1. The Roman Republic 1

2. Italian peninsula 750 miles north to south Averages 120 miles across
Apennine Mts. runs north to south
Fertile plains for farming
Islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily are nearby 2

3. Impact of Geography
Apennine Mts. did not divide Italy into small isolated communities (unlike Greece)
More land for farming enabled it to support a larger population
Rome’s location was favorable
away from the coast
built on seven hills – was easily defended
central location on the Tiber river 3

4. Impact of Geography (cont.)
The Italian peninsula juts into the Mediterranean Sea
Important crossroads for the Mediterranean
Governing Rome’s empire was made easier 4

5. The Land and People
1st Millenium B.C. - Latin speaking Indo- Europeans built Rome on the plain of Latium
Influenced by other groups
Greeks and Etruscans 5

6. The Greeks Colonized 2/3s of Sicily and moved up the Italian peninsula
Passed on olive cultivation, alphabet, sculpture, architecture, & literature to the Romans 6

7. The Etruscans Influenced Rome more than the Greeks
Were from north of Rome in Etruria
Made Rome a major city
Passed on the toga and organization of the army (also aqueduct, road, and wall building) 7

8. Early Rome
Legend says that twin brothers Romulus & Remus founded Rome in 753 B.C.
Early Romans were herders and farmers 8

9. Early Roman Expansion Continuous warfare
Was attacked by neighboring states and defeated them
Full Roman citizenship given to the conquered (their army was destroyed though)
By 270 B.C. – all of Italy under Roman control 9

10. Why so successful? Good diplomats Firm, even cruel, when necessary
Rebellions were crushed without mercy
Extended citizenship to many
States ran own internal affairs
Established colonies, built roads, & fortified towns 10

11. The Roman State
Distrust of kingship led to a complicated form of government (Consuls, Praetors, Senate, Centuriate Assembly, etc.) – division of power
Early struggles between Patricians & Plebeians over rights and power 11

12. Rome and Carthage 12

13. 13

14. 1st Punic War (264-241 B.C. ) Actions
Romans send army to Sicily
Carthage considers it an act of war
Romans build a naval fleet
Romans defeat Carthaginian navy off Sicily 14

15. 1st Punic War (264-241 B.C.) Results
Carthage gives up rights to Sicily & pays a fine
Sicily becomes first Roman province 15

16. 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C. ) Actions
Carthage adds new lands from Spain to make up for the loss of Sicily
Romans encourage Carthage’s Spanish allies to revolt
Carthaginian general Hannibal sent to attack Rome (w/ thousand men, horses and elephants)
Hannibal crosses Alps and attacks Rome at Cannae and wins 16

17. 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C. ) Actions (continued)
Rome on the brink of disaster & raise another army
Romans reconquer Italian cities
Send troops to Spain and push out Carthaginians
Romans invade Carthage and defeat Hannibal at Zama in 202 B.C. 17

18. 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C. ) Results
Carthage loses Spain and becomes a Roman province
Rome becomes the dominant power in the Mediterranean 18

19. 3rd Punic War (149-146 B.C.) Actions
Calls in Rome for complete destruction of Carthage
Carthage completely destroyed in 146 B.C. – city burned, buildings pulled down, & inhabitants sold into slavery 19

20. 3rd Punic War (149-146 B.C.) Results
Rome turns attention to the eastern Mediterranean
Greece & North Africa placed under control of Rome 20

21. Julius Caesar
B.C. 21

22. Military Commander
Had military leadership experience from Spain and Gaul
Had an army of loyal veterans 22

23. 1st Triumvirate With Crassus & Pompey Crassus dies in battle
Senate wanted Pompey as leader – was the least harmful to their cause
Senate votes for Caesar to give up his command – he refuses 23

24. Civil War
Caesar’s forces crosses the Rubicon River and marches on Rome
Defeats Pompey’s forces and officially becomes the dictator of Rome in 47 B.C. 24

25. Caesar’s Reforms Gave land to the poor Increased Senate to 900 members
Granted citizenship to people in the provinces
Introduced a new calendar (from a 355 day lunar to a 365 day solar) 25

26. Assassination Who? When? Where? Why? How? Significance?
Approximately 60 collaborators led by Marcus Brutus & Gaius Cassius
When?
March 15, 44 B.C.
Where?
Rome (senate chambers)
Why?
Senate was losing power; Caesar was acting like a king
How?
Stabbed 23 times (supposedly)
Significance?
Led to the rule of the second triumvirate for ten years, civil war, and Octavian as emperor 26

27. Christianity Becomes the Official Religion of the Roman Empire27

28. Jesus is born in Judea
Begins preaching a simple message of humility, charity, and love towards others 28

29. Is denounced by Roman and Jewish leadership
Is tried and sentenced to death. 29

30. By the order of Pontius Pilate Jesus is crucified
Loyal followers believe that he overcomes death 30

31. The “gospel” is preached by his disciples to Jews and non-Jews alike
Christian communities are founded in Asia Minor and along the Aegean Sea 31

32. The Romans disregard Christianity at first but then random persecution begins32

33. Grows slowly at first, but begins to appeal to the Romans for several reasons (salvation for all, baptism was simple, could relate to Jesus, sense of belonging, & personal relationship with god) 33

34. Constantine becomes the first emperor to convert to Christianity
Constantine issues the Edict of Milan in 313 (official tolerance of Christianity) 34

35. Emperor Theodosius the Great (378-395 A. D
Emperor Theodosius the Great ( A.D.) makes Christianity the official religion of the empire 35

36. The Fall of the Roman Empire36

37. Internal Reasons
Empire split into two parts: east (Byzantium) and west (Rome)
Lack of income from trade and taxes
Social factors such as Christianity and the decline of Roman values 37

38. Different Theories
Lead poisoning from water pipes caused mental decline
The plague wiped out large numbers of Romans (population decline)
Reliance on slavery led to a decline in technology 38

39. External Reasons
Invasions by the Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Huns, and others
Shortage of soldiers to fight threats 39