Romans Create a Republic

Legend has it that in 753 BCE

Rome was founded by

twins named Romulus &

Remus. They had been

abandoned as young kids and

raise by a female wolf

Its all about location

Sits on Italy’s biggest river,

the TiberClose to the

Med SeaRich volcanic

soilExcellent weather for agriculture

Romans are from the group called Latins

About the time of the founding of

Rome the Greeks arrived and settled

colonies in the south

Romans would learn how to grow grapes and olives from them, as well

as their Gods (whom they would

also use, just changed their

namesEtruscans

influenced the Romans in

engineering and in writing (the

Romans adapted their alphabet)Also religious

rituals

Legend has it that Rome was lacking women, and although it was growing Rome was doomed

unless it could make more Romans, so Romulus invited the neighboring

Sabines to come to a religious party and then they drove the men away in what was called the “Rape

of the Sabine Women”

Φ Rome was ruled by Etruscan kings for about 100 yearsΦ The king, Tarquin the Proud’s son raped a Roman woman named Lucretia, who after advising her father & husband killed herselfΦ Led by Lucius Brutus, the Romans revolted and drove the Etruscans out in 509 BCEΦ They formed a new government called a republic, power rests with citizens who vote to select their leaders.

Etruscan Jewelry

• Fresco - Double Flute Player from the Tomb of the Leopards, Tarquinia

• A large water vessel of the Archaic period (c. 750-c. 480 BCE) and the Classical period (c. 480-c. 330 BCE).

Etruscan Temple

Patricians & Plebeians

Φ The word Patrician comes from the Latin word Pater, which means father.Φ Patricians were the wealthy landowners who claimed ancestry back to the times of RomulusΦ Plebeians were everybody else and had the right to vote but not hold office.

GovernmentΩ Tribunes

The citizens of Rome voted for tribunes. It was the tribunes job to make sure that the

people were treated fairly.

Twelve Tables

Laws had never been written down and were left to the

patricians to interpret. Now everyone was protected the

same under the law Consuls

2 elected each year. Like a president. Could not run again for 10 years. Each had veto

power

The senate of Rome was an aristocratic branch made of 300 members of the upper class (later plebeians were allowed). It

was a position for life

Cincinnatus – he was made dictator twice

to help put down revolts. After all was settled he returned

the dictator’s symbol and returned to his

plowIn Rome, a dictator

was a leader who had absolute power to make laws and

command the army. His power lasted 6

months

A Roman Legion consisted of about 5,000 men. Within a legion were centuries which had

between 80-100 men

Rome slowly added territory – an assortment of Gauls/Celts had been putting pressure on Italy and

finally moved on Rome and sacked it in 390 BCE

I. The Romans traded goods throughout their Empire. By importing goods from other countries they raised their standard of living and were able to have many luxuries.

II. The Romans used their network of roads and also waterways to transport goods from one country to another.

III. The Romans traded with Britain for silver, which they used to make jewelry and coins, and wool which they used to make clothes.

IV. They imported dyes to color their clothes from the south-eastern part of their Empire and also spices to flavor their food.

I. If Rome wanted to continue its growth it would have to deal with the largest & most powerful trading city in the Mediterranean, Carthage

I. The Romans traded goods throughout their Empire. By importing goods from other countries they raised their standard of living and were able to have many luxuries.

As it looked 2nd century CE

• There were 3 wars between Rome & Carthage between 264-146 BCE

• The 1st lasted 20+ years – Rome would win the island of Sicily

The 2nd war was all about Hannibal, the Carthaginian general

• Hannibal’s army was in Spain and Rome felt secure that his army could not attack by land – Hannibal proved them wrong by crossing the Alps with his elephants! Only 2 survived along with about 50,000 soldiers

• Hannibal terrorized the Italian countryside for almost 15 years defeating everything the Romans threw up at him, but he couldn’t get through the walls of Rome. One battle, Cannae [above] the Romans had twice the numbers, but Hannibal’s skill compared to the Romans led to 50-70,000 men slaughtered when Hannibal’s smaller army surrounded them

Leading Rome’s

armies was Scipio – the

name Africanus

was added after the Battle of

Zuma

• To relieve the pressure, Rome sent their General, Scipio, who landed at Carthage. Hannibal had to return and at the battle of Zama was defeated.

Cato the Elder

• A foe of Scipio’s, he famously incorporated the words 'Carthage must be destroyed !' (Delenda Carthago !) into every speech he held in the senate, no matter what the subject of the matter debated was.

In the 3In the 3rdrd Punic Punic War, Rome had War, Rome had punished punished Carthage to the Carthage to the point of point of despair. despair. Spoiling for a Spoiling for a fight, Rome fight, Rome sent another sent another army to army to Carthage, Carthage, sacked the sacked the town, and sold town, and sold all the all the inhabitants inhabitants into slavery. As into slavery. As a symbol, they a symbol, they poured salt on poured salt on the city so it the city so it would never would never grow again grow again

• Rome was founded by twins• Romulus & Remus• Romans are from the group called• Latins• Power rests with citizens who vote to

select their leaders.• Republic