Early Rome

1. Early Rome In this lesson, students will identify characteristics of early Rome. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms: Italy’s Geography Latins Patricians Plebeians E. Napp

2. Italy is a country in western Europe. E. Napp

3. The Geography of Italy • Italy is a boot-shaped peninsula in western Europe. • Italy is a long, narrow, boot-shaped peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea. • The seas and the Alps mountains in the north protected Italy from most invaders. E. Napp

4. Rome was a city-state located on a fertile plain in the middle of Italy. E. Napp

5. The Latins and the Etruscans • The Latins were a group of people who lived on a plain called Latium in Italy. • They learned many ideas from their Greek neighbors. • The Etruscans lived in the north. The Etruscans conquered Rome and the plain of Latium. E. Napp

6. The Etruscans conquered Rome and the plain of Latium. E. Napp

7. The Roman Republic • The early Roman city-state contained two main social classes: patricians (wealthy landowning families) and plebeians ( small farmers, craftsmen, and merchants). • Eventually, the Romans overthrew their Etruscan king and made Rome into a republic. • A republic is a form of government where citizens have political power. E. Napp

8. A republic is a type of government in which a few people represent many people. Rome was a republic and the United States is a republic. E. Napp

9. The Republic • In 509 B.C., the patricians rebelled against their cruel Etruscan king and established a republic. • In a republic, citizens vote to elect representatives. • The Roman Republic lasted from 509 B.C. to 27 B.C. – almost 500 years. E. Napp

10. Only patricians were allowed to vote. They were from the oldest and richest families in Rome. They made up only 10% of Rome’s population. E. Napp

11. The Plebeians were citizen-soldiers. The Patricians needed them to defend Rome. E. Napp

12. The Plebeians Gain Political Rights • In 494 B.C., the Roman Republic gave the plebeians the right to elect two tribunes. • These two representatives protected the rights of the plebeian class. • The tribunes could veto any law they did not like. The senate could only pass laws to which the tribunes said yes. E. Napp

13. The Roman Senate was a governing body. E. Napp

14. Questions for Reflection: • List two geographic features of Italy and state an effect for each. • Who were the Latins? • Describe Rome’s Republic. • How did Patricians differ from Plebeians? • Why did Plebeians gain greater political rights? • What were tribunes? • Define veto. E. Napp