1. The Origins of Rome

2. Italy Peninsula Shaped like a boot Heel points towards Greece
Toe points towards the island of Sicily

4. Mountains of Italy
Alps to the north
Apennines – down center of Italy

6. Italian Terrain similar to that of Greece
Apennines not as rugged as mountains in Greece
Settlers in Italy were not split into small isolated groups (like Greece)
Italy had better farmland than Greece .
Mountains slopes leveled off to large plains - ideal for growing crops
Italy the capacity to grow more food/feed more people

8. First People to Enter Italy
People trickled over the Alps sometime between 1500 and 1000 B.C.
Attracted to the rich soil and good climate
First settlers to plains of Italy were the Latins (spoke Latin)
Built Rome on the plain of Latium in central Italy

10. Tiber River Rome is found 15 miles up the Tiber River
A source of water / way to get to the Mediterranean Sea
Far enough from the sea to escape raids from pirates and other enemies of Rome

12. Seven Hills Rome was built on seven hills
easier to defend the city against attack
hills very steep and attackers would find it difficult to mount a credible attack
Aventinus (Aventine)
Caelius (Caelian)
Capitolium (Capitoline)
Esquiliae (Esquiline)
Palantium (Palantine)
Quirinalis (Quirinal)
Viminalis (Viminal)

14. Legends of Rome Part One
Traditional story of twin brothers - Romulus and Remus - founded Rome
Abandoned as babies near the Tiber River
Rescued by a wolf
Raised by a shepherd
Brothers quarreled over a wall and Romulus killed Remus
Romulus - the first king of Rome (which he named for himself)

16. The Aeneid/Another legend
Epic by Roman poet Virgil
Story of Trojan hero Aeneas
About his adventures after the Trojan War
He lands at mouth of Tiber River
Warfare and marriage to King’s daughter, united Trojans and Latins
Called “Father of the Romans”

17. The Real Story.. Historians are not sure how Rome began
The Latins lived in the area where eventually was
Banded together for protection
the community became known as Rome.

19. Greek Colonies
Many Greeks lived in southern Italy and Sicily between 750 and 550 B.C. (colonies)
Greeks taught Romans:
How to grow olives and grapes
Adopted Greek alphabet
Modeled Greek architecture, sculpture and literature

21. Etruscans North of Rome was Etruria
This region was inhabited by the Etruscans
After 650 B.C. they moved south and took control of Rome and most of Latium

23. Etruscans change Rome Taught Romans to wear Togas
Etruscan army served as a model for the Roman army (great pride in military)
Skilled metal workers/slaves did heavy work
Changed Rome from village to a city