1. Ancient Rome
What made Rome Great?

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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