World and Geographical Studies

1. When in Rome
600 B.C. - A.D. 500
How do different types of political organizations emerge?
How can new ideas lead to social and political change?

2. Republic Empire
• A republic is a form of government in which the leader is not a
king and certain citizens have the right to vote.
• The Romans established a republic in 509 B.C.
• At the beginning of the republic Rome was surrounded by
enemies and was in almost continuous warfare.
• The Roman Republic conquered all of Italy.
• The Roman Republic began to decline when wealthy
landowners, or patricians, began to take over the land of the
plebeians.
• The first triumvirate, or group of rulers, consisted of Julias
Casar, Pompey, and Crassus. After the deaths of Crassus and
Pompey Julias Caesar became dictator of Rome. (47 B.C.)
• Caesar gave land to the poor and increased the senate to 900
members, weakening its power.
• Fearing the growing power of Caesar, a group of senators
assassinated Caesar in 44 B.C.
• Civil war continued and the second triumvirate was created. It
consisted of Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus. Octavian and
Antony split the land between themselves and soon came into
conflict.
• Octavian conquered the army and navy of Antony, Octavian
was supreme over Rome. Civil war and the republic had ended
and the people could no longer vote.

4. Physical Geography’s Impact
• Rome had less mountains, creating
more space for farmers to farm.
• Because of its relatively close
location to the Mediterranean sea,
there was fertile soil for the
farmers.
• The Mediterranean sea also
provided and easy way for
merchants to trade goods.
• Rome was close enough to the
Mediterranean to benefit farmers
but also far enough to benefit the
military. The location allowed the
military to retreat fast enough if
needed but to also attack easily.

5. Factors Contributing to the
Rise of Rome
• Geography
• The Greeks and E(trus)cans
• Roman duties (honor, courage, leadership, and
discipline)
• Military Strength
• Practical Laws and Politics

6. GREEKS ETRUSCANS
• how to grow olives and
grapes
• alphabet
• literature
• architecture
• sculpture
• dress (toga, cloaks)
• organization of the army

7. Major Events that Led Rome
from Republic to Empire
• farmers lost land
• seizure of power by army
• first triumvirate led to civil war
• Caesar becomes dictator and is later killed
• second triumvirate
• Octavian becomes emperor

8. Positive and Negative Aspects and
Achievements of the Roman Empire
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Pax Romana Civil War
Social Programs Major Gap Between Rich and Poor
Unified Roman Empire with Increased Citizenship Slavery
Building Projects City of Rome (Very Dangerous)
Spread of Greco-Roman Culture Corrupt Emperors
Arts
Advancements in Math and Science
Literature

9. Important Vocabulary
• republic = a form of government in which the leader is not a king and certain citizens have the right to vote
• patrician = a social class of wealthy, powerful landowners, they formed the ruling class in the Roman Republic
• plebeian = in the Roman Republic, a social class made up of minor landholders, craftspeople, merchants, and
small farmers
• consul = a chief executive officer of the Roman Republic; two were elected each year to run the government
and to lead the army into battle
• praetor = an official of the Roman Republic in charge of enforcing civil law
• triumvirate = a government by three people with equal power
• dictator = an absolute ruler
• imperator = commander in chief; the Latin origin of the word emperor
• paterfamilias = in the Roman social structure, the dominant male head of the household, which also included
his wife, sons and their wives and children, unmarried daughters, and slaves
• insulae = Roman apartment blocks constructed of concrete with wooden-beam floors

10. Picture Sources
• http://studyhallsuis.weebly.com/uploads/
6/9/3/9/6939644/1232232_orig.jpg
• http://www.nuttyhistory.com/rome.html
• http://rienahumanitiesisb.blogspot.com/2011/11/
geography-of-ancient-rome.html