Ancient Rome and the Roman Republic

Geography -Located on the Italian peninsula, in the center of the Mediterranean Sea -The Alps are in the North -The Apennine Mts. are on the eastern coast -broad, fertile plains in the north and west

Early Civilization -Italy was originally occupied by many different groups of people -Two main groups were Greek colonists and the Etruscans -The Etruscans ruled much of central Italy and Rome itself -Ancestors of the Romans, the Latins, settled in the area that is now Rome around 800 B.C.

Legend of the Founding of Rome -Legend has it that twin brothers, Romulus and Remus founded the city -According to the tale, the twins’ mother was a Latin woman and their father was the war god Mars -This led Romans to believe that they had a divine origin

Rome Geography Why would this geographic location be an advantage? Rome is located: -On the banks of the Tiber River -On and around seven hills Why would this geographic location be an advantage?

Politics - 509 B.C. Rome is Founded Romans drove out their Etruscan ruler and established a republic They did not want one person to have all the power

Structure of the Republic Patricians= landholding upper class Plebeians= farmers, merchants, artisans, traders Senate= governing body Consuls= two patricians Dictator= assigned to be in charge in the event of a war for six months Patricians Plebeians

Patricians vs. Plebeians Plebeians have no say in the government Eventually get to elect their own officials called tribunes in 494 B.C. For 84 years, (421-337 B.C.) plebeians fought to have a role in each part of the government

Social Structures -A man was the head of the household and his wife and children did not question his authority Over centuries, women received more rights. These included: Owning property Running businesses All children were taught to learn to read and write Wealthy had private tutors for their children

Religion -Romans were polytheistic-they believed in many gods and goddesses -Many of the gods were adapted from the Greek gods Greek God Roman God Zeus-ruler of all gods Jupiter-ruler of all gods Hera-wife of Zeus, protected marriage Juno-wife of Jupiter, protected marriage Poseidon-god of the sea Neptune-god of the sea Roman calendar is full of feasts and celebrations to honor the gods and goddesses Temples for worship to ask for divine assistance

Politics Rome grows strong and begins conquering the rest of Italy -By 270 B.C., Rome controls most of the Italian peninsula Military is made up of citizens Rome conquered justly- allowing those conquered to keep their culture, customs, and government- as long as they supplied soldiers, paid taxes, and acknowledge Roman leadership

The Punic Wars -Carthage had an empire throughout the Mediterranean -Rome fought Carthage in three wars from 264 B.C. to 146 B.C. (118 years!) -By the Third Punic War, Rome had completely destroyed Carthage and gained all of Carthage’s territory

Economics -Conquests brought much wealth to Rome -Wealthy families bought huge estates called latifundia. -Romans forced the people they conquered to work as slaves on the latifundia -Slave labor hurt the small farmers because it cost them more to produce food, and the price was driven down by the immense quantities coming into Rome -Farmers fell into debt, sold their land, and moved to the city looking for work -gap between rich and poor widens=riots and chaos

The Gracchus Brothers The brothers worked to get the state to distribute the land to the poor farmers They also worked to get the state to buy grain to feed the poor Senate felt they were a threat to its power, and hired thugs to kill the brothers and their followers -Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus were patricians who were elected tribunes

Republic to Empire -Civil wars break out to decide who should hold power. The senate wanted to keep the status quo; political leaders wanted to weaken the senate and enact reforms -Slave uprisings throughout the republic -Armies became loyal to their commanders because they gave them benefits such as captured land