1. Ancient Rome

2. Italian Peninsula 100 Miles Wide 700 Miles Long Geography of Italy
It looks like a high-
heeled boot with the
toe aimed at Sicily.

3. extinct volcano forum Vocabulary Land that can be used to arable land
grow crops.
extinct volcano
no longer active
forum
A public place where
people could meet
and exchange
ideas and goods.

4. Mountains & Seas Po Valley- Adriatic Sea low land between the Alps
and the
Apennines
Adriatic Sea
Apennines
Range-
runs from
the north
to the south
of Italy
Tyrrhenian
Sea
Mediterranean Sea

5. The Italian peninsula has some valleys
and plains.
Most of them are at higher elevations.
The land is less rugged than Greece, so
travel by land was much easier.
Travel by sea was more difficult because
Italy had few good harbors.
This made trade with others living on the
peninsula easier than trading with outsiders.

6. Farmland There was much more arable land in Ancient Rome
than in Greece.
The fertile land and mild climate were ideal for farming.
The Ancient Romans didn’t need to import as much, so
extensive trade wasn’t necessary.
Rivers carried mineral rich silt that created good
farmland.
Volcanic ash made the soil rich. (Most of the volcanoes
are now extinct.)

7. Around 1000 B.C. (Latins) began migrating
to the Italian Peninsula.
They settled south of the Tiber River where
they raised crops and herded sheep, goats,
and cattle.
Farmers and herders founded Rome in the
8th century B.C. on a hill overlooking the Tiber
River. The village grew into the city of Rome.
The legend of Romulus and Remus is a story
told to explain how Rome began.

8. City of Rome Good soil Supplies of wood and stone nearby for building
7 hills helped in defending the city
Level ground near the river area for the forum
Inland location – protected from pirates
Sea – 15 miles away – close to sources of
fish and salt
River route to the sea – trade with other civilizations
Located in the center of the peninsula – ideal for
communication and trade with the rest of Italy

9. The Roman Republic Around 600 B.C. the Etruscans, people
from the northern part of Italy, took
control of Rome. They had traded with
the Greeks, and they brought many of the
Greek ideas and customs with them. After
100 years of Etruscan rule, the Romans
rebelled. The old monarchy ended and the
republic was formed.

10. Vocabulary republic A nation in which political power lies
with the citizens who elect leaders and
representatives.
consul
Either of the two main elected officials
of the Roman Republic.
dictator
A ruler who has absolute power.
senate
In ancient Rome, the supreme council of
the Republic and later of the empire.

11. to stop an action – from the Latin word meaning “I forbid”
patrician
A member of the small class of wealthy citizens in ancient Rome.
plebeian
A member of the large class of ordinary citizens in ancient Rome. From the Latin word plebs – “the masses.”
tribune
An official elected by the plebeian assembly.
veto
to stop an action – from the Latin word meaning “I forbid”

12. Patricians Wealthy Romans started the republic.
Wealthy freemen formed the assembly.
Wealthy Romans were elected to represent
the citizens of Rome.

13. Patricians Plebeians Most of the population – A small number of
artisans, shopkeepers,
peasants, etc. A few
were wealthy, most were
poor.
A small number of
wealthy Roman families
that held all governmental
power.
Class was determined by birth. Wealthy plebeians could not become patricians. Both classes had the right to vote, but only patricians could hold political, religious, or military offices. Plebeians had to serve in the army and pay taxes.

14. Each year two consuls were elected by the senate.
They were the chief officials. Two were elected
so that no one person could have all the power.
Consuls led the army and were judges. They
had the same power as early kings, but they could
only serve for one year and they could veto each
other’s actions.
During an emergency the consuls could appoint a
dictator to lead for 6 months. Even the two
consuls had to obey the dictator.

15. The consuls were advised by the senate.
The 300 senators were elected for life. They
controlled the treasury and foreign policy.
Senators had to be patricians (descendents of
early Roman citizens), and most were
members of wealthy families.
Senators were the most
powerful
group in
the government.

16. The Republic of Rome was not a democracy
because not every citizen had the same power.
Slaves had NO rights.
In 494 B.C. the plebeians withdrew from Rome
and formed their own assembly. The council of
plebeians elected officials called tribunes.
The patricians realized that the economy of
Rome would suffer without the plebeians. They
agreed to let the tribunes attend meetings and
veto laws they didn’t like.

17. Plebeians protested unwritten laws
because only the patrician leaders
knew exactly what they were.
The Roman government began recording laws
on clay tablets. The “Twelve Tables” were
posted in Rome’s Forum.
Many plebeians couldn’t read the
laws, but the laws were no longer
hidden.
Plebeians eventually gained equal
rights.

18. Tribunes Were elected to protect plebeians rights
Held office for one year
Could be re-elected
Could defend citizens against unfair
acts by magistrates or judges
Could initiate laws
Could veto measures made by the
senate

19. By 367 B.C. the government had become more
democratic, and by 287 B.C. complete equality
had been reached.
Two consuls – One patrician & One plebeian
300 Senators
patricians
and plebeians 10
tribunes
Citizens
Assemblies

20. Roman Society Family wealth determined social class. Upper Class –
Wealthy held jobs as government
officials.
Many lived in large homes.
Their needs were taken care of by
slaves.
Some owned 500 or more slaves.

21. Lower Classes ranged form the fairly wealthy to the very poor.
They held jobs such as: Soldiers Farmers
Merchants Craft
workers
Most lived in apartment-style dwellings. Some families lived in one room.

22. Slaves were at the bottom of society.
They were not counted as citizens.
They were not well protected by laws.
Many were freed when their owners’ died.
Some were given a chance to buy their
freedom.
Living conditions depended on the owner.
In all classes the men ruled the households.
Women helped make decisions and gave advice
to their husbands.
Women could own property!
Women could take NO part in government.

23. Roman Conquest By 500 B.C. the Romans had extended their
power to most of the Italian peninsula.
By 272 B.C. all of the peninsula was under
Roman control and a rivalry developed
between Rome and Carthage (a city-state in
northern Africa founded by the Phoenicians)
over who would control sea trade in the
western Mediterranean.

24. The Punic Wars Rome and Carthage fought three wars between
264 B.C. and 146 B.C.
1st War – Rome Won
2nd War – Rome was threatened when
Hannibal and his army (some on
elephants) marched on the city
of Rome.
Roman general, Scipio, attacked
land in Northern Africa.

25. Hannibal was forced to return to Africa to defend
Carthage’s lands. Carthage gave up in 202 B.C.
After the 3rd Punic War in 146 B.C., Carthage
was left in ruins and many of the Carthaginians
were sold into slavery.
The word Punic comes
from the Roman word
for Phoenicians - Punicus
Greece, Macedonia, and parts of southwest Asia
were also under Roman control.

26. The Roman Republic was divided into provinces
and a governor was appointed to rule each one.
The people of the new provinces had to pay taxes
to Rome and some were taken into slavery.
Results:
The rich became richer.
The poor lost jobs and land because their
work was turned over to the slaves.
Conflict between rich and poor led to civil
war.
After 50 years of conflict, Lucius Sulla
became dictator for 3 years.

27. In 79 B.C., Sulla retired and the government
returned to consuls.
In 59 B.C., Julius Caesar was elected as consul.
He wanted to rule all Roman Lands.
He formed an army and captured Gaul (France).
He became the governor of Gaul and watched
Rome closely.
In 49 B.C. he returned to Rome
and a civil war began.
After three years of war, Caesar
was appointed
dictator for 10 years.

28. Julius Caesar - Strong leader improved lives
made laws to help the poor
created new jobs
gave citizenship to more people
In 44 B.C., Caesar was appointed dictator for
life. The Roman Republic was then a
dictatorship, and senators feared he would
make himself the king. Caesar was stabbed to
death on the way to the senate on March 15th
(the Ides of March). Another civil war began.

29. Pax Romana - Roman Peace - lasted 200 years
The Roman Empire
Caesar’s grand-nephew, Octavian, became
dictator in 27 B.C. He changed his name to
Augustus, meaning “respected one.”
Pax Romana - Roman Peace - lasted 200 years
Augustus
was the first true
emperor of Rome.

30. Under the leadership of Augustus, the following
things were accomplished:
laws were passed giving citizens more rights
Romans were the first people to take a census
(a count of the country’s people)
A professional army, divided into large groups
called legions, was established
Roads were built
New government buildings
(basilicas), temples,
libraries,and public
baths were built.

31. Accomplishments continued -
The aqueduct system (a system to carry
water from place to place) was constructed.
You can see the
influence the Greek
culture had on our
projects.
The arts and literature developed.
The Roman language Latin was used in
government and education.

32. Beginnings of Christianity
Augustus was the religious leader in Rome.
Many gods (many based on the
Greek gods)
were worshiped.
Roman law punished those who
discouraged the worship of Roman gods.
Eventually emperors were worshipped as gods.
Rome controlled the land of Judea. Jews were
allowed to follow their religion, but were often
mistreated.

33. The birth of Jesus affected the whole
Roman Empire.
Born in Bethlehem
Grew up in Nazareth
Later taught –
to turn from sin
belief in one God
grace/forgiveness
Performed miracles
Jesus – the Messiah (one who is sent by God to
save the world.
Disciples – followers of Jesus

34. Roman Leaders became concerned
as more people began to follow Jesus.
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate,
ordered that Jesus be put to death
by crucifixion (30 A.D.)
The teachings of Jesus spread and were called
Christianity. The Apostles – followers of Jesus –
spread the word.
Christians were persecuted, and Romans often
ordered their deaths. Many Christians became
martyrs who would die willingly for their beliefs.

35. Persecution of the Christians stopped around A.D.313.
Constantine became the new emperor after
he received a “message from God.” He won
the battle against another Roman general and
took over the leadership of Rome.
Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in
A.D. 313, making Christianity an accepted
religion.
Christianity became the official religion of the
Roman Empire in A.D Emperor
Theodosius was in power.

36. Writing by Christians, like Paul,
were saved and shared with others.
The gospels told of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and
resurrection.
The Old Testament – Books of the Bible
before Jesus.
The New Testament – Books of the Bible
about Jesus and His
teachings.

37. Christianity in Rome eventually became the
Roman Catholic Church headed by the Pope.
There are many other Christian churches
in the world today with over
2 billion believers.

38. Rome's Decline in the West
Trouble in the Roman Empire
Barbarians – outsiders - began to attack the
Empire’s borders.
Germanic tribes from the north
Persians from the east
African people, called Berbers, from the south
Rulers in Rome were unable to govern effectively.
Tyrants seized control.
Citizens lost respect for the government.

39. The Roman Empire Splits in Two
The economy began to suffer.
Trade declined and money lost value.
The price of food rose.
The Roman Empire Splits in Two
Diocletian came to power
in 284 A.D.
He divided the leadership of the
Empire.
He led the east. His trusted friend
led the west.

40. Constantine, another leader,
made Christianity an accepted
religion and helped keep the Empire
alive.
He also focused on the eastern part
of the Empire.
Constantine moved the capital of the Empire to
Byzantium – renamed the city Constantinople.
In 395 A.D., the Empire officially split.
East grew – West declined

41. Division of the Empire
East
West

42. By 500 A.D., the Roman Empire had broken into
A Time of Invasions
Late 300’s and 400’s A.D –
They needed land to escape the Huns.
The Vandals, a tribe, attacked Rome in
406 A.D.
Germanic tribes invaded again.
They took items and destroyed monuments.
Today, the word vandal means – someone who
purposely destroys another’s property.
By 500 A.D., the Roman Empire had broken into
several kingdoms.

43. The End