1. Ancient Rome

2. The Roman Republic

3. I. Geography
A. Located on a Peninsula B. Rivers, hills, and fertile soil
C. Italy was in the center of
the Mediterranean Sea
D. Rome was in central Italy,
near the Tiber River

4. II. Beginnings
A. 900’s B.C Rome grew slowly
B. 600 B.C Etruscans took Control of Rome
C. In 509 B.C the Romans revolted and
regained control
E. The Romans borrowed ideas from the
Greeks and the Etruscans (alphabet/toga)

5. III. Roman Republic
Republic- citizens have the right to vote to
select their leaders
B. Senate was made up of 300 upper class men
called Patricians
C. Plebeians were ordinary citizens who could not
hold office or be senators
D. Consuls were the two men that led Rome
1. Veto is when one leader voted against a action
2. Dictator was able to take over in emergencies
for only 6 months

6. IV. Patricians versus Plebeians
A. Patricians thought they were above the
plebeians
B. Plebeians thought the Patricians were unfair
1. Plebeians formed a group to protect their
interests
2. They wrote a code of laws known as
The Laws of the Twelve Tables (Equality)
3. The plebeians never gained the equality or
power of the patricians

7. V. Master of the Mediterranean
A. Roman expansion led to the conquering of
Northern Africa
B. Conquered Carthage, Spain, Greece, & Gaul (France)

8. V. End of the Republic
A. Patricians murdered the leaders of the Plebeians
B. Individual leaders built their own armies and
disregarded consuls decisions
C. Civil unrest and war between private armies
D. Julius Caesar came to power to unite Rome

9. VI. Julius Caesar Rise to Power
A. Caesar was leader of the Armies which conquered Gaul
B. He used his army to take over the senate and become dictator of the
Roman world in 48 B.C.
C. In 45 B.C. Caesar was the only consul and dictator for life
D. He reorganized the government, however the senate thought the
dictator was like a king
E. Caesar was killed by senators in 44 B.C.- civil unrest lasted for 13 years