• 2. Accused can face the accuser.• 3. Decisions must be fair.• 4. Innocence until proven guilty.• 5. Guilt must be established.

• 12 Tables – Written Law Code (451 B.C.)• Displayed publically, kids memorized them

• Laws were practical/flexible

Republic • Balanced Gov’t

• Consuls – 1 yr.• Lead army• Led Gov’t

• Dictator – 6 mo.• Emergency leader.• All power.

• Senators (Patricians)

• Tribunes (Plebians)

American Government

• Executive – President is head of state and commander in chief

• LegislativeCongress is made up

of the House of representative and the Senate.

Separation of Powers

Quick Quiz

1.Where is the city of Rome located?

2.What makes Rome’s location a good one?

3.Compare and contrast the Roman Republic and the government of the United States today.

Complex Institutions-Roman Military / Legions• In 270 B.C. the Roman legions

controlled Italy. How?

• How?

• Frequent conflicts = skilled warriors

• Age 17-46 could be called

• Strong, disciplined army

• Well-trained

• Treated enemies well.

• Collected taxes.

• Respected some local

customs.

Wars of Conquest 264-146 BCE

• Rome’s greatest enemy-Carthage, a Phoenician city-state in North Africa (Tunisia)

• 3 wars fought between Rome & Carthage for control of Western Med. & Sicily --“Punic Wars”

• Hannibal – a great Carhtagian leader who invaded Rome & heavily damaged Roman Army before retreating 15 yrs later• He famously invaded with war elephants up through Spain & the

French/Italian Alps.

• Rome final winner=control over N. Africa, Spain, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica

Battle Formations

Battle Formations

Battle Formations

• Tortoise

Roman Empire

• Empire- group of states or territories controlled by one ruler.

• Caesar-title adopted by Roman emperors.

• Julius Caesar- ruler who helped the republic become an empire

Caesar’s Roman Empire

Point to important locations…

Hadrian’s Wall--Emperor Hadrian 122 BCE

Record Keeping/Writing- Literature• Authors:

• Virgil• the AENEID

• Horace• Odes

• Roman Numerals:• I, II, III, IV, V, VI., etc.• Et cetera “and so on”

• Wrote in Latin• Language is still used by

Roman Catholic Church and in science

• “From many; one”• “New order of the ages”

Latin Roots – Romance Languages• Vulgar Latin

• Vernacular

• Language of the empire: soldiers, government, merchants.

Technology-Architecture

• Contact with Hellenistic civilizations

• Arch• Dome• Coliseum

• Bread & Circus• Gladiators, chariots, etc.

• The“Colesseum”• Pantheon

Engineering

• Aqueducts• Catapults• Heating

• Public Baths

• Roads• Siege towers

Bath, England

Pax Romana

• 100 years of peace & prosperity in the Roman Empire.

• Latin for “Roman peace”

• http://www.asterix.com/

The Fall of Rome

1. Economic

1. More Empire=more expenses=higher taxes

2. Declining population ( wars, plague, etc.) meant fewer people paying taxes

3. Poor moved to the cities

4. Distracting entertainment cost $$$

1. “Bread & Circuses”

2. Social

1. Loyalty to government & one another declined

2. Many soldiers fought for $ not their country

3. Wealthy men chased $ instead of governing

The Fall of Rome

1. Political

1. Empire so big it was divided in two. E & W

2. East grew strong/West grew weak

3. Civil war cost many lives and required taxes

4. Enemies at weakened borders

1. Barbarians-believed to be by another culture to be savage or primitive peopel

2. Military

1. Foreign tribes invaded -“barbarians”

1. Visigoths, Vandals, Angles & Saxons, & Huns

Vandals…”vandalism”