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6 th Grade World History
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Essential Question: Why did Rome become successful? Rome’s Beginnings
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Italy is located in the Mediterranean region Italy is cut off from Europe by the Alps Not as rugged as mountains in Greece and much easier to cross Italy is more unified than Greek city states Better farmland than Greece Geography of Italy
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15 miles up the Tiber River and from the Mediterranean Sea Source of water Connected to the Mediterranean world Built on seven hills Easy to defend against enemy attacks Geography of Rome
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Two different legends describe how Rome began Romulus and Remus Aeneid 1,000 B.C.E.: Latins lived on Rome’s hills Tended herds and grew crops 700-800B.C.E. – banded together for protection Origins of Rome
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Greeks Romans learned to grow olives and grapes from the Greeks Adopted the Greek alphabet Modeled architecture, sculpture and literature after the Greeks Etruscans Skilled metal workers Changed Rome from straw-roofed huts to a city with wood and brick buildings, temples and public squares Influenced Roman dress Etruscan army served as a model for Roman army Early Influences
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Romans overthrew cruel ruling family, the Tarquins Set up a republic Leader is put in office by citizens who have the right to vote Rome conquered all of Italy The Birth of a Republic
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Excellent soldiers Every male citizens who owned land Deserters punished by death Organized into small groups called legions who could cut through enemy lines Why Was Rome So Strong?
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Built permanent military settlements in areas they conquered Build roads between towns Roman Confederation Gave full citizenship to most conquered people Gave other conquered people the status of ally Quickly put down any resistance Shrewd Rulers
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1. How was Rome able to control the territories they conquered? 2. How did geography determine Rome’s location? 3. Answer the Essential Question: Why did Rome become so successful? Making Connections
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Essential Question: What differences existed between the early Roman social classes? The Roman Republic
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Patricians Wealthy land owners Ruling class Could hold public office Plebians Artisans and shopkeepers Owners of small farms Both were considered Roman citizens Right to vote, pay taxes, serve in army Intermarriage is forbidden Early Roman Social Classes
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Three part government Consuls Two chosen each year Patricians Headed army Ran government Served short terms Could veto the other’s decision Rome’s Government
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Praetors Interpret the law Act as judges in court The Senate Law making body 300 patrician men Served for life Proposed laws Held debates Approved building programs Rome’s Government
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****Eventually the plebians rebelled and set up the Council of the Plebs. This gradually gained the right to make laws for all Romans. They allowed all Roman citizens to hold public office and allowed intermarriage.**** Rome’s Government
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Dictators in Rome held complete power on a temporary basis during emergencies Appointed by the Senate Cincinnatus Famous early Roman dictator Helped Rome defeat a powerful army Returned to farming his fields only days later Roman Dictators
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Twelve Tables Basis for all future Roman laws Established principle that all free citizens had the right to be treated equally by the legal system Only applied to Roman citizens Law of Nations Principles of justice applied to all people everywhere Innocent until proven guilty Right to defend yourself before a judge Basis of the American legal system Roman Law
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First Punic War Fought between Carthage and Rome for control of Sicily Rome built a navy and defeats Carthage 20 years later Second Punic War Fought between Carthage and Rome to remove Carthage from Spain Carthage sent Hannibal to defeat Rome with 46,000 men, 37 elephants and horses Hannibal crossed the Alps and attacked Italy but was defeated Rome slowly destroyed the Carthaginian Empire and took control of the entire Mediterranean region Rome Expands
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Why do you think the legacy of Roman law is considered so important? Answer the Essential Question: What differences existed between the early Roman social classes? Making Connections
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Essential Question: What problems did the Roman Empire face before the take-over of Julius Caesar? The Fall of the Republic
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Rome’s armies were very successful At home Dishonest officials stole money and came to power “bread and circuses” Farmers faced ruin Could not compete with wealthy Romans who created large estates Cities were becoming overcrowded and dishonest People could not find jobs because enslaved workers were popular Roman army became corrupt Growing gap between the rich and the poor Rival armies resulted in civil war for the next 50 years Trouble in the Republic
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60 B.C.E. – Three men decided to rule Rome together with separate military commands Julius Caesar: Gaul Pompey: Spain Crassus: Syria: killed in battle Fearing Julius Caesar was too powerful, the Senate asked Pompey to return to Rome to rule alone Caesar, the better general, marched into Rome and seized power in 48 B.C.E. Julius Caesar
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Had himself declared dictator Filled the Senate with people loyal to him Became popular with the poor Granted citizenship to more conquered people Created work for jobless people Ordered landowners to hire more free workers Caesar was popular with many but others thought he wanted too much power Assassinated on March 15 th in 44 B.C.E. Rome plunged into civil war Caesar’s Rise to Power
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Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, and one of his top generals, Marc Antony, divided the Roman world Octavian: West Antony: East Antony’s relationship with Egyptian Queen Cleopatra made western Rome nervous that Antony wanted full power Octavian declared war and defeated Antony and Cleopatra Rome Becomes an Empire
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Using the influence of writer Cicero, Octavian gave much power back to the Senate but earned the title, “emperor.” Changed his name to Augustus Augustus
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What was the “bread and circuses” policy and how did Roman politicians benefit? What reforms did Caesar put in place that increased his popularity with the poor and working class Romans? Answer the Essential Question: What problems did the Roman Republic face before the take-over of Julius Caesar? Making Connections
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Essential Question: What characterized the Pax Romana? The Early Empire
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Paved the way for 200 years of peace and prosperity Pax Romana: “Roman Peace” Professional army that conquered new territories Supported the arts Imported grain from Africa to feed the poor Improved the government Appointed governors to rule each of Rome’s provinces The Emperor Augustus
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Tiberius Great military leader and kept Rome’s economy stable Caligula Suffered from mental illness Claudius Built new aqueduct for Rome and conquered most of Britain Nero Had people murdered, gave slaves right to file complaints and committed suicide Who Came After Augustus?
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A series of five “good emperors” helped Rome to grow Programs for the poor Common currency Roads and bridges Aqueducts Ports (traders came from all over) Roman law unified an empire of 3.5 million square miles Unity and Prosperity
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Why would the creation of a common currency be important? Answer the Essential Question: What characterized the Pax Romana? Making Connections
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