Ancient Rome What made Rome Great?

Geography Peninsula of Italy is centered in Mediterranean Sea Rome in center of Italy Location helped for Expansion Easier to unify than Greece Not broken up into small, isolated valleys Apennine Mts were less rugged Broad, fertile plains to support population

People Ancestors are the Latins-migrated to Italy 800 BC Settled along Tiber River Herded and farmed Small villages turned into Rome

People Greeks Etruscans Romans shared Peninsula Ruled much of central Italy, even Rome for a time period Romans adopted their alphabet (they learned from the Greeks) Learned to use arches in buildings Adapted their engineering techniques Merged Greek gods with Roman deities

The Roman Republic Romans drove out Etruscans in 509 BC New government some officials chosen by the people- A REPUBLIC Thought it would keep one person from having too much power

Legacy of the Roman Republic Common people gained access to power and rights without war or revolution. US Constitution would reflect ideas of the Senate, veto, checks on political power

The Family Basic Unit of society Male=head of household, absolute power over family Wife subject to his authority

Women Played a larger role than in Greece Would own businesses Most worked at home Patrician women went to public baths, dined out, attended theater and other entertainment

Education Girls and Boys learned to read and write Lower-class taught to write

Religion Gods and Goddesses resembled those of the Etruscans and Greeks Zeus=Roman, Jupiter Calendar filled with festivals and feasts for the gods Festivals inspired a sense of community Temples with statutes of the gods for public worship