Legendary Legendary Beginnings of Beginnings of

RomeRome……and a bit of Roman and a bit of Roman

GeographyGeography

Roman/Italian Roman/Italian GeographyGeography

Italy is a Italy is a bootboot-shaped -shaped peninsulapeninsula that that juts into the juts into the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Roman/Italian Roman/Italian GeographyGeography

Three major advantages:Three major advantages:1. Mediterranean Sea1. Mediterranean Sea

Offers protection from invasionOffers protection from invasion Access to sea-going trade Access to sea-going trade

routesroutes

Roman/Italian Roman/Italian GeographyGeography

2. The Alps:2. The Alps: An arc of An arc of mountains that protects the mountains that protects the peninsula from an invasion peninsula from an invasion from the northfrom the north

Roman/Italian Roman/Italian GeographyGeography

3.3. Centrally located in the Mediterranean Centrally located in the Mediterranean BasinBasin far from eastern Mediterranean far from eastern Mediterranean powers (Persian and Hellenistic Empires).powers (Persian and Hellenistic Empires).

Persian andPersian andHellenisticHellenisticEmpiresEmpires

VirgilVirgilVirgilVirgil – a poet, the Roman – a poet, the Roman

equivalent to Homerequivalent to Homer

His His AeneidAeneid can be considered can be considered a national epic of Rome. It a national epic of Rome. It traces the legendary traces the legendary beginnings of Rome back to beginnings of Rome back to Aeneas, a Trojan prince who Aeneas, a Trojan prince who brought his people to Italy brought his people to Italy after Troy was destroyed in after Troy was destroyed in the Trojan War.the Trojan War.

Romulus and RemusRomulus and Remus Twin brothers descended from Twin brothers descended from

Aeneas Aeneas Grandsons of King Grandsons of King NumitorNumitor, ,

King of an Italian city-state. King of an Italian city-state.

Legendary BeginningsLegendary BeginningsNumitor’s Numitor’s brother tried to brother tried to depose the king depose the king and had the and had the twins thrown twins thrown into the into the Tiber Tiber River.River. The twins The twins were saved by a were saved by a she-wolf. she-wolf.

Legendary BeginningsLegendary Beginnings

When the twins grew up, they restored When the twins grew up, they restored their grandfather to his throne and then their grandfather to his throne and then founded a new city on founded a new city on Palentine HillPalentine Hill, , above the river in 753 BCE. And what above the river in 753 BCE. And what do you think they named that do you think they named that city?!?!??!?!?city?!?!??!?!?

How did Rome get its How did Rome get its name?name?

Romulus erected a wall around the city. Romulus erected a wall around the city. Remus, being the annoying brother, Remus, being the annoying brother, tried to assert his leadership by tried to assert his leadership by mocking the wallmocking the wall and leaping over it. and leaping over it.

In true brotherly fashion, In true brotherly fashion, Romulus killedRomulus killed his brother. his brother.

Guess what? The city Guess what? The city became known as became known as RomeRome instead of Remus.instead of Remus.

Quick CheckQuick CheckWhat are 3 major advantages of the location of What are 3 major advantages of the location of

Rome?Rome?a.a. Mediterranean Sea, Alps, Central locationMediterranean Sea, Alps, Central locationb.b. Adriatic Sea, Himalayas, Central location Adriatic Sea, Himalayas, Central location c.c. Mediterranean Sea, Himalayas, Eastern location Mediterranean Sea, Himalayas, Eastern location d.d. Adriatic Sea, Alps, VirgilAdriatic Sea, Alps, Virgil

Virgil was a Roman poet who wrote what epic?Virgil was a Roman poet who wrote what epic?a.a. IlliadIlliadb.b. AeneidAeneidc.c. HomerHomerd.d. Roman TimesRoman Times

Legendary BeginningsLegendary BeginningsLegendary Kings (753-509 BCE) Legendary Kings (753-509 BCE) Many of these kings were Many of these kings were EtruscanEtruscan

No written records exist from that time.No written records exist from that time.Histories about the kings were written Histories about the kings were written

during the Empire based on legends.during the Empire based on legends. As we saw in both As we saw in both China and GreeceChina and Greece, ,

some of these legends have an some of these legends have an element in archaeological truth. element in archaeological truth.

Legendary BeginningsLegendary BeginningsEtruscans were a Etruscans were a

people who people who occupied the occupied the territories in what territories in what is now is now Northern Northern ItalyItaly and are and are thought to have thought to have originated in the originated in the near east (perhaps near east (perhaps Persians or Persians or PhoeniciansPhoenicians?).?).

Legendary BeginningsLegendary BeginningsThe kings had a great influence on Roman The kings had a great influence on Roman

cultural and physical development. Skilled cultural and physical development. Skilled at urban planning, at urban planning, engineeringengineering and and waterworks. waterworks.

Projects attributed to the Etruscan kingsProjects attributed to the Etruscan kings1.1. The building of The building of city wallscity walls (Urban planning) (Urban planning)2.2. The engineering of the The engineering of the ForumForum3.3. The construction of the great drain to The construction of the great drain to

channel both rainfall and channel both rainfall and sewage into the sewage into the TiberTiber. .

Roman WallsRoman Walls

The ForumThe Forum

Cloaca MaximaCloaca MaximaCloaca Maxima: One of the world’s earliest Cloaca Maxima: One of the world’s earliest

sewage systemssewage systems. Built some 3,000 years . Built some 3,000 years ago and still in use today…Just think, ago and still in use today…Just think,

when in Rome, your poop can be using the when in Rome, your poop can be using the SAME channels as Julius Caesar’s poop!SAME channels as Julius Caesar’s poop!

Etruscan ArtEtruscan Art

Body of a lioness, tail of a serpent and a goat rising out of the back. Earliest

known literary reference to the creature was in Homer’s Iliad

Chimera

Legendary EndingsLegendary Endings

Legendary Kings (753-509 Legendary Kings (753-509 BCE) BCE)

The last Etruscan king was The last Etruscan king was overthrown in overthrown in 509 BCE509 BCE. It is . It is

this date that marks the this date that marks the beginning of thebeginning of the Roman Roman

RepublicRepublic..

Quick CheckQuick CheckEtruscan kings were credited with which of the Etruscan kings were credited with which of the

following?following?a.a. Rural planning, engineering, jewelryRural planning, engineering, jewelryb.b. Urban planning, engineering, waterworks Urban planning, engineering, waterworks c.c. Suburban planning, electricity, waterworksSuburban planning, electricity, waterworksd.d. Urban planning, engineering, waterspoutsUrban planning, engineering, waterspouts

Which one of the following would not have Which one of the following would not have been at the Forum?been at the Forum?

a.a. ShopsShopsb.b. Government buildingsGovernment buildingsc.c. TemplesTemplesd.d. Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

The Roman The Roman RepublicRepublic

509 BCE – 1st Century BCE509 BCE – 1st Century BCE

RepublicRepublic Definition: literally “Definition: literally “a thing a thing

of the people”of the people” Some officials were chosen by Some officials were chosen by

the people - democraticallythe people - democratically

The result that The result that Romans WantedRomans Wanted

1 Person1 PersonToo Much PowerToo Much Power

SenateSenate Most powerful governing body in the Most powerful governing body in the

early Republic. early Republic. Make the lawsMake the laws (just (just like our Senate in U.S.)like our Senate in U.S.)

300300 membersmembers - all - all PatriciansPatriciansPatricians - Patricians - Landholding upper classLandholding upper class(Remember those Aristocrats in Greece? (Remember those Aristocrats in Greece? They too were the landholding upper They too were the landholding upper class)class)

Senators Senators served for lifeserved for life: living the : living the easy life!easy life!

ConsulsConsuls Each year, the senate would elect 2 Each year, the senate would elect 2

consuls for 1 year terms!consuls for 1 year terms! Consuls Consuls were responsible forwere responsible for

Running governmentRunning government Enforced the lawsEnforced the laws

The commanding of the armies The commanding of the armies Consuls had to consult with the rest of Consuls had to consult with the rest of

the senate. (Ever try getting 300 the senate. (Ever try getting 300 people to agree on something? Not an people to agree on something? Not an easy task to be a Consul!)easy task to be a Consul!)

ConsulsConsulsConsuls had limited power becauseConsuls had limited power because

They had to consult with the SenateThey had to consult with the SenateThey had short terms.They had short terms.

1st instance of CHECKS on 1st instance of CHECKS on government powers!government powers!

DictatorsDictators In the event of an In the event of an emergencyemergency

(in other words…war), the (in other words…war), the Senate might choose a dictator Senate might choose a dictator who would have complete who would have complete control over the government, control over the government, but but ONLY for 6 monthsONLY for 6 months! Can’t ! Can’t do it in 6 months? They’ll find do it in 6 months? They’ll find someone else!someone else!

Remember…Those Romans Remember…Those Romans were a bit on edge!were a bit on edge! 1 Person1 Person

Too Much PowerToo Much Power

SocietySociety

Plebians

Patricians

slaves

Nobility

Conquered people, not based on

race

Tradesmen, merchants,

small farmers

PlebeiansPlebeiansThe PLEBSThe PLEBS

The The “common” folk“common” folk who made up the bulk of who made up the bulk of society!society!

~tradesmen, farmers, merchants~~tradesmen, farmers, merchants~ Originally, Originally, onlyonly patricians could serve in patricians could serve in

government or be senators. government or be senators. Can you guess who the laws benefittedCan you guess who the laws benefitted

in Roman society?!?!?!in Roman society?!?!?! Plebeians had very Plebeians had very little say in governmentlittle say in government.. Over time, however, plebeians eventually gained Over time, however, plebeians eventually gained

more and more political power through Tribunes.more and more political power through Tribunes.

Twelve TablesTwelve Tables450 BCE – Plebeians convinced 450 BCE – Plebeians convinced

government to government to write down the laws of write down the laws of RomeRome on twelve tablets and have them on twelve tablets and have them set up in the Forum, or main, central set up in the Forum, or main, central

square. square.

Why it’sWhy it’sImportant:Important:

Laws became Laws became publicpublic …Open to …Open to everyone! Not every Roman knew everyone! Not every Roman knew the laws because they were not the laws because they were not previously written!previously written!

This also gave plebeians the This also gave plebeians the right to right to appealappeal a judgment handed down by a judgment handed down by a patrician judge.a patrician judge.

The Twelve Tables

codified Roman laws for the first

time.(i.e. innocent until proven

guilty concept)

Twelve TablesTwelve TablesSo what were some of the laws?So what were some of the laws?

If you need a witness to testify and he will not If you need a witness to testify and he will not show up, you can go once every three days and show up, you can go once every three days and shout in front of his house.shout in front of his house.

A person who had been found guilty of giving A person who had been found guilty of giving false witness shall be hurled down from the false witness shall be hurled down from the Tarpeian Rock.Tarpeian Rock.

A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed.killed.

A dead man shall not be buried or burned within A dead man shall not be buried or burned within the city.the city.

Marriages should not take place between Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians.plebeians and patricians.

Punishments included fines, exile, enslavement Punishments included fines, exile, enslavement and death. ~Citizens could exchange exile for and death. ~Citizens could exchange exile for death~death~

Tribunes and VetoesTribunes and Vetoes TribunesTribunes – plebeians gained the right – plebeians gained the right

to elect officials to protect their to elect officials to protect their interests. Tribunes were their interests. Tribunes were their representatives.representatives.

A tribune could A tribune could veto veto (literal definition:(literal definition: “I forbid”) “I forbid”) laws that were harmful to laws that were harmful to plebeians.plebeians.

~Modern Day Connection~~Modern Day Connection~Who has the right to veto in the U.S.?Who has the right to veto in the U.S.?

Over time, plebeians gained the right Over time, plebeians gained the right to be chosen as consuls, be appointed to be chosen as consuls, be appointed to higher offices, and even become to higher offices, and even become senatorssenators

Who was included in this Who was included in this Republic?Republic?

PatriciansPatricians PlebeiansPlebeians Selected foreigners Selected foreigners

Who was considered a Who was considered a citizen?citizen?

Who was excluded in this Who was excluded in this Republic?Republic?

WomenWomen AliensAliens SlavesSlaves ChildrenChildren

FamilyFamily

~Basic unit of Roman Society~~Basic unit of Roman Society~ Under Roman law, Under Roman law, father had absolute powerfather had absolute power Wife was subject to his authorityWife was subject to his authority Women played larger roleWomen played larger role in society than in Greek in society than in Greek

womenwomen Attend theater, went to public baths and dined out with Attend theater, went to public baths and dined out with

husbands.husbands. ChildrenChildren were all were all educatededucated (boys and girls) (boys and girls)

What was expected of What was expected of citizens?citizens?

1.1. Pay Pay taxestaxes: Show me the money $$$: Show me the money $$$2.2. Serve in the Serve in the militarymilitary

AssembliesAssemblies All citizens were expected to All citizens were expected to

participate in the participate in the assemblies assemblies (remnants of direct democracy) (remnants of direct democracy)

Assemblies could:Assemblies could: pass lawspass laws elect magistrateselect magistrates declare wardeclare war

Roman Government - although Roman Government - although limitedlimited because many people were because many people were left out of the process, the Roman left out of the process, the Roman Republic made major strides in Republic made major strides in the development of the development of representative representative democracydemocracy, which became a , which became a foundation of modern democracy.foundation of modern democracy.

Representative Representative DemocracyDemocracy

Representative Representative DemocracyDemocracy

A democracy where voters (citizens) A democracy where voters (citizens) choose (usually by voting) choose (usually by voting) officials officials who representwho represent their interests when their interests when making laws.making laws. An elected official who represents other An elected official who represents other

citizens interestscitizens interests The The US is a representative democracyUS is a representative democracy, ,

it’s also called a “republic.”it’s also called a “republic.”