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Ancient Rome. Rome’s Geography. The Roman civilization developed in Italy. Geographically, this offered some advantages and disadvantages. Italy had land and a climate suitable for agriculture and was centrally located in the Mediterranean Sea to trade with three continents.
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Rome’s Geography • The Roman civilization developed in Italy. • Geographically, this offered some advantages and disadvantages. • Italy had land and a climate suitable for agriculture and was centrally located in the Mediterranean Sea to trade with three continents. • Italy didn’t have any suitable harbors and it was cut off from the rest of Europe by the Alps.
The City of Rome The city of Rome was built on the Tiber Riveron seven hills – this made it easier to defend and protected it from flooding. • The people that built Rome were called the Latins. • The Latins were later conquered by a group of people called the Etruscans. • These two groups will eventually combine to form the Roman civilization.
The Tarquins The Tarquins were an Etruscan family that began ruling Rome around 600 B.C. 1. They drained the marshes at the mouth of the Tiber River and built Ostia, which served as Rome’s port, making trade possible. 2. They built the Forum, which became the seat of Rome’s government. 3. They were cruel leaders (along with other Etruscans rulers) and the Latins eventually rebelled and took over Rome.
Roman Society Roman society was divided into two classes: • The patricians, were land-owning nobles who made up Rome’s ruling class. • Only the patricians were allowed to participate in the government. • The plebeiansincluded merchants, small farmers and artisans. 4. The two groups were not allowed to intermarry.
The Roman Republic 1. Rome had a republican form of government – a government made up of officials elected by the citizens of the country. • Rome had two consuls who led the government and the military. • Each could veto the other’s decision to make sure one didn’t become too powerful. • The Senate was a group that advised the consuls and proposed laws – they eventually became a law-making body.
The Roman Army The Romans copied their army after the Greeks, but made some changes to it. 1. The Romans divided their army into legions, which were smaller, more maneuverable groups. 2. The plebeians made up the army and they were well-trained and disciplined. 3. They were expected to serve for the good of Rome and received no pay for their service.
Plebeian Representation in Rome’s Government • The plebeians played such an important role in society and the army that eventually the office of tribune was created. • The tribune was the representative of the plebeians in Rome’s government and he had the authority to veto any law. • In 451 B.C., the Twelve Tablets were created. • The Twelve Tablets were Rome’s first written code of law and they established the principle that all free citizens had the right to be treated equally by the legal system.
Roman Conquest As Rome’s population continues to rise, they began using their powerful army to conquer surrounding areas. 1. Rome treats the people they conquer well, as long as they obey Roman law and pay tribute to Rome. 2. Rome builds military settlements in the areas they conquer to protect their new lands and they build roads to connect these settlements. 3. These roads later become important trade routes.
Carthage Rome’s biggest competitor will be the city of Carthage. 1. Carthage was established by the Phoenicians on the northern coast of Africa. 2. Carthage has a powerful navy and is a major trading competitor with Rome. 3. Carthage controls northern Africa, the southern coast of Spain and the island of Sicily.
The Punic Wars • In the First Punic War, Rome and Carthage go to war over the Straight of Messina, which lies between Italy and the island of Sicily. Rome wins and gets Sicily. • In the Second Punic War, Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, uses elephants to cross the Alps and launch a surprise attack on Rome. Rome wins again and gets Carthage’s lands in Spain. • In the Third Punic War, Rome uses a minor skirmish as an excuse to go conquer Carthage for good. Rome wins and takes it all.
Trouble for the Republic By the end of the Punic Wars, the Roman civilization has grown so large that it is difficult for the Republic to govern effectively. 1. The land will be divided into provinces with a proconsul responsible for governing each one. 2. Many of the proconsuls are corrupt and treat the people they govern cruelly, which will lead to rebellions that Rome has to put down. 3. These rebellions but a strain on Rome’s economy.
The Latifundia The Senate begins renting land in the provinces to wealthy Romans. 1. These men formed latifundia, which were huge plantations run using slave labor. 2. These plantations supply food to Roman cities and small Roman farmers can’t compete, causing many to lose their farms. 3. Jobs in the cities are scarce because of all of the slave labor that has been created by the various Roman conquests. 4. The number of poor in Rome grows rapidly.
Marius Marius becomes consul of Rome in 107 B.C. 1. Marius begins enlisting the poor in the army and begins paying them for their services, creating Rome’s first, professional army. 2. Marius also promises them land when they get out of the army. 3. Because of this, the army becomes more loyal to Marius than to Rome.
The First Triumvirate In 60 B.C., Pompey, Crassus, who were elected consuls, united with Julius Caesar, a talented general, to form the first Roman triumvirate. 1. A triumvirate is a government controlled by three people. 2. Caesar and Crassus are off fighting and Crassus is killed. 3. Pompey is afraid Caesar will try to seize power, so he has the Senate order Caesar back to Rome without his army. 4. Instead, Caesar brings his army with him and seizes control of Rome.
Julius Caesar Caesar will make himself dictator and begins making reforms. 1. He creates jobs for the poor, gives land to the landless and grants citizenship to people living in the Roman provinces. 2. He also puts representatives from the provinces in the Senate. 3. Caesar becomes very popular with Rome’s poor.
The Assassination of Caesar In 44 B.C., Caesar will be assassinated by a group of Senators who feared his popularity and believed he was trying to make himself king of Rome. 1. After Caesar’s death, civil war breaks out in Rome. 2. Caesar’s grandnephew and two of his top generals defeat Caesar’s assassins and for Rome’s second triumvirate.
The Second Triumvirate Octavian, Marc Antony and Marcus Lepidus create the second triumvirate and divide up the Roman empire between themselves. 1. Octavian takes Rome and all lands to the west. 2. Marc Antony takes Greece and the lands to the east. 3. Marcus Lepidus takes North Africa.
