ANCIENT ROME

ROME’S BEGINNINGS

The Capitoline Wolf sculpture depicts a she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, Rome's legendary founders. Now a symbol of Rome.

Legends

Much of Rome’s early history comes from legends. The legends may not be totally accurate but are useful in giving the qualities and values the early Romans admired.

Romulus

Founder of Rome in 753 BCEFirst of seven kingsStarted Rome’s first army and government

Numa Pompilius

Rome’s second kingBrought peace to RomeFounded Rome’s religion

Etruscans Rome’s powerful neighbors to the north from EtruriaWere wealthy tradersControlled Rome from 575 – 509 BCEGave the Romans their alphabet and the “arch”Rome becomes a walled city with paved roadsBuilt Circus Maximus, Temple of Jupiter, Cloaca Maxima

Tarquin the Proud

Seventh and last kingWas cruel and terrorized his peopleIgnored the Senate509 BCE Romans rebel and send him into exile

GEOGRAPHY of ROME

1)Rome was a city-state in Italy

2)Rome’s climate is a Mediterranean climate with summers being hot and dry and winters being wet and mild

3) known as Latins, spoke Latin, were herders and farmers, harvested wheat, grapes, and olives

4) Etruscan city-states were to the north of Rome and south of Rome were Greek colonies

5) Built on hills – made it hard to attack

On Tiber River – transportation route, resources

15 miles from the sea – safe from others’ navies and storms

Center of Italy – could easily get to other places in Italy and in the Mediterranean

Mare Nostrum means “our sea” – eventually Rome controls all of the lands around the Mediterranean Sea

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

PATRICIANS• The upper class –

wealthy landowners• Very small group –

5% of the population• Chose the king’s

advisors• Controlled the most

valuable land, held the key military and religious offices

PLEBEIANS• The lower class –

peasants, laborers, artisans, shopkeepers

• Very large group – 95% of the population

• Very few privileges and say

• Paid most of the taxes and served in the army.

A Republic form of government’s purpose is to serve the people. It was established in Rome when the Patricians overthrew the last monarch/king Tarquin the Proud because King Tarquin wanted more power and was cruel.

The Conflict of the Orders is when the Plebeians demanded more political rights because the Patricians were controlling almost everything since Tarquin’s removal.

Some Major Differences Between the Patricians and the Plebeians

• Patricians could only be consuls or senators, they made and interpreted the laws, small group, wealthy, etc.

• Plebeians paid the heavy taxes, were the soldiers, had no political powers, were the labor force, large group

The conflict between the Plebeians and the Patricians was resolved over time by the Plebeians would leave Rome and refuse to work or serve in the military and the Patricians would compromise with the Plebeians by giving them some power and say in the government each time this happened.

Rights gained by the Plebeians over the years:

• Tribunes of the Plebs to represent their interests to the Senate

• Council of Plebs that could make laws only about themselves

• All laws were written down – The Twelve Tables

• One consul had to be a plebeian – in this way it was possible for a plebeian to become a senator

• Eventually could make laws that everyone (patricians and plebeians) must obey/follow

The Roman Republic

CONSULS• One patrician and one

plebeian • Head/leaders of the

Republic• Run the day to day

affairs of Rome and command its army

SENATORS

• Three hundred patricians and ex-plebeian consuls

• They can make and veto laws about everyone• Advised the consuls

Tribunes of the Plebs

• Ten plebeians who represent plebeian interests to the senate

• Advised the consuls• They can make and veto laws

about everyone

Citizens Assemblies

• Made up of all adult male Roman citizens• Nominated people to be the consuls, to be

members of the senate, and to be a Tribunes of the Plebs

• Approved or rejected all new laws