1. Rome

2. Geography Located in Italy Italy is a peninsula
Located 18 miles away from the Tiber River (could be easily crossed)

3. Roman Republic Rome had 7 Kings before they became a republic
Rome defeated several Estruscan states and virtually took all of Italy
Rome devised the Roman Confederation and relinquished some of their control to Latin people, (considered non-Romans) who took on the Roman culture.

4. Roman Political Structure
The People
Patricians – wealthy landowners, ruling class “Aristocrats”
Plebeians – Minor landholders, craftspeople, merchants and small farmers (main voters)
The Politicians
Consuls – chief executive officer. Two were elected: one as Commander of the army, the other ran the country.
Praetor – official who enforces the law.

5. The Roman Senate A select 300 Patricians who served for life.
Started out only as advisors but their advice soon became law.
The senators elected chief officials, who were typically the wealthiest people

6. Struggle of the Orders
There was a “Council of the Plebs” who were just the plebeians version of the Roman Senate.
For hundreds of years Plebeians fought for more rights and by 287 BC plebs could all have an equal vote, marry patricians, and even pass laws for all Romans.

7. The First Punic War
There were 3 different Punic Wars all slated against Carthage a (Phoenician state) who were located on the tip of Africa.
The first Punic War started in 264 BC and saw Rome build a Navy and fight for Sicily, which was neither claimed by Carthage or Rome. By 241 BC the Romans had eventually knocked off Carthage

8. The Second Punic War
The Second Punic War starts when Hannibal, the greatest Carthaginian general, struck back in 218 BC. At only 9 years old his father made him swear at a temple that he would always hate Romans.
Hannibal took the fight to Rome, Italy and at Cannae took out 40,000 Romans.
Instead of fighting Hannibal in Italy, the Romans sent troops into Carthage, forcing Hannibal to leave Italy. In 202 BC the Romans met and destroyed Hannibal’s army at the Battle of Zama.

9. The Third Punic War
50 years later Rome and Carthage met up again. The Romans destroyed Carthage and renamed the province Africa.

10. Lesson 2

11. The decline of the roman republic
The Senate had become the Real Government of the Roman State
Small circles of wealthy and powerful families ran the political offices
Small famers were beginning to be bought out and turned in to slave labor.

12. Roman Army
General Marius became consul and began to enlist people from the urban and rural property.
These poorer people swore to the general rather than to the state, making the general more involved with politics.
The General now had more individual influence.

13. The first triumvirate
From 82 BC to 31 BC Roman history is summed up as competition for power and civil wars.
Crassus – Syria
Pompey – Spain
Julius Caesar – Military control in Guam

14. Caesar takes control
The Senate feared Caesar’s popularity, voted for him to step down, and elected Pompey to be the leader.
Caesar kept his army, moved into Italy, and started a civil war against Pompey.
Caesar won and became the dictator of Rome.

15. Caesar’s impact Granted citizenship to the people who helped him
Reformed the calendar to the Egyptian 365 day calendar
The Senate had him assassinated, hoping that the old republic would reform.
“Caesar didn’t see it so he ceased to exist so the one that killed him had keys to his s***” Jay-Z

16. The second triumvirate
Octavian – Caesar’s heir and grandnephew (controlled the West)
Antony – Caesar’s Ally and assistant (Controlled the East)
Lepidus – Commander of Caesar’s calvary (the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback)

17. Love gets you killed
Octavian and Antony squared off for control of the Roman Empire.
Antony allied with Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. They fell “deeply in love.”
Octavian destroyed both the army and navy of Antony and Cleopatra.
The two fled back to Egypt and committed suicide.

18. The empire Octavian at the age of 32 was the lone leader of Rome.
He proclaimed to “restore the Republic” to please the Senate.
Octavian was awarded a name change to Augustus (meaning the revered one) and the title imperator.

19. Augustus impact The imperator now has control to appoint governors
Stabilized the frontiers of the Roman Empire
Attempted to conquer Germany but failed
Rebuilt many ruined temples ruined by civil war and built new ones
Was considered a God by the Roman Senate.