4. Legends say that it all began
when twin brothers Romulus
and Remus were born.
At birth, they lost their
mother, but miraculously were
saved by a wolf and raised by it.
Both proved to be natural leaders, but quarreled
over where they would start a new city.
In this quarrel, Romulus killed Remus.
The Origins of Rome
Foreshadowing
Metaphor
Roman History
5.
6. The
Roman
Republic
The site of Rome was chosen for its
fertile soil and strategic location.
Located on the Italian peninsula in the
center of the Mediterranean Sea; built
on seven hills next to the Tiber River.
8. First “Romans”
Latins found original settlement of Rome
between 1000 and 500 B.C.
Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans competed for
control of region
The government of early Rome was a monarchy.
Different kings ruled Rome until 509 BC.
9. The Early Republic
Romans overthrew a cruel Etruscan king
in 509 B.C. and founded a REPUBLIC—
government in which citizens
democratically elect leaders.
A REPUBLIC is a type of
representative democracy.
NOT a pure democracy
because only wealthy
landowning men were
citizens (same as in Greece).
10. Different groups struggled
for power in the early
Roman Republic:
Patricians—wealthy
landowning class that held
most of the power
Plebeians—everyone else:
artisans, merchants, and
farmers; can’t vote, can’t
hold government jobs
Patricians and Plebeians
11. Twelve Tables
In 451 B.C. officials
carved Roman laws
on twelve tablets;
they became the
basis for later Roman
law. These laws
confirmed that all
free citizens would
be protected by the
law. (Citizenship was
limited to adult male
landowners). Continued…
Law does not
apply equally to all.
12. Government of the Roman Republic
Consuls—one to lead
army, one to direct
government
Senate—chosen from
Roman upper
class; make foreign &
domestic policy and laws
Tribunes: elected by the
Plebeian assembly
Democratic assemblies
elect senators and
tribunes, sometimes
make laws for common
people
Why two?
13. The word “Dictator” has changed over
time. In Rome, a dictator was an elected
leader with absolute power appointed
briefly in times of crisis.
14.
15. -> Located near the
Mediterranean Sea.
-> Romans traded wine and
olive oil for a variety of
foods, raw materials and
manufactured goods.
-> One city they frequently
traded with was Carthage.
Rome’s
Commercial
Power
16.
17. Roman legion —a military unit of 5,000 infantry;
supported by cavalry
Army is powerful; key factor in Rome’s rise to
greatness
Citizen soldiers, almost every male citizen in
Rome knows how to fight, even if they are not
professional fighters.
The Roman Army
18. The Roman army was
incredibly well disciplined.
Much of this was due to the
Spartan-like training, where
if soldiers would desert they
would be punished by
death.
Creates a system where
soldiers are loyal to their
generals and not to Rome
or the State.
This plays a
major role in
the rise of
Julius Caesar.
The Roman Army 2
19. Continued…
Rome Conquers Italy
Romans defeat Etruscans
in north and Greek city-
states in south
By 265 B.C., Rome
controls Italian peninsula
Conquered peoples were
treated justly; this
enabled Rome to grow.
Defensive Aggression, the
Romans find “potential”
enemies at their borders
and preemptively attack.
“Defensive Aggression”,
alter utilized by rulers
such as Napoloen, Hitler,
Hideki Tojo.
20.
21. War with Carthage
•Rome and Carthage begin Punic Wars—
three wars between 264–146 B.C.
•Hannibal—Carthaginian general—wants to
fight back after losing to the Romans in the
first Punic War.
22. Carthage/Hannibal
-Carthage was Rome’s rival, with a vast
commercial trade network, a large population and
a greater navy.
-Most of its military was made of mercenaries,
(people paid to fight), and most of them were
Numidians.
-Hannibal surprised the Romans with
30+ elephants and an Iberian army.
Although they won many battles,
they lost many elephants to the
cold and were not able to win
the War.
