1. The Etruscans BCE
Believed to have come from Asia Minor. Some suggest Mycenaean origins some time prior to 1000BCE
Etruscan culture influences Roman culture (art, writing, religion, architecture, public works planning)

2. Italy in 750 BCE

3. Etruscan Artifacts

4. Etruscan Vases

5. Reconstruction of an Etruscan Temple

6. Etruscan Tomb Wall and Tomb Fresco

7. The Gate of Volterra First known Archway in History
Etruscan

8. The Geography of Rome

9. Roman History
Roman history can be conveniently divided into three main periods
BCE Founding and Roman Kingdom
509-31BCE Roman Republic
31BCE-AD476 Roman Empire

10. The Seven Hills of Rome

11. The Mythical Founding of Rome
Virgil’s Aenid and Aeneas of Troy
Romulus and Remus in 753BCE
Rape of the Sabine Women
Settlements along Tiber River river. Palatine Hill and the Seven Hills of Rome
The Roman Kingdom lasts from BCE. Records lost, little known, based on traditional accounts. Ruled mostly by Etruscans kings

12. Early History of Rome
Latins invaded the central Italian
At the same time the Etruscans settled in and ruled northern Italy (influences in engineering, city planning, art and architecture)
The Greeks controlled southern Italy and Sicily
The Tiber River and seven hills of Rome acted as strategic location
Etruscan kings were overthrown in 509BCE by Latins

13. Ancient Rome

14. Republican Rome BCE
Rome gradually moves from monarchy to res publica
Patricians (large landowners and lifetime members of Senate) and Plebeians
Governmental system of checks and balances (in theory)
Consuls
Assembly of Centuries
Senate
Assembly of Tribes (Tribunes)

15. Republican Rome 509-133BCE The Struggle of the Orders
Civil law code known as the Twelve Tables 450BCE (represented a form of limited government and Bill of Rights)
Various concessions to Plebeians (intermarriage, one Consul a plebe, restrictions on landholding)
Plebeians eventually receive power through tribunes (287BCE receive right to make laws)
Roman genius for compromise and assimilation

16. The Roman Forum

17. Spread of Roman Power Rome Conquers Italy
Romans defeat Etruscans Greek city-states in south
By 265 B.C., Rome controls Italian peninsula
Conquered peoples treated justly; this enables Rome to grow and spread influence (confederalization)
Rome’s Commercial Network
Rome establishes large trading network
Access to Mediterranean Sea provides many trade routes
Carthage, powerful city-state in North Africa, rivals Rome

18. Comparison with Greek City-States
The Greeks conducted politics in terms of principles and theory. What is virtue? What is the best form of government?
Shortly after they had perfected their direct democracy during the Age of Pericles ( BCE)…Alexander the Great replaced comfortable the virtuous life of the polis, with the larger and more impersonal cosmopolis
The Romans had an eye toward practicality and efficiency
They mixed their government, bound the lives of their citizenry to a living constitution, and made compromises to insure the future life and growth of the Republic…

19. Imperialism and Punic Wars 264-146BCE
Rome conquers Italian peninsula and unites Italy
Roman control of Mediterranean threatens Carthage. Series of wars fought from BCE
First Punic War BCE Rome defeats Carthage wins Sicily in first 23-year war
Second Punic War BCE Hannibal avenges defeat in Second Punic War. Attacks Italy through Spain and France, raids peninsula but does not take Rome
Third Punic War BCE Scipio defeats Hannibal in 202 BCE. Carthage destroyed, enslaved in last war 149–146 BCE

20. Imperialism and Punic Wars 264-146BCE

21. Roman Imperialism under the Republic
By 44 B.C., the Romans controlled all of Spain, Gaul (France), Italy, Greece, Asia Minor, and most of North Africa (80% of the coastal lands of the Mediterranean)
Cool Rome Map

22. End of Roman Republic 133-44BCE The Roman Revolution
Corrupt generals and patricians amass wealth from conquest
Captured slaves used by patrician landowners harm economy
Small farmers can’t compete and sell
Plebeian loss of land leads to migrations to cities, unemployment, social dislocation
Reform leaders Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (tribunes) are assassinated
Military upheaval

23. Julius Caesar
Generals return from conquests and become military dictators
Era of military upheaval and civil wars
Military leader Julius Caesar elected consul in 59 B.C.
Caesar, Crassus, Pompey form First Triumvirate group of three rulers
Military victories give Caesar increasing popularity and power
Pompey fears Caesar’s growing power and challenges him
Caesar defeats Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, Egypt
Caesar establishes dictatorship in 46BCE
Caesar is named dictator for life in 44 B.C.

24. Julius Caesar
Caesar codifies laws regulates taxes, addresses unemployment (public works and exportation)
Assassinated by Republicans 3/15/44BCE

25. Beginnings of the Roman Empire
• Caesar’s supporters take control; become Second Triumvirate - Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus alliance ends in jealousy, violence
In 31 B.C., Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s forces are defeated at Actium
Octavian accepts title of Augustus, “exalted one,” and rules Rome