Roman History

1. Roman History Introduction

3. The Italian Land • Central position in the Mediterranean • Alps in the north • Protected against barbarian invaders • Fertile plains in the west extending to the sea • Apennine mountains in the east • Made eastern Italy largely inaccessible • Created two groups: wealth plainsmen of the west and poor mountain tribes of the east • Few good harbors, all existed in west of south • Sicily provided stepping stone to Africa • Wealth of natural resources: iron, copper, gold, tin, silver, stones, and timber

4. Sources for Early Roman History • Archaeology • Written: • Livy • Vergil

5. Early people of Rome • Latin speaking tribes: • Latins • Sabines • Samnites • Ubrians • Oscans • Non-latin people in Italy: • Etruscans • Greeks

6. Regions of Italy • Eturia • Umbria • Sabini • Latium • Samnium • Campania • Picenum • Apulia • Lucania • Calabria • Bruttia http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~28536~1120429:Map-of-ancient-Italy---Engraved-to-

7. Early History • Etruscan Dominated much of Italy beginning in the 7th century • Ruled Rome for about 100 years • Etruscan culture had second greatest impact on Roman culture • Expanded south, came into direct contact with the Greeks and began to decline • Rome rebelled and gained independence around 500 BC

8. Foundation Myths • Roman people descended from Aeneas of Troy • Romulus and Remus • Founded April 21, 753 BC • 7 kings of Rome: • Romulus • Numa Pompilius • Tullus Hostilius • Ancus Martius • Tarquinius Priscus • Servius Tullius • Tarquinius Superbus