Ancient Rome Ancient Rome Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Early Rome and the Early Rome and the RepublicRepublic

The Legend of Romulus and The Legend of Romulus and Remus Remus

Rhea was married to Mars, the Roman god of war. Rhea had twin sons. She loved her boys, but there were plots afoot by other gods and goddesses to harm her father, herself, her husband, and her children. To protect the boys, she set them adrift on the river, hoping someone would find them. Who would not love such beautiful boys? Sure enough, first they were found by a she-wolf who fed them. Then a shepherd and his wife adopted the boys. As the twins grew older, they decided they did not want to take care of sheep. They wanted to be kings. They decided to build a city on the shores of the Tiber. They both wanted to be the only king. They quarreled. In a fit of rage, Romulus picked up a rock, killed his brother, and made himself king. That’s how Rome started.

The Geography of ItalyThe Geography of Italy

A Land of Geographic Differences A Land of Geographic Differences Italy: “boot shaped” peninsulaItaly: “boot shaped” peninsula Alps mountains, Mediterranean Sea, Alps mountains, Mediterranean Sea,

island of Sicily, island of Sardinia, island of Sicily, island of Sardinia, Apennine Mountains, Po River, Arno Apennine Mountains, Po River, Arno River, Tiber RiverRiver, Tiber River

Climate and AgricultureClimate and Agriculture

climate: cold to subtropical climate: cold to subtropical poorly suited for agriculture poorly suited for agriculture Po River valley – good for farmland Po River valley – good for farmland grapes & olives grapes & olives location helped sea trade location helped sea trade

Influences on Early RomeInfluences on Early Rome

twin brothers Romulus & Remus founded twin brothers Romulus & Remus founded Rome on the Tiber river April 23, 753bcRome on the Tiber river April 23, 753bc

Latin people were farmers & herders then Latin people were farmers & herders then became traders became traders

Etruscan people – central Italy, came from Etruscan people – central Italy, came from Asia Minor 800bc, had written language & Asia Minor 800bc, had written language & taught Romans about art & architecturetaught Romans about art & architecture

Romans adopted many elements of Greek Romans adopted many elements of Greek culture culture

The Roman MonarchyThe Roman Monarchy

7 kings of Rome met with a council of 7 kings of Rome met with a council of advisors advisors

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last king, ruled harshly king, ruled harshly

509bc wealthy noble Lucius Junius 509bc wealthy noble Lucius Junius Brutus led revolt Brutus led revolt

Lucius Junius Brutus Lucius Junius Brutus

Establishing a RepublicEstablishing a Republic

The Government of Republican RomeThe Government of Republican Rome

REPUBLICREPUBLIC – a government in which – a government in which much of the power is held by elected much of the power is held by elected representative; latin for representative; latin for res publicares publica “property of the people” voters “property of the people” voters

chose representatives chose representatives

The Government of Republican The Government of Republican RomeRome

based on tradition, not a written based on tradition, not a written constitution constitution

two people elected at consuls each two people elected at consuls each year, proposed laws, led army, one year, proposed laws, led army, one

had had VETOVETO power over power over the other – to stop the passage of a the other – to stop the passage of a lawlaw

The Government of Republican The Government of Republican RomeRome

MAGISTRATESMAGISTRATES – government – government official, consuls most important, official, consuls most important,

praetors (judiciary), praetors (judiciary), aediles (supervised marketplace), aediles (supervised marketplace), questors (financial questors (financial officers), censors (counted people officers), censors (counted people every 5 years) – most offices 1 year every 5 years) – most offices 1 year

terms terms

The Government of Republican The Government of Republican RomeRome

SENATESENATE – council of – council of representatives; made up of representatives; made up of PATRICIANSPATRICIANS – – descendants of founding families of descendants of founding families of Rome, upper class, ran government Rome, upper class, ran government

PLEBEIANSPLEBEIANS – commoners, controlled – commoners, controlled tribal assembly, made tribal assembly, made

up military up military

The Government of Republican The Government of Republican RomeRome

450bc plebeians elected 450bc plebeians elected TRIBUNESTRIBUNES – plebeian official who could attend – plebeian official who could attend meetings of the assembly; forced meetings of the assembly; forced patricians to publish written laws,patricians to publish written laws,

451bc first Roman code of law 451bc first Roman code of law Twelve TablesTwelve Tables

Twelve TablesTwelve Tables