1. Chapter 8: The Rise of Ancient Rome

2. Rome is built around legend
770BCE: Romulus and Remus – two brothers born to a princess and Mars: god of war (Ares)
Both were supposed to be killed
They were rescued by a she-wolf
The boys killed the king who ordered their death
They formed a city along the banks of the Tiber River (Seven Hills Region)
Named “Rome” for Romulus

3. Section 1: Roman Geography
The first settlers chose the spot for living/defensive reasons
Soil was fertile: good for farming
Rome is located on the Tiber River: begins in central Italian mountains and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea
This location gave settlers the advantages they needed to grow in power
Rome is located in west-central Italy

4. The Etruscans First settled near Rome around 900 BCE
We know little about them
They took power near Rome in about 600 BCE
Etruscan kings were known as Tarquins
Famous tarquin: Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Great/Proud)
Ruled right before the Roman Republic formed
Many did not like the idea of absolute power
509BCE: Roman Republic is established

5. Early Roman Republic themes
Romans drove the Etruscans from power
The Republic is ruled by the Senate, not just one person
Romans used the Greek gods/goddesses and changed the names (ex. Zeus = Jupiter)
Romans used the Greek alphabet
Romans did use an Etruscan form of dress: Toga

6. Romans Form a Republic
Rome expanded it’s territories slowly over a few centuries
264 BCE: Rome gains control of the whole Italian peninsula
They form a Republic: leaders rule and vote in the name of the people

7. Map of the Roman Republic

8. The Roman Senate

9. Roman Senate This was the most powerful part of Roman government
This is similar to the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government
Who made up the Senate?
At first, it was only made up of 300 higher class people called Patricians
The social classes of Rome
Patricians: members of wealthy families
Plebeians: ordinary, lower class citizens (could not hold office or be senators)

10. Roman Consuls Roman Consuls: top officials in the Roman Government
Rome had two serving at the same time
Like the U.S. President in terms of power
Before 367 BCE, only patricians could be consul – after, plebeians were able to
What did the Consul do?
Enforced laws
Advised by the Senate
Served ONE year
Could veto a law: veto: stop a law from being passed (President does this today)

11. Other Important Officials
If the consuls disagreed, a dictator would come to power
Dictator: has absolute (all) power like a king but only rules 6 months
Praetors: civil law judges -- helped to develop the Roman courts of law

12. The Roman Public
Patrician Plebeian

13. Patricians vs. Plebeians
Rome’s expansion caused problem among the social classes
Patricians thought of themselves as leaders
They wanted control in government
Many grew wealthy from conquest
Often gained land and left Plebeians without jobs since Patricians had slaves
Plebeians wanted respect
They did not trust Patricians – believed the Senate didn’t care about them
Patricians did not give them respect
Law of the Twelve Tables: created to give Plebeians rights – they were hung all over cities
Despite the laws, Patricians were never taken from power over Plebeians

14. Master of the Mediterranean
Roman military was always expanding
Roman Army: was the strongest in the world at the time
Phalanx: group of 8,000 foot soldiers
Legion: group of about 3,600 men
Foot soldiers became known as legionnaires
Maniple: men
If a soldier fell asleep while on duty, they could be beaten or stoned to death

15. Punic Wars
Punic Wars: series a wars between Rome and Carthage that lasted from 364 to 146 BCE
Fought near Italy and in North Africa (near modern Tunisia)
The term “Punic” mean Phoenician in Latin – the Phoenician people were Rome’s enemy
Wars were fought over TRADE

16. The Three Punic Wars First Punic War: not really a major war
Second Punic War: ( BCE)
Fought closest to Rome
Hannibal: Leader of the Carthaginians crosses the Alps and attacks Italy
Used elephants to travel on – very intimidating
Roman’s had a great plan and when the Carthaginians approached, the Romans left
Third Punic War:
This was the most destructive Punic War
Romans attacked and crushed the city of Carthage
The Romans showed no mercy to the city or the people

17. Punic War Importance
The wars gave Rome control of the western Mediterranean Sea
Rome defeated the world’s largest monarchy (Carthage)
Spain and North Africa became part of the Roman Republic as a result of the wars
This would lead to even more territorial gain in later wars (Gallic Wars)

18. Conquest Weakens Rome
Rome loses money toward it’s society because war is expensive
Because there was less money, the gap between the rich and poor grew more
Wealthy Romans bought up most of the conquered land
Romans also imported new, exotic types of crops into the land
To keep the poorer public from revolting, the upper level politicians provided “Bread and Circuses” – that is, for and entertainment
This allowed the Patrician class to run Rome while the uneducated Plebeians were kept from wealth

19. Roman’s Attempt Reform
Many Romans felt that the Republic was about to collapse – something needed to be done
Two Reformers who wanted change:
Gaius Gracchus
Tiberius Gracchus
Both wanted change in the Republic
Both were sentenced to death by the Senate
Sulla: won control of the Senate and became dictator
He had no limit on how long he could be dictator
He was succeeded was Julius Caesar as dictator

20. Julius Caesar Comes to Power
Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44BCE)
Born to a noble family but associated with common people
Married a lower class woman named Cornelia
Sulla wanted him to divorce her but he did not
Caesar left Rome and joined the Roman Army in the Middle East
He returned in 78BCE when Sulla died

21. The First Triumvirate
Caesar helped to establish the First Triumvirate in 60 BCE
Caesar joins forces with two others making the “Tri” (three) umvirate
Pompey: military general/hero
Crassus: richest man in Rome at the time

22. Problems with the Triumvirate
55 BCE: Caesar conquers Gaul (France) and Britannia (England)
Crassus dies in battle and Pompey will go back and rule Rome as an unfair dictator
49 BCE: Caesar crosses the Rubicon River and heads back into Italy
Says: “Veni, vidi, vici” or “I came, I saw, I conquered”
He heads into Rome, defeats his enemies, and takes control

23. Julius Caesar’s Death 44BCE: Julius Caesar has a great deal of power
Other politicians plot his death because they fear his growing power
“Beware the Ides of March” is a famous statement warning Caesar
This was to warn him against going to the Senate meeting in the middle (Ides) of March
March 15, 44 BCE: Caesar is stabbed to death after the Senate meeting
Supposedly, his last words were: “Et tu Brute” meaning “And you too, Brutus” referring to his friend Brutus who stabbed him

24. The End of the Roman Republic
After Caesar’s death, civil wars broke out in Rome
Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son) went after those who killed Julius Caesar
Octavian was helped by Mark Antony
After they killed those who killed Caesar, Mark Antony left for Egypt
Here he plots war against Rome with the help of the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra
The Roman Senate declares war on them
31BCE: Battle of Actium: Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra
27BCE: Octavian is elected Emperor of Rome
His name is changed to Augustus meaning “highly respected”