2. The Foundations of Rome
Preview
Starting Points Map: Italy and the Mediterranean
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Roman Civilization Develops
Quick Facts: Etruscan Influences
Rome Becomes a Republic
Quick Facts: Checks and Balances in the Roman Government
The Republic Expands
Faces of History: Two Commanders of the Punic Wars

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4. The Foundations of Rome
Main Idea
From a small town on the banks of an Italian river, Rome grew to control the entire Mediterranean region.
Reading Focus
Where and how did Roman civilization develop?
What led to Rome’s becoming a republic?
What were the major events in Rome’s expansion?

5. Roman Civilization Develops
“All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in Rome . . .” How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?
Peninsula logical place for emergence of mighty empire
Juts south from Europe far into Mediterranean Sea
Lies almost halfway between eastern, western boundaries of the sea
Protected by mountains, sea
Rich soil, mild climate
Italy’s Geography
Legend: Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by she-wolf; founded city 753 BC
Members of Indo-European tribe, Latins, reached Italy 1000s BC; built Rome
City prospered partly from location on Tiber River
Valuable trade routes, easy access to sea
The Founding of Rome

6. The Etruscans Rome first ruled by Latin Kings
Came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC
Etruscans came from northern Italy
Evidence found at cemeteries indicates Etruscans great metalworkers, jewelers
Etruscan culture heavily influenced by Greeks
Etruscans had great influence on Roman society

8. What advantages did Rome’s location give the city?
Summarize
What advantages did Rome’s location give the city?
Answer(s): protected by mountains; sea provided protection and transportation; had rich soil, pleasant climate; located on major trade routes; Tiber River provided easy access to the sea

9. Rome Becomes a Republic
Etruscan Rule Ends
Etruscans ruled Rome until about 509 BC
Romans revolted, threw out last of kings, setup new type of government
Republic—elected officials governed state
Patricians
In early days, heads of a few aristocratic families, patricians, elected officials
Patrician families controlled all society—politics, religion, economics, military
Maintained power through patronage system
Plebeians
From beginning, common people, plebeians, challenged patricians for power
Invaders threatened 494 BC; plebeians refused to fight until changes made
Patricians knew they would have no army, expanded plebeian rights

10. Plebeian Council
After receiving new rights, plebeians formed own assembly, Plebeian Council, to oversee affairs and protect interests
Gained right to elect officials known as tribunes
Tribunes’ job—protect against unjust treatment by patrician officials
Gained right to veto—ban laws that seemed harmful, unjust
Laws
450 BC, plebeians forced patricians to have all laws written down
Laws displayed in Roman Forum, central square, on 12 large bronze tablets
Because laws were posted, patrician judges could not make decisions based on own opinions or secret laws
One new law banned marriage between patricians and plebeians

11. Republican Government
Patricians, plebeians worked out practical constitution
Created new offices of government
Consisted of three parts: Senate, popular assemblies, magistrates
Initially dominated by patricians; all state offices later open to both patricians, plebeians
New Offices and Institutions
Senate: 300 members, advised elected officials, controlled public finances, handled all foreign relations
Popular assemblies: in these all citizens voted on laws, elected officials
Magistrates: governed in name of Senate and people, put laws into practice, acted as priests
Elements of Government

12. Governing Details Consuls Censors Praetors Constraints
When last king thrown out, his place taken by two magistrates called consuls
Elected for one year; chief executives, army commanders
Censors
Next most important after consuls
Recorded wealth, residence of population
Filled vacancies in Senate
Praetors
Primarily judges, could act for consuls if consuls away at war
After terms ended, given military commands, appointed provisional governors
Constraints
Government worked well because of system of checks, balances
Each part could impose certain constraints on others

14. Life in the Republic
During the days of the Roman Republic, Rome was a thriving and vibrant city. At its heart was the Forum, the public square and site of the most important government buildings and temples.
Nestled between two hills: Palatine, Capitoline
Palatine, where wealthy lived
Capitoline, where grandest temples were
Location
City leaders often found in Forum mingling with common people
Senate met in Forum
Key public addresses made there
Political Center
Forum more than just political center
Popular place for shopping, gossip
Busy shops lined either side of Forum
Public celebrations usually held there
Busy Place

15. Legend of Early Republic
Agrarian Roots
Despite bustling nature of city, Romans prided themselves on connection with soil
Farming, landownership the noblest ways to make money
Senators forbidden to participate in any career that did not involve land, could not engage in commerce
Roman tie to land illustrated in legend of early Republic
Romans turned to greatest general, Cincinnatus, to save them from invasion
Cincinnatus plowing fields at the time
Legend of Early Republic
People made Cincinnatus dictator
Office of dictator had nearly unlimited power but could be held for only six months
Cincinnatus defeated enemies and returned to farm
Had no interest in retaining power
Return to Farm

16. Why do you think the Romans established a republic?
Draw Conclusions
Why do you think the Romans established a republic?
Answer(s): possible answer—They wanted a system of laws to keep peace within their expanding empire.

17. The Republic Expands Growth Military Might Roman Army
As Rome’s government changed, the Roman population continued to grow
Rome needed more land for expanding population
Began to settle surplus population on land acquired by conquering neighbors
Military Might
Successful expansion not possible without powerful army
All Roman men between ages 17 and 46 with minimum amount of property required to serve in army during times of war
Roman Army
Organized into units called legions, backbone of which were centurions
Centurions: noncommissioned officers who each commanded 100 men
Army highly disciplined, well-trained force, could fight in all types of terrain

18. The Conquest of Italy Sicily
265 BC, Romans had defeated Etruscans and Greek cities in Southern Italy
Romans imposed two strict conditions on subject people—subjects had to provide troops for Roman army, abandon any dealings with foreign nations
Other than those conditions, Rome rarely interfered with domestic affairs of people it conquered
Sicily
Once in control of Italy, Rome turned attention to Sicily, large island to south of Italian Peninsula
In Sicily, Rome came into conflict with Carthage, powerful North African trading city
Conflict grew into series of three wars
Punic Wars raged for nearly 80 years

19. The Punic Wars
Violence between Rome and Carthage broke out in 264 BC. Because the First Punic War was fought mostly at sea, Carthage’s powerful navy dominated the early fighting. Soon, however, the Romans built a navy of their own and were able to defeat Carthage.
Violence soon broke out again
218 BC, Carthaginian general Hannibal led army across Pyrenees, Alps to invade Italy
Hannibal ravaged Italy, defeated every army he faced
Romans needed new strategy
Hannibal
Romans decided to take war to Africa
General Publius Cornelius Scipio sailed to Africa, besieged Carthage
Forced Hannibal to sail home
Scipio defeated Hannibal, took Carthage, won Second Punic War
Scipio
The Romans had defeated Carthage, but it did not destroy the city as many citizens had wanted.

21. Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories of many Romans
Carthage Falls
Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories of many Romans
149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all
Declared war on Carthage for third time
After siege of three years, Carthage fell
Romans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed city
They banned any people from living there

22. The Conquest of Greece Macedonia, Persia Greek Culture
Punic Wars raged in western republic; Rome involved in politics of eastern Mediterranean
Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedonia, Persia, and Egypt fought constantly; Greek city-states feared being conquered
City-states sought alliance with Rome
Romans, Greek allies fought, and defeated Macedonia, Persia
Both became Roman provinces
Eventually Romans annexed Greece as province as well
Romans adopted many elements of Greek culture, particularly art
Macedonia, Persia
Romans also borrowed ideas of religion from Greeks, adopted their gods but changed the names
Not all Romans happy with growing Greek influence, thought Rome should remain purely Roman
Influence continued for many years
Greek Culture

23. How did Rome come to dominate the Mediterranean world?
Sequence
How did Rome come to dominate the Mediterranean world?
Answer(s): by conquering its Mediterranean neighbors, including Carthage and Greece