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Ancient Rome – Unlike Greece, Geographic Characteristics in Italy Provided Few Natural Barriers, Helped People Unite, and Supported a Growing Population

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Ancient Rome – Unlike Greece, Geographic Characteristics in Italy Provided Few Natural Barriers, Helped People Unite, and Supported a Growing Population • Ancient Rome – Unlike Greece, geographic characteristics in Italy provided few natural barriers, helped people unite, and supported a growing population. Ancient Rome Geography Early Rome Geography • Rome began on the Italian peninsula – Extends from Europe into the Mediterranean Sea Geography • The Northern part protected by the Alps – not isolate • Low mountains and hills throughout the rest – Did not serve as a barrier – Allowed for unity Geography • A Peninsula • Seas - South, East, and West –Protection –Transportation Geography • Most of the peninsula – – fertile soil – mild climate • Food production -supports large population Rome • Rome – Along the Tiber River on 7 hills – Hills provided protection – River – transported food, etc. from inland locations • Located midway – Alps and the southern tip of Italy Look How Rome is Strategically Located • Rome • Location • prime for trade • Allowed Rome • to expand • have access to Mediterranean Sea Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot for the site of our city—the hills, the river to bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from foreign fleets, our situation in the very heart of Italy—all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great. Livy, The Early History of Rome Early History of Rome • The Legend of Romulus and Remus – Rome • founded by twins, Romulus and Remus. • Abandoned near the Tiber River and raised by a she-wolf – Romulus kills Remus and starts Rome Rome’s Myth – Romulus and Remus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jToagTve4h s Early History of Rome • 3 groups that influenced early Rome – Greeks • Established colonies in Italy and Sicily • Taught Romans how to grow grapes and olives • Art, literature, and architecture influenced Romans – Etruscans • From northern Italy – Latins • First to settle in Rome • Gods were influenced by Greeks and Etruscans Influence of the Etruscans ▪ Writing ▪ Religion ▪ The Arch Alas… In 509 BCE the Romans overthrew the last Etruscan King -they established a Republic -the leader is not a monarch (king) -some citizens have the right to vote Early History of Rome • Etruscan kings ruled Rome from 600 B.C. to 509 BC – Roman aristocrats overthrew the last Etruscan king in 509 BC – Establish a republic….. So…Rome as we know it begins… THE ROAD TO WAR THE PUNIC WARS 264 BCE TO 146 BCE Carthaginian Empire Carthage Dispute over control of Sicily and trade routes in the western Carthage Mediterranean had been Result was the brought Rome into founded as conflict with the three Punic Wars Phoenician powerful North colony 500 264-146 BC African city-state of years earlier Carthage FIRST PUNIC WAR • Primarily a naval war – Tactics: maneuver ship to ram and sink enemy • Carthage: very good, experienced naval power • Rome: small navy, little experience –Defeated repeatedly by Carthaginian navy…………but! ROME WINS THE FIRST ONE • Rome would not surrender –Finally turned tables on Carthage by changing rules of naval warfare • Equipped ships with huge hooks and • Would hook enemy ship, pull nearby, board it with soldiers SECOND PUNIC WAR "Hannibal ad portas" (“Hannibal is at the Gates!”) • Hannibal surprises Romans, • Leads through the Alps, • Invades Italy from the north • Defeats Roman armies …but hesitates to attack Rome itself • Too well fortified • War of attrition in hope of destroying Roman economic base ROME WINS • Unable to defeat Hannibal in Italy, a Roman army landed in North Africa, and headed for Carthage – Led by patrician general Scipio Aemilius Africanus – Hannibal forced to leave Italy to protect Carthage • Defeated at the Battle of Zama, fought outside the walls of Carthage Hannibal’s Route HANNIBAL BARCA (247-183 BC) *CARTHAGINIAN GENERAL *BRILLIANT STRATEGIST *DEVELOPED TACTICS OF OUTFLANKING AND SURROUNDING THE ENEMY THIRD PUNIC WAR • Carthage finished after Second Punic War – Hannibal committed suicide – Economy shattered – Lost all territory to Rome – But some Romans feared it might revive someday and challenge Rome again • Notably Cato the Elder – Pushed for another war that would wipe Carthage off the face of the map Cato the Elder The Roman Republic • In 509 BCE the Romans overthrew the last Etruscan King • The Romans established a Republic • In a republic, the leader is not a monarch (king) and some citizens have the right to vote The Patrician Republic • In 509 BCE the Roman patricians got rid of the monarchy • They divided the government into 3 branches • Executive Branch – Consuls and dictators • Deliberative Branch – Senate of 300 Patricians who thought of (but couldn’t pass laws) • Legislative Branch – Centuriate Assembly that passed laws The 3 Branches of American Government Patricians vs. Plebeians • Plebeians (less wealthy landowners, farmers, craftspeople and merchants) wanted more say and better protection from the laws!!!! • 450 BC – The Twelve Tables – A new set of Plebeian laws that applied to everyone – Plebeians were given protection from elites and given rights to more legal systems ROME SOLIDIFIES THE REPUBLIC Republican Government 2 Consuls (Rulers of Rome) Senate (Representative body for patricians) Tribal Assembly (Representative body for plebeians) The Building of the Republic Reform Leaders ▪ Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus • the poor should be given grain and small plots of free land. Military Reformer ▪ Gaius Marius • recruited an army from the poor and homeless. • professional standing army. Civil War & Dictators Julius Caesar Pompey Crossing the Rubicon, 49 BC The Die is Cast! The First Triumvirate ▪ Julius Caesar ▪ Marcus Licinius Crassus ▪ Gaius Magnus Pompey Beware the Ides of March! 44 BCE Julius Caesar •Reading and Question Activity The Second Triumvirate ▪ Octavian Augustus ▪ Marc Antony ▪ Marcus Lepidus The Twelve Tables, 450 BCE ▪ Providing political and social rights for the plebeians. The Twelve Tables of Ancient Rome • There are eight kinds of punishment: 1. fines 2. fetters 3. flogging 4. retaliation in kind 5. civil disgrace 6. banishment 7. slavery 8. death The Twelve Tables • Table I & II - Procedure for courts and trials If you are summoned to court…you must go Table III – Debt You have 30 days to pay off your debt…if not… Table IV – Rights of father over family A deformed child shall be killed…if the father say Table V – Legal guardianship and inheritance Table VI – Acquisition & Possessions Your word is you bond Table VII – Land rights Table VIII – Torts (Laws of injury) If convicted of false witness….Tarpeian Rock Table IX – Public law Table X – Sacred law Table XI & XII – Supplements 1 & 2 12 Tables • Turn to page 149 in your textbook – Read the Infographic on the Twelve Tables of Rome • Answer questions 1 and 2 in the Critical Thinking Section Exit Ticket • How were Patricians and Plebeians different in early Rome?.
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