UNIT 2: ANCIENT ROME

UNIT ESSENTIAL QUESTION: WHAT MADE ROME GREAT?

THE FOUNDING OF ROME

WHO WERE THE ANCIENT ROMANS? Romulus the first King of the Romans originated from ancient city of Latium. The early people of Rome were called Latins. Migrated to Italy around 800 B.C. Farmers and Traders Settled along the Tiber River in small villages scattered over 7 low-lying hills

WHO WERE THE ANCIENT ROMANS? Early Romans shared the Italian peninsula Greeks: Settled in city-states along the South Etruscans: Kings ruled much of northern Italy and even Rome Romans were greatly influenced by the Greeks and Etruscans Adapted the Etruscan alphabet (which was take from Greece) Mimicked Greek & Etruscan architecture (aches) and engineering (irrigation and & draining) Merged Greek gods with Roman deities

BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC In Rome's first centuries it was ruled by a succession of seven Etruscan kings beginning with Romulus and ending with the Etruscan king Tarquin” the Proud.”

LEGACY OF THE REPUBLIC The Roman Republic is perhaps the most influential governmental system in all of human history. Idea of a bicameral legislature Constitution to outline rights & limits gov’t power Term Limits for elected officials Checks and Balances/Veto Power Trial by jury Gaining power without revolution In Rome's first centuries it was ruled by a succession of seven kings beginning with Romulus and ending with the Etruscan king Tarquin” the Proud.”

FAMILY LIFE IN ROME Families were dominated by men. At the head of Roman family life was the oldest living male, called the "paterfamilias.” Women exerted influence behind the scenes. It was accepted that the materfamilias was in charge of managing the household. In the upper classes, slaves and servants were also part of the household. Marriage was often regarded more as a financial and political alliance than as a romantic association. Arranged The paterfamilias had absolute rule over his household and children. If they angered him, he had the legal right to disown his children, sell them into slavery or even kill them.  The paterfamilias had the right to decide whether to keep newborn babies. After birth, the midwife placed babies on the ground: only if the paterfamilias picked it up was the baby formally accepted into the family.  If the decision went the other way, the baby was exposed – deliberately abandoned outside.

WOMEN IN ROME For the most part, women were subject to the control or their husband or father, women in Rome did have more rights than in Greece. They could; Own/Inherit land & property Write wills Appear in court Get divorced Run businesses Counted as citizens Be educated Most women worked in the home. Patrician women took public baths, dined out and went to all sorts of public functions Restrictions: Could not vote, serve in the army or hold public office In Rome's first centuries it was ruled by a succession of seven kings beginning with Romulus and ending with the Etruscan king Tarquin” the Proud.”

EDUCATION IN ROME Both Men & Women were educated but women’s education was taken far less seriously Taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and rhetoric. Goal for young men was to learn of to be good, intelligent citizens Goal for women was to learn how to be proper wives. Education was not just for the patricians (aristocrats). Plebeians (lower class) were taught to write. In Rome's first centuries it was ruled by a succession of seven kings beginning with Romulus and ending with the Etruscan king Tarquin” the Proud.”

RELIGION IN ROME Romans based many of the gods and goddesses off the Etruscans and Greeks Example: The Roman Zeus was known as Jupiter Entire Calendar was built around feasts and festivals to celebrate the gods Helped bring people together and create unity Just like the Greeks, the Romans build many large temples and statues for public worship