Ancient Rome

Romes Beginnings
I.
Legend- Roman legend claimed that
brothers, Romulus and Remus founded
Rome after they were raised by a shewolf..
II.
Trading
a. Tiber River was important because
foreign ships could bring goods up
the river to Rome. Rome became
very rich.
III.
Etruscans
a. Romans learned how to build
aqueducts.
Aqueducts - structures that carry
flowing water to supply water to
cities.
The Roman Republic
I.
Nationalism
- a strong devotion to ones
country.
II.
Two Group of Citizens
a. Patricians rich and powerful
b. Plebeians all other people, 90% of
the people.
III.
Republic
a. Citizens have the right to vote, or
choose their leaders
b. Elected officials represented the
people in the Senate (governing
body)
c. At first the Senate made up of
patricians.
d. Each year two patricians were
elected as consuls (officials for the
government and army)
IV.
Citizenship
a. Slaves and most foreigners were NOT
citizens.
b. Women WERE citizens with limited
power.
1) Women could not vote or hold
public office but they had more
freedom than Greek women.
2) Women could own property,
testify in court and play major
roles in government.
V.
Tribunes
a. Men who were appointed to protect
the rights of the plebeians
b. Set up to protect plebeians from the
harsh treatment from patricians
c. Over time plebeians gained in wealth
and power, but the patricians always
had more
power.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

I.

II.
I.
II.
III.

a. Had a large and powerful navy and

one of the strongest armies.
Rome and Carthage
a. Rome and Carthage fought three
times in the battles called the Punic
Wars.
b. 1st War of the Punic Wars - fought
over land off the coast of Italy
c. 2nd War of the Punic Wars - most
famous of the three
1) Hannibal (Carthaginian general)
took his army across the Alps on
elephants and surprised the
Romans.
2) The Romans learned of the attack
by Hannibal.
3) The Romans were saved when
Scipio(Roman General)
attacked Carthage and Hannibal
had to rush back home to
Carthage to help.
4) Carthage was defeated.
d. 3rd War of the Punic WarsRomans captured and destroyed
Carthage
Effects of War on Rome
Money came to Rome but only the
patricians were wealthier.
1) Plebeians lost jobs to wartime
slaves
2) Farmland and homes were
destroyed because of fighting
3) This angered the plebeians
Julius Caesar
a. Won battle between two other
Roman generals and was made a
ruler for life.
Advancements of this time
a. Romans built aqueducts, roads and
buildings in conquered land. (Roads
were made of concretenot dirt)
The Roman Empire
Augustus
a. Emperor of Rome who stabilized
Rome after Julius Caesars death and
the civil war
Roman Culture
The Colosseum is the most famous
Roman arena
Christianity
A religion based on the teaching of
Jesus (who was a Jewish man).
Persecution of Christians
a. At first Christians were persecuted
(being punished for religious beliefs)

I.

because they refused to worship the

emperor as a god.
Emperors
Most Emperors after Marcus
Aurelius cared about increasing
their wealth and power not the
welfare of the Roman Empire.

II.

Rome Falls
a. As Rome declined, the Byzantine
Empire became even more
prosperous.
b. When Rome fell, the Byzantine
Empire became the center of Roman
Power.