1. The Rise of ROME

2. Greek Presence on the Italian Peninsula
Between the Greek Dark ages and the Persian Wars ( BCE) Greeks colonized the Northeast Portion of the peninsula
Followed the Greek City-State model

3. Rome vs. Greece 323 BCE – Disintegration of Alexander’s Empire
307 BCE – Founding and Rise of Successor States
215 BCE – Macedonian Wars
148 BCE – Rome conquers Greek peninsula
133 BCE – Roman Incursion into Hellenistic States
31 BCE – Rome Defeats Cleopatra

4. The Italian Peninsula Boot shaped, juts out into the Mediterranean
Easy access to Africa, Spain, France, Middle East
Largely mountainous, Apennines Mountains, Alps
Three fertile areas: Po River (Northern Plain) Latium Plain, Campania region

5. The Birth of Rome Legend: Romulus and Remus
Early settlement of the region by Europeans and Eastern peoples circa 1200 BCE
Rome established in the Latium region (Tiber river) circa 800 BCE by the “Latins”
The Legend of the Establishment of ROme
The twin brothers Romulus and Remus were the sons of the God Mars. When they were very young they were abandoned by the banks of the River Tiber and left to fend for themselves. Luckily for them they were found by a she-wolf who took pity on them fed them with her milk. 
Later a shepherd found the boys and took them home to look after them. He ended up raising the boys as his own children. The boys grew up to be very strong and clever and they decided to build a town on the spot where the Shepherd had found them. 
Shortly after building the town the twins had a big argument about who should be in charge. Romulus overpowered his brother Remus who died in the fight. Romulus then became the first king of this town which he named Rome, after himself.

6. The Estruscans
By 800 BCE the Estruscans occupied the region north of Rome
A well developed society with mandatory military service, fine arts, and gladiators
Around 600 BCE the Estruscans successfully took over Rome
“Tarquin the Proud” removed in 509 BCE
Etruscan Tombs

7. Establishing the Roman Republic
A “Republic” formed in 509 BCE in which elected officials ran the government
Lasted almost 500 years
Successfully defended against the Gauls, Etruscans, Greeks by organizing troops into Legions
By 265 BCE Rome controlled all of Italy
Obelix and Asterix: Gauls circa 50 BCE

8. The Punic Wars - “N” not “B”
Rivalry over land (Carthage area and Sicily) incited war between the Carthaginians and Romans
First Punic War : Rome invaded Sicily, Rome won against Hamilcar Barca
Second Punic War BCE: Hannibal invaded Rome from the North, Carthaginians eventually lost
Third Punic War BCE: Carthage built up their army, Rome quickly won
Hannibal

9. The Rise of the Roman Empire

10. The Successor States Zenith of Hellenistic Culture
Antigonous – Macedonia
Selucus – old Persian Empire
Ptolemy – Egypt
Culturally united although never at peace
Egyptian resurgence as a unified and independent state
Alexandria = greatest urban center

11. Macedonian Wars
Macedonia joined Carthage (Phoenician state in North Africa) in it’s struggles against Rome
146 – Rome brings all of Greek Peninsula under their control

12. Roman Incursions 133 BCE - Pergamum willed to Rome with death of ruler
Selucid kingdom conquered in 65 BCE
31 BCE – Cleopatra’s forces defeated by Octavian and Roman Navy