1. Ancient Rome

2. Geography The city of Rome was established along the Tiber River
Located on the Italian Peninsula (surrounded on three sides by the Med. Sea)
Rolling hills and fertile soil made farming possible
The legend of Romulus and Remus was used to describe the beginnings of Rome
The land was ideal for trade and communication within the peninsula

3. The Etruscan Civilization
The Etruscan people lived to the north of Rome
They traded with the Greek colonies of the region
Etruscan’s adapted the Greek alphabet for their own language (also borrowed ideas about pottery, and sculpture)
Formed independent city-states governed by a King (ruled the Italian peninsula for over 100 years

4. The Roman Republic Consuls (2) Served for one year
Headed the republic and controlled the army
Had Veto Power
Senators
Served for life
Served for life, declared wars, handled money matter
Elected by the Patricians

5. The Roman Republic (Continued)
Tribunes
Were elected by the Plebeians
They represented the Plebeians in the Roman Republic
There were more Plebeian citizens than Patricians-so they controlled the tribal assembly

6. Social Classes of Rome
Patricians were the highest social class during the early Roman Republic
Patricians did not allow the Plebeians to take part or have an equal say in the government
The Plebeians decided to leave Rome (when they did this there was no more workforce)
The Patricians decided to give rights to the Plebeians so they would come back to Rome
Slaves in Rome had more rights than in other lands
They were often given their freedom upon their owners death or could buy their freedom

7. The Punic Wars
The Punic Wars were fought against Carthage in northern Africa
Fought three wars against Carthage to gain control of the Mediterranean sea
During the second Punic War, Hannibal invaded the Italian Peninsula by taking an army of elephants over the Alps
Rome won the Punic Wars by destroying the city of Carthage

8. Impacts of the Punic Wars
New territories were added when Carthage was defeated
Conquered people had to pay taxes to Rome
These taxes made the Patricians more wealthy
Captured enemy soldiers were forced to become slaves
Slaves were taken back to Rome
Plebeians lost jobs because of the increased number of slaves
The rich got richer and the poor got poorer

9. Julius Caesar
Caesar had been consul and then took an army and conquered Gaul
Caesar then set his sight on Rome
He brought his army to Rome and within 60 days conquered the Italian Peninsula
His leadership and military victories convinced the Senate that Caesar should rule for ten years

10. Caesar (Continued) He improved the lives of the poor
Created new jobs and gave citizenship to more people
Changed the Senate so it better represented the Roman people
The Senators wanted more power so they assassinated Caesar on the ides of March 44 B.C.

11. After Caesar After Caesar’s death Rome was broken into a triumvirate
The three leaders were Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus
Antony and Octavian united and defeated Lepidus
Antony then united with Cleopatra and fought Octavian
Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra in 31 B.C.
Octavian became the single ruler of the Roman Empire-changed his name to Augustus Caesar

12. The Rule of Augustus
Though he was the emperor-he made sure some elements of the Republic remained
Augustus carefully chose people to serve as governors for the provinces
He gave Roman citizenship to those who lived in the provinces
Created new laws
Under his reign Rome began taking a census to ensure all people paid their taxes
The empire grew and more soldiers were needed to protect the borders
Soldiers were given land for their services

13. The City of Rome
Augustus had libraries, government offices, temples, and public baths to be built
Their was a great deal of entertainment found throughout the empire-the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum, public baths, and theatres
The Aqueducts brought fresh water to the city of Rome
The gladiator games took place in the Colosseum which held 50,000 people

14. Beginnings of Christianity
Roman religion was based on the Greek gods (polytheistic)
Christianity comes from the Greek word Cristos or messiah
Jesus was a Jewish teacher who delivered a message of peace
As Christianity spread, the Roman governors in the region became nervous
Pontius Pilate sentences Jesus to death
Jesus’s followers reported that on the third day after his death he rose from the dead-convincing them that he was the Messiah
The Roman roads allowed Christianity to spread quickly throughout the Roman Empire

15. Christianity (Continued)
Romans began to persecute Christians for their beliefs-they believed it would stop the spread of Christianity
Christianity continued to grow despite the threats of sever punishments
Constantine made Christianity an accepted religion (after seeing the word Christos in the sky)

16. The End of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ended because:
It became to big to protect all of its borders
Bad leaders fought for control and no consistency was established
Rome’s economy fell, people lacked food and jobs resulting in riots
The capital was moved to Constantinople
Barbarians from the north were much bigger and stronger than the Romans