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Explore the beginnings of Rome, including its geographic location, early legends, and the birth of the Republic. Discover how Rome's government was shaped by the struggle between wealthy landowners and regular citizens, and how Rome became a powerful empire.
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Rome’s Beginnings Chapter 8, Section 1, page 262
Chapter 8, Section 1 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: • explain how Rome’s geographic location aided in its rise to power. • discuss how the Romans created a republic and carried out conquests.
Why is Rome important? • Ancient Rome influences us in the following ways: • daily life • government and law • architecture and engineering • language • military science • religion
The Origins of Rome – page 263 • Italy • peninsula shaped like a boot • mountainous • Alps • Apennines • islands • better farmland than Greece
Where Was Rome Located? – page 263 • geography and the location of Rome • Tiber river • 15 miles up river from the coast = protection from raids • access to the Mediterranean Sea • natural crossing point • seven hills = defense • central location
How Did Rome Begin? – page 264 • traditional legends about the foundations of Rome: • Aeneid by Virgil – legend of a Trojan hero said to have begun Rome • the story of Romulus and Remus(753 B.C.) • These stories gave the Romans a sense of legitimacy. • Historians think people were living in the area by c. 1000 B.C. and banded together for protection between 800 B.C. and 700 B.C.
Early Influences – page 264 • the Etruscans – a rich people that greatly influenced the growth of Rome • Etruria • metalworking • culture (clothing, military, treatment of women) • the Greeks • agriculture • art, literature, and architecture • religion
The Birth of a Republic – page 265 • Roman historical periods: • The Period of Kings (753 B.C. – 509 B.C.) • The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.) • The Roman Empire (27 B.C. – A.D. 476)
The Birth of a Republic – page 265 • Romans overthrew the last king in 509 B.C. and set up a republic (a form of government in which the leaders are elected by citizens). • res publica – “that which belongs to the people”
The Birth of a Republic – page 266 • By 267 B.C., the Romans had taken over most of Italy. • King Pyrrhus – king of Epirus • a pyrrhic victory – “Such another victory and we are ruined.”
Shrewd Rulers – page 266 • What does “shrewd” mean? • Merriam-Webster: “marked by a clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen” • For the Romans, that meant: • permanent military settlements in the areas they conquered • a network of roads • important public works • Roman Confederation – system that gave full citizenship to some conquered peoples • network of alliances
Why Was Rome So Strong? – page 266 • Roman military superiority • compulsory service for male land owners in the Republic • discipline • organization • A legion was an army unit consisting of around 6,000 men. It was broken down further into groups of 60 to 120 soldiers.
Chapter 8, Section 1 Questions • Where did the Greeks live in Italy, and how did they influence Roman civilization? • Describe the two legends that tell of the founding of Rome. Then describe how and when Rome was actually founded. • By what year had the Romans conquered Italy? • What is a legion?
The Roman Republic Chapter 8, Section 2, page 268
Chapter 8, Section 2 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: • discuss how Rome’s republic was shaped by a struggle between wealthy landowners and regular citizens. • describe how Rome defeated the Carthaginians and took control of the Mediterranean area.
Rome’s Government – page 268 • Patricians • from a select few families • wealthy landowners • could vote • In the early Republic, they were the only ones who could hold office. • Plebeians • “middle class” – artisans, shopkeepers, and owners of small farms • not necessarily poor, but most were • considered the lesser of the two classes
Rome’s Government – page 268 • The Struggle of the Orders • “The Pats vs. the Plebs” – plebs “went on strike” (494 B.C.) • Plebeians were seeking political equality. • invaders threaten Rome → plebeians refuse to fight until some changes are made; also threaten to leave → patricians have no choice but to concede
Rome’s Government – page 268 • 471 B.C. – plebeians allowed to set up their own council → the Plebeian Council • elected tribunes – officials meant to protect the interests of the plebeians • gained the power of veto – Latin for “I forbid.” • 300s B.C. – plebeians allowed to become consuls • 287 B.C. – Council of the Plebs gained the power to pass laws
How Did Rome’s Government Work? – page 269 • elements of the government • Senate: 300 members; began as an advisory council; gradually gained power, eventually able to propose laws, controlled public finance, and handled foreign policy • Popular assemblies: in these, all citizens voted on laws, elected officials • Magistrates: governed in name of Senate and people, put laws into practice, acted as priests
How Did Rome’s Government Work? – page 269 • Consuls • When last king thrown out, his place taken by two magistrates called consuls • Elected for one year; chief executives, army commanders • Censors • Next most important after consuls • Recorded wealth, residence of population • Filled vacancies in Senate • Praetors • Primarily judges, could act for consuls if consuls away at war • After terms ended, given military commands, appointed provisional governors • Constraints • Government worked well because of system of checks, balances • Each part could impose certain constraints on others
Who Was Cincinnatus? – page 271 • Cincinnatus – best known early Roman dictator • dictator – a ruler with complete control over the state • appointed temporarily in a time of crisis • terms limited to six months or the end of the crisis, whichever came first • Cincinnatus well known for having only held the position for sixteen daysbefore he relinquished his power and returned to his farm
Roman Law – page 273 • The Twelve Tables – Rome’s first code of laws (451 B.C.) • idea of innocent until proven guilty • the right to defend oneself before a judge • consideration of evidence • the rule of law
Rome Expands – page 274 • Once in control of Italy, Rome turned its attention elsewhere. • Sicily • problem: Carthage
Rome Expands – page 274 • Carthage • coast of North Africa • founded c. 800 B.C. by the Phoenicians • ruled a seafaring trade empire
The First Punic War– page 274 • Rome versus Carthage • fought over who would dominate Sicily • mainly a naval war = bad news for the Romans • quinqueremes • Romans had to adapt • captured Carthaginian ship • use of the corvus
The First Punic War – page 274 • the quinquereme and the corvus
The First Punic War – page 274 • Carthage underestimated Rome • 241 B.C. – Rome defeated Carthage • the Battle of the Aegates Islands • Roman fleet caught the Carthaginian fleet unprepared • Results of war and terms of treaty were harsh towards Carthage: • fleet devastated • lost islands • fines paid to Rome
The Second Punic War – page 275 • Carthage looked for a way to overcome losses → looked to Spain • Rome had a problem with that. • Saguntum, 219 B.C. • 218 B.C. – Hannibal, Carthage’s greatest general, marched against Rome, which started the Second Punic War.
The Second Punic War – page 275 • Hannibal • military background (father Hamilcar Barca, of First Punic War fame) • legendary oath • knew his enemies • brilliant tactician • surprise • exceptional leader • army was diverse, yet formidable • led by example
The Second Punic War – page 275 • Hannibal ran amuck in the Republic • famous crossing of the Alps • approximately 50,000 infantry; 9,000 cavalry; 37 elephants (lost about 1/3) • Ticinus River (218 B.C.) • Trebia (218 B.C.) • Lake Trasimene (217 B.C.) • Hannibal used the terrain to launch a devastating surprise attack.
The Second Punic War – page 275 • The Romans again had to adapt. • “Fabian policy” • Quintus Fabius Maximus – a dictator • simply refusedHannibal the thing he thrived on → battle • harassed supply lines and isolated units • a truly Roman ideal: relentless in the pursuit of victory, an absolute refusal to acknowledge defeat
The Second Punic War – page 275 • Cannae -Hannibal’s greatest victory (216 B.C.) • unique deployment of Hannibal’s forces (trap!) • cavalry was key • “double envelopment” = Roman annihilation • 50,000(?) Romans dead in about 6 hours • Romans returned to the Fabian policy
The Second Punic War – page 275 • Scipio – Roman general who helped to win the Second Punic War • studied Hannibal • went to Africa and threatened the city of Carthage → Hannibal recalled to Africa • The Battle of Zama (202 B.C.) → Hannibal defeated • Rome won the Second Punic War. • Carthage had to pay Rome a fine; lost its navy; lost Spain.
More Conquests – page 276 • Third Punic War • Carthage finally destroyed; 50,000 people enslaved • Carthaginian territory was made a Roman province • 148 B.C. – Macedonia came under Roman rule • 146 B.C. – the rest of Greece came under Roman rule • 129 B.C. – Pergamon became Rome’s first Asian province. • The Romans dominated the Mediterranean (mare nostrum – “our sea”).
Chapter 8, Section 2 Questions • What were the responsibilities of the consuls in the Roman Republic ? • Explain the purpose of a dictator in the Roman Republic. • What was the First Punic War fought over? • Who led the Carthaginian forces in the Second Punic War? • What battle won the Second Punic War for the Romans?
The Fall of the Republic Chapter 8, Section 3, page 277
Chapter 8, Section 3 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: • describe how Julius Caesar seized power, but was later killed by his rivals. • explain how the Roman Republic, weakened by civil wars, became an empire under Augustus.
Trouble in the Republic – page 278 • As Rome gained more and more territory, its government was less and less able to address the new challenges. It eventually gave way to a dictator-ruled empire. • Trouble came in two broad categories: • economic/social turmoil • military upheaval
Rich Versus Poor – page 278 • The gap between the rich and the poor grew wider and wider. • Rich landowners ran latifundia – large farming estates worked by enslaved people. • Rome’s wars provided slaves and took small farmers away to fight. • small farmers couldn’t compete – some sold their farms and became migrant laborers or moved to the cities to look for work • slavery + high number of free workers = low wages and joblessness
Why Did Reform Fail? – page 279 • Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus – brothers who worked to bring reforms to the Republic, specifically to give public land to the poor. • saw the “writing on the wall” • unpopular with the Senate • both met violent deaths PRIMARY SOURCE The savage beasts have their… dens,… but the men who bear arms and expose their lives for the safety of their country, enjoy… nothing more in it but the air and light… and wander from place o place with their wives and children. TIBERIUS GRACCHUS quoted in Plutarch, The Lives of Noble Greeks and Romans
The Army Enters Politics – page 279 • Marius • consul, 107 B.C. • reformed Rome’s army by “rewarding” volunteers • major implications – soldiers were no longer inclined to be loyal to the Roman Republic, but to their generalwho promised them payment • gave generals influence and a good reason to become involved in politics
The Army Enters Politics – page 279 • The Social War • Rome’s Italian allies had been trying to obtain Roman citizenship • Senate wanted to maintain monopoly on power, refused • 90 B.C., Social War broke out • Italian rebels were defeated, but Senate agreed to give them citizenship
The Army Enters Politics – page 279 • civil war – conflict between groups within the same country • Social War revealed talent of General Lucius Cornelius Sulla • Sulla became consul, 88 B.C.; after consulship ended, Marius tried to prevent Sulla from taking military command • Sulla marched on Rome twice (88 B.C. and 83 – 82 B.C.)
The Army Enters Politics – page 279 • Sulla • dictator (82 B.C.) • tried to strengthen the Senate • stepped down from the office (81 B.C.[elected consul in 80 B.C.]), retired • served as an example of how a general with a loyal army could seize power