1. Ancient Rome

3. In the Beginning…
Ancient Rome begin as a group of villages along the Tiber River in what is now Italy.
Around 750 B.C. these villages united to form the city of Rome.

4. The Origins of Rome Founded in 753 BCE by Romulus & Remus
Twins sons of the god of Mars & a Latin princess; raised by a she-wolf
In reality, men built in certain spots
Strategic location & fertile soil
Built on seven rolling hills on the Tiber River

6. The First Romans Arrived c. 1000 – 500 BCE
3 groups inhabited the region and battled for control
Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans = 1st Romans
Latins were seemed to build 1st
On top one of seven hills, Palatine Hill
Greeks, c. 750 – 600 BCE
est. colonies along southern Italy & Sicily
Etruscans
Northern Italy, strongly influenced Rome

7. The Early Republic C. 600 BCE, Etruscan became king of Rome
During different Etruscan King’s rule, Rome grew from villages to a city nearly 500 sq. miles
Various kings constructed many of Rome’s first temples
Ex: Forum, the heart of Roman political life
Tarquin the Proud very harsh tyrant
Driven from power in 509 BCE.

8. The Early Republic
Romans declared that they would never be ruled by a king
All 3 ethic groups began to think of themselves as Romans
In 509 BCE, a Republic was formed
Res publica, meaning “public affairs”
Republic form of gov’t in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
Only free-born male citizens could vote
2 main groups
Patricians & Plebeians

9. Patricians & Plebeians
Most powerful
Wealthy landowners
Aristocracy
Believed they inherited power from ancestors
-Patricians controlled the law since they were the only citizens allowed to be judges.
Plebeians
All others
Common farmers, merchants, artisans
Had little rights
Could not hold office
Could not marry patricians
had the right to vote, but could not hold public office until 287 B.C, when they gained equality with patricians.

10. Plebeians Gain Rights Plebeians gain rights Form own assembly
Tribunes  protected rights from unfair acts of patrician officials
Twelve Tables, 451 BCE
Written Law Code placed in Forum
Established laws for every man
Allowed Plebeians to marry patricians and to hold office
Plebeians Gain Rights

11. Rome’s Republic Government
Balanced government
Monarchy, aristocracy, democracy
3 branches
1. Consuls
2. Senate
3. Dictator

12. Was based on the rule of law and had a cleverly balanced constitution that was not a written document
Historian Polybius wrote, “it is this balance which gave ancient Rome its greatest strength.”
Rome was not ruled by any single man.
Philosophy of the Republic, which was about “having a balance of power”.