Do Now

• Read the quote by Livy and answer the question.• “Not without reason did gods and men choose

this spot for the site of our city – the hills, the river to bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from foreign fleets, our situation at the very heart of Italy- all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great.”

• According to Livy, what advantages does Rome have to grow great?

Ancient Rome

Geography and Religion

Rome

Rome- Home of Gladiators

Don’t You LOVE Geography?• Where is this place?

Located in center of Italian peninsula (distant from Eastern Mediterranean powers.)

Protected by Alps in north and Mediterranean Sea to the west, east, and south.

Mediterranean provides protection and sea-borne commerce.

The Apennine Mountains run down center of Italy like a backbone.

More Geography…

• Good landscape = growing population.

• Good harbors, fertile fields, river valleys, and mild climate supported agriculture and trading.

• Rome grew along Tiber River and became a strong city-state between 800 – 700 BC.

• Rome influences all of Mediterranean region because of its location.

The Founding of Rome

• How Rome Came to Be - The story of Romulus and Remus.

Mythology and Religion

• Religiously, Rome is much like Greece.• Polytheistic• Roman gods developed from Etruscan and

Greek gods. • Etruscans briefly ruled Rome and it was

thought they could read the future by watching the birds.

• Eventually, Romans also adopted some Greek Gods.

More Mythology• Feasts and

festivals to honor the gods

1. Temples also built.

• Government even worshipped gods and practiced rituals.

TV Timeout

Roman Gods to KnowTake a few minutes to fill in this chart and research what the Roman God equivalent is for

each of the Greek Gods and list their power.

Greek God Roman God PowerAres

Zeus

Hera

Aphrodite

Artemis

Athena

Hestia

Hades

Hermes

Poseidon

Roman Gods to KnowTake a few minutes to fill in this chart and research what the Roman God equivalent is for

each of the Greek Gods and list their power.

Greek God Roman God PowerAres Mars God of War

Zeus Jupiter King of Gods

Hera Juno Marriage

Aphrodite Venus Love and Beauty

Artemis Diana Ag. and Hunting

Athena Minerva Wisdom

Hestia Vesta Hearth and Home

Hades Pluto Underworld

Hermes Mercury Messenger God

Poseidon Neptune God of the Sea

Who’s Who?

More Who’s Who

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