Transcript The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic
Chapter 6 Section 1
I Geography of Italy
• Rome’s central location
and good climate were
vital to its success and
growth
• Rome= center of one of
greatest ancient civ.
• Rome conquered ter. That
we studied (Greece,
Egypt, & Asia Minor)
• Rome= Peninsula that
looks like a high heeled
boot
A. Physical Features
• Two major mountain ranges
– Alpes= Europe's highest mountains
– Apennines (down center of Italy)
• Rugged land made travel dif. But
it did not dived the peninsula or
create isolated com.
• Some mountains are volcanic
(Mt. Vesuvius)
• Land not covered by mtns are
covered by hills
– Built cities on hills for defense
– Rome built on 7 hills
• Rivers flow out of mountains to supply fresh
water
– Built cities around rivers for water source
– Rome lies on Tiber River
• 3 Major rivers
– Po River (Near alps in North)
– Rubicon River (North below Po River)
– Tiber River
B. Climate
• Most of Italy is warm, dry
summers, & mild rainy
winters
• Mild climate allows ppl to
grow variety of crops
– Grains, citrus fruits, grapes,
olives
• Plentiful food supply was
key in Rome’s early growth
II Rome’s Legendary Origins
• No written records of Rome’s early history
– Know of ppl living there because of ruins
• 1st two groups to move to Italy were Greeks &
Etruscans
– Greeks during Greece’s age of colonization
A. Aeneas
• Roman’s believed history began
with Trojan hero Aeneas
– Aeneas fled after the fall of Troy
with his followers
• Aeneid= epic poem by Virgil tells
story of Aeneas journey to Italy
– Aeneas, upon arrival, forms
alliance Latin's to defeat all groups
living in Italy
– Aeneas marries daughter of Latin
king & decedents become rulers
of Italy
B. Romulus & Remus
• Romulus & Remus= twin
bros, decedents of Aeneas &
sons of Mars (god of war)
who found Rome
– Thrown in Tiber as babies
rescued and raised by wolf
until shepard finds them
– Decide to build city to mark
where they were recued
– Remus mocks his bros idea
and Romulus kills him in anger
– Names city “Rome” after
himself
C. Rome’s Early Kings
• Romulus= 1st King of Rome
• Roman records list 7 kings
– Last 3 were not Romans but Etruscans who were
influenced by Greek colonies before Rome’s
founding
• Etruscan kings made great contributions
– Rome's first sewer
– Roman’s learned alphabet & numbers form them
– Via Sacra= 1st roadbed in Rome
• Nobles rise against last king and create new
gov’t
III The Early Republic
• Create a republic
– Republic= ppl elect leaders to govern them
– Elect every year to prevent 1 person from gaining
too much power
• NOT A DEMOCRACY
– Nearly all official s came from group of wealthy
men
– These men held all the power
A. Challenges from the Outside
• Shortly after they formed
republic they went to war with
neighbors
• Romans chose dictators to lead
the city during war
– Dictators=rulers w/ absolute power
(6 months to prevent abuse of
power)
• Cincinnatus= 1 of most famous
dictators
– Defeated enemy and returned to
his farm before 6 month term was
up
B. Challenges within Rome
• Roman society divided into 2 groups
– Plebeians= common ppl
– Patricians= powerful nobles
• Plebeians called for changes in gov’t that gave
them more say in gov’t
• Only Patricians could be elected do they held all
power
• Plebeians form a council and elect their own
officials frightens patricians
• Fearing that Roman gov’t would fall apart the
patricians decide its time for new gov’t