World HistoryChapter Five

The Roman World Takes Shape

Geography

• Rome is located on the Western side of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea

• Italy is not broken up with mountains like Greece is…it lends itself to a growing population with a good climate and good soil

Early Rome

• Latin's – settled in Italy along the Tiber river• Ancestors of the Romans• They were herders and farmers• Romulus and Remus – Twin brothers –

founded Rome on seven hills• Brothers said to of divine origins – from a

Latin woman and the god Mars – giving the Romans the idea they were divine

Etruscans

• Lived in Italy along with the Latin's• Lived north of Rome• Not sure where they came from (Asia Minor,

the Alps) but they controlled most of central Italy

• Romans learned a lot from the Etruscans• Merged their gods and goddesses

Republic

• Romans defeated the Etruscans and drove them away in 509 B.C.

• Republic – “res publica” that which belongs to the people

• People chose some of the officials• Romans believed this would stop an individual

from gaining to much power

Senate

• Senate – most powerful body of government in Rome

• 300 members made up of Patricians – landholding upper class

• Senators served for life• Senators nominated two consuls every year

to supervise the government and the military• Consul – could only serve one term

Senate

• Consuls had to approve each others decisions• Rome had checks and balances. How?• If war broke out then a dictator would be

named by the senate • Dictator would have complete control over

the government for six months• Cincinnatus

Plebians

• Plebians – farmers, merchants, artisans, traders, bulk of the population, little influence

• Pushed for more representation and won the right to elect their own officials called tribunes

• Tribunes could veto – block – laws that could hurt the plebians

• Senate eventually was opened to the Plebians• Laws of the Twelve Tables – Plebians could

appeal judgments of patrician judges

Women

• Could own property, run businesses• Most women worked at home, raising

families, spinning, weaving• Patrician women went to public baths, dined

out, attended theater with husbands

Children

• Boys and girls from upper and lower classes learned to read and write

• Greeks were hired to tutor wealthy families• Rhetoric was an important skill taught to boys

seeking a career in politics

Religious

• Polytheistic – adapted from the Greeks• Mars – god of war• Had feasts and celebrations for the gods all

throughout the year• Most joined in, creating a sense of unity and

community• Temples all throughout Rome with statues of

gods

Roman Army

• Success of Rome was due to its great army• Legion – basic unit of the Roman army – 5,000

men• Citizen-soldiers – fought unpaid, supply own

weapons – like Greece had done• Started receiving a stipend but largest reward

was their share in the spoils after a victory

Army

• Roman citizens were raised with the values of loyalty, courage, and respect for authority

• This helped to make them good soldiers• Commanders mixed rewards and punishments• If they performed well they were praised and

given gifts• If they fled – one of every ten men was put to

death

Conquered People

• Treated its enemies fairly• Enemies had to acknowledge Rome, pay taxes

and supply soldiers• Could continue to rule themselves• Some became full citizens or partial citizens –

let them marry Romans and trade in Rome• Rome posted soldiers all throughout the

conquered lands – built roads to connect territory