ROME

Centrally located in the Mediterranean

Vast plains in the North and West

Apennine Mtns. not very ruggedEasier to unite Italian peninsula

PHYSICAL SETTING

Latins first to move into ItalySettled in small villagesEventually villages came together as Rome

Alphabet learned from EtruscansAlso learned about the use of the arch in

constructionReligion was formed from Latins and

Etruscans

CULTURAL SETTING

1. Structure of Gov’ta. Senate

-300 members-patricians

b. Consuls (2)-supervised gov’t and commanded the army-one year term

c. Tribunes-elected by plebeians-could veto laws

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

2. Twelve Tables- Roman Law written down- allowed plebeians to know the laws

1. Family- the basic unit of Roman society -male held absolute power

2. Role of women-could own property-ran businesses-most worked at home (raising family, spinning, weaving)

ROMAN SOCIETY

3. Education-boys and girls were educated-upper and lower classes-learned history and rhetoric

1. Polythestic2. Similar to Greeks

-Zeus = Jupiter-Neptune is god of the sea-Mars is god of war

3. Festivals throughout the year-brought sense of community

RELIGION

1. Rome conquered all of the Italian peninsula2. Army was loyal and well-trained

-paid by ‘spoils of victory’3. Rome allowed conquered to keep customs

and local gov’t-some even received full citizenship

4. Latin language spread along with Roman customs

GROWTH OF THE REPUBLIC

Carthage vs. Rome (x 3)

1. First Punic War-Carthage had advantages (gold, manpower, navy)-Rome built up quick and struck first-Rome wins; gains Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia

PUNIC WARS (vs. CARTHAGE)

2. Second Punic war-Carthage wants revenge-Hannibal led Carthage army

*military genius*used indirect tactics with smaller

army*long trek to Italy; lost 1/3 of army and

½ of elephants-surprise attack on Rome (lasted 15 years)-Hannibal forced to retreat when Romans attack Carthage

3. Third Punic War-Rome invades Carthage-Rome destroys Carthage-salt is spread on the fields-all of the people are killed or enslaved

DECLINE OF THE EMPIRE

JULIUS CAESAR

1. Emperor in chargeInherited powerRuled for life

2. Pax Romana“Roman Peace”Peace for 200 yearsPeople and ideas moved freely

“NEW ROMAN EMPIRE”

3. Entertainment Chariot races and gladiator games ‘distracted’ the common folk Policy of “bread and circuses”

often imitated Greek writing stylesVirgil

wrote epic poem Aeneidabout Roman like to Trojan Waraimed to create patriotism

Horace, Juvenal, and Martialwrote satiresmade fun of Roman society

Historians:Livy: wrote of Rome’s heroic pastTacitus: critical of Roman society

LITERATURE AND HISTORY

1. Artsculpture stressed ‘realism’used mosaics to decorate homes

2. Architecturethe bigger, the betterutilized arches, columns, and concretefamous structures: Pantheon, Colosseum

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

1. Engineering helped to create:roadsbridgesharborsaqueducts

2. believed the Earth was the center of the universe

3. used the research of the Greeks; did very little of their own

SCIENCE AND MATH

Roman citizens = civil lawconquered people = law of nations

fewer rightseventually two systems merge into one

ROMAN LAW

Basic Principles of Lawinnocent until proven guiltyguilt, beyond a reasonable doubtjudges allowed to interpret lawlower class was punished more harshly

RISE OF CHRISTIANITY

ROMAN EMPIRE DIVIDED

INVADERS

CAUSES OF ROME’S FALL