Rome’s Beginnings Chapter 8 Section 2

The Origins of Rome  Italy: Peninsula shaped like a high-heeled boot located in the Mediterranean region  The heel points towards Greece, the toe points toward the island of Sicily  The Alps are to the north and the Apennines run down the boot from north to south

The Origins of Rome  The Apennines were easier to cross, therefore the settlements were not split up like Greece  Italy had better farmland; land could support more people  People began to slip through the mountain passes around 1500 B.C. and 1000 B.C  Latin-speaking people built the city of Rome on the plain of Latium in central Italy

Where was Rome Located?  Geography played a major role in the location of Rome.  Tiber River: 15 miles from the Mediterranean Sea  Tiber River: Water source, protection from invaders, way to the rest of the Mediterranean world

Where was Rome Located?  Located on 7 steep hills, making it easy to defend the city against attacks  People could easily cross the Tiber River  Rome became a stopping place for people traveling through Italy and for merchant ships sailing the Mediterranean

How did Rome Begin?  Romulus and Remus  Aeneid: famous epic by the Roman poet Virgil  Historians are not user how Rome began, but believed the Latin's lived in the area as early as 1000 B.C.  Between 800 B.C. and 700 B.C. people banded together for protection thus the beginnings of Rome

Etruscans  Lived north of Rome in Etruria.  After 650 B.C., they moved south and took control of Rome and most of Latium  Military would serve as a model for the Roman Army  Skilled metal workers  Mining and trading  Pride in military  Paintings show festivals, music, and sports  Change Rome into a city of wood and brick buildings

Birth of the Republic  Etruscans ruled for more than 100 years  The Tarquin family grew cruel.  509 B.C., Rome rebelled against the Tarquin family and setup a Republic

Birth of Republic  Republic is a form of government in which the leader is not a king or queen but someone put in office by citizens with the right to vote  Citizens have the power in a Republic  Over the next 200 years, Rome fought many wars  338 B.C.—defeated the Latins  284 B.C.—defeated the Etruscans  267 B.C.—conquered Greeks in Southern Italy

Why was Rome so Strong?  Excellent Army/Soldiers  Early Republic, all male citizens who owned land had to serve in army  Discipline was harsh  Deserters were punished by death  Practical problem solvers

Roman Military  Early military, fought in rows like the Greeks (realized was too slow and hard to control)  Formed smaller groups called Legions  Legion- 6,000 men and would divided further into groups of 60 and 120 men

Roman Military  Roman soldiers were called Legionaries  Weapons: Gladius (short sword) and Pilum (spear)  Carried its own standard— tall pole with a symbol (helped keep units together during battle)

Shrewd Rulers  Good fighters and smart planners  Built permanent military settlements in areas they conquered  Built Roads between towns

Roman Confederation  Romans gave full citizenship to people especially the Latin's  Could vote, serve in government, treated the same as other citizens under the law.  Allies were free to run own local affairs  Pay taxes to the republic and provide soldiers  Due to generosity and treatment of conquered people, loyalty to Rome grew strong.