Transcript Early Rome - White Plains Public Schools

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
Italy is a country in western Europe.
E. Napp
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
Rome was a city-state located on a fertile
plain in the middle of Italy.
E. Napp
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
The Etruscans conquered Rome and
the plain of Latium.
E. Napp
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
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
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
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
The Plebeians were citizen-soldiers. The
Patricians needed them to defend Rome.
E. Napp
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
The Roman Senate was a governing
body.
E. Napp
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