1. Early Rome and the Republic
Ancient Rome Chapter 6
Early Rome and the Republic

2. The Legend of Romulus and Remus
Rhea was married to Mars, the Roman god of war. Rhea had twin sons. She loved her boys, but there were plots afoot by other gods and goddesses to harm her father, herself, her husband, and her children. To protect the boys, she set them adrift on the river, hoping someone would find them. Who would not love such beautiful boys?
Sure enough, first they were found by a she-wolf who fed them. Then a shepherd and his wife adopted the boys. 
As the twins grew older, they decided they did not want to take care of sheep. They wanted to be kings. They decided to build a city on the shores of the Tiber. They both wanted to be the only king. They quarreled. In a fit of rage, Romulus picked up a rock, killed his brother, and made himself king. 
That’s how Rome started.

3. The Geography of Italy A Land of Geographic Differences
Italy: “boot shaped” peninsula
Alps mountains, Mediterranean Sea, island of Sicily, island of Sardinia, Apennine Mountains, Po River, Arno River, Tiber River

6. Climate and Agriculture
climate: cold to subtropical
poorly suited for agriculture
Po River valley – good for farmland
grapes & olives
location helped sea trade

7. Influences on Early Rome
twin brothers Romulus & Remus founded Rome on the Tiber river April 23, 753bc
Latin people were farmers & herders then became traders
Etruscan people – central Italy, came from Asia Minor 800bc, had written language & taught Romans about art & architecture
Romans adopted many elements of Greek culture

9. The Roman Monarchy 7 kings of Rome met with a council of advisors
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last king, ruled harshly
509bc wealthy noble Lucius Junius Brutus led revolt

10. Lucius Junius Brutus

11. Establishing a Republic The Government of Republican Rome
REPUBLIC – a government in which much of the power is held by elected representative; latin for res publica “property of the people” voters chose representatives

12. The Government of Republican Rome
based on tradition, not a written constitution
two people elected at consuls each year, proposed laws, led army, one had VETO power over the other – to stop the passage of a law

13. The Government of Republican Rome
MAGISTRATES – government official, consuls most important, praetors (judiciary), aediles (supervised marketplace), questors (financial officers), censors (counted people every 5 years) – most offices 1 year terms

14. The Government of Republican Rome
SENATE – council of representatives; made up of PATRICIANS – descendants of founding families of Rome, upper class, ran government
PLEBEIANS – commoners, controlled tribal assembly, made up military

15. The Government of Republican Rome
450bc plebeians elected TRIBUNES – plebeian official who could attend meetings of the assembly; forced patricians to publish written laws,
451bc first Roman code of law Twelve Tables

16. Twelve Tables