TOPIC: ROME

Cornell Notes

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

HOW DID ANCIENT ROMANS

SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF

DECIDING WHO SHOULD RULE?

THE ETRUSCANSForefathers of the Roman Republic

GEOGRAPHYThe Italian Peninsula

• Separated on three sides called the “Mare

Nostrum” or our sea

• Approximately 1000 km long by 200 km

wide

• Separated from the rest of mainland Europe

by the Alps in the north

• Alps served as a formidable protective

barrier from northern invaders

• The Apennine Mountains ran the length of the

Peninsula, and made communication and travel

difficult

GEOGRAPHYThe Italian Peninsula

• Important rivers included the Po and Tiber rivers

• Rome itself grew as a small village along the Tiber

• Although generally fertile, rapid growth meant Romans came to rely on grain

imports from Egypt and Sicily.

• Climate is generally mild, though it can get quite hot in summer.

Four Growth Factors

1. Mild Climate

2. Agricultural prosperity

3. Seclusion from Europe

4. Central position in the

Mediterranean

THE ETRUSCANSForerunners of the Romans

• Sophisticated people in the Northeastern portion of the Peninsula

• Most information we know is collected from burial mounds

• Native to the Peninsula, descended from earlier peoples

• The Etruscans flourished at the same time as the Carthaginians and the

Greeks

The Etruscans

Brindisium

Ostia

Pompeii

Tarentum

FOUNDING OF ROME

• Legend- Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, god of War

• Abandoned by their Uncle in the Tiber River to drown.

• cared for by the she-wolf

• founded the city where they were rescued from the Tiber River

THE ETRUSCAN MONARCHY

Founding of Rome

• there were seven kings of Rome

• The first was Romulus, allegedly the son of Mars, god of war.

• Founding myth, Romulus and Remus raised by a wolf

•The two eventually challenged each other for supremacy over

Rome, and Romulus won.

THE ETRUSCAN MONARCHY

The Kings of Rome

• Etruscan expanded control southward and absorbed

Rome

• First King after Romulus was Tarquinius

•built the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

•Last King was Tarquin the Proud, who was overthrown

by Partricians in the increasing powerful city of Rome

• The Republic was founded thereafter

ETRUSCAN INFLUENCE•Many similarities between Roman & Etruscan worlds

•Numerals

• sport

•belief in Hades and the underworld

•Offices & political traditions- ivory thrones

and purple robes of the Etruscan royalty

adopted by Romans

•Etruscan axe and bundle of wooden rods

became a symbol of power in Rome

Text Work

Cornell Notes, Section 6.1 (pg. 155-159)

Answer Question #6 (pg. 159)

Roman Geography Map

The Etruscans

Brindisium

Ostia

Pompeii

Tarentum