The Geography of Ancient Rome

Map of Italy

Tiber River

Alps Mountains

Apennines Mountains Adriatic Sea

Ionian SeaMediterranean Sea

The Geography of Ancient Rome• Based along the Tiber R.• Very small area with

seven major rolling hills surrounding a flatter area

• Swampy land below the Palatine hill will be cleared to make the Forum (meeting place)

• This will become the center of the Republic

The Location of Rome• Rome was located in Italy

– Located on the Tiber River• Found nearly in the middle of Italy

– Great access to the seas– Very fertile land– Great river access for trade

• Protected by Alps Mountains to north and surrounded by water

• Seas provided ways to travel, trade and some protection

The Formation of Rome • Roman legend says two twins were

responsible for founding Rome– Romulus and Remus– Sons of Mars and a Latin princess

• Twins were thrown into the river and raised by a she-wolf

• Both wanted to be king of the new city they started – Romulus kills Remus for power– Names the city Rome

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/She-wolf_suckles_Romulus_and_Remus.jpg

Early Founders/Groups of Rome

• Early founders were Romulus/ Remus but the 1st real founders were…– The Latins around 1000-500 BCE

• The 1st true “Romans”• Called the area Latium

– Then the Greeks and the Etruscans come to area– All 3 groups battled for control of Ancient Rome

• All 3 groups will bring cultural influences to the area such as religion, goods and other ideas

Influence of the Greeks

• Greeks set up trading posts along coast– Used as land for colonization too

• Needed farm land due to lack of land in Greece

• Romans eventually borrowed the ideas in religion - Roman Mythology– Explained same 3 things as Greek mythology

• Life events, natural phenomena, and superhuman traits

• Greeks also taught them how to grow grapes and olives on the land

An Early Republic Forms• Etruscan kings ruled the area at first

– Romans no longer wanted kings ruling• They overthrow the king and vow to kill anyone

who tries to become king– They formed a republic – rule by the people

• Republic- citizens who have the right to vote have the power– Citizenship in Rome – all free-born males

How does Roman citizenship compare to Greek citizenship?

Romans Struggle for Power

• Two groups made up the early republic– Patricians- rich landowners

• Held most of the power, but smaller population– Plebeians- commoners (farmers, artisans)

• Larger population but had little power

• Patricians felt that ancestry (powerful families) gave them power to make laws and hold office

• Plebeians allowed to create an assembly– Created tribunes- protected them from unfair acts– Later gained them additional power

Plebeians Gain Some Power

• A major victory for the plebeians was…– The 12 Tables – first Roman code of law

• Written laws applied to all citizens of Rome• Before this laws were unwritten and the patricians

took advantage so laws favored them– Created in 451 BC

• Established idea of all people equal under the law• 12 Tables were posted in the Forum for all to see

• The Forum was created by draining swamps below the Palatine Hill by the Etruscans

Government of the Republic

• Roman gov’t took the best of all govt’s– Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy

• Had 2 Consuls- ran the army & gov’t– Could only serve 1 year every 10 years– 2nd consul could override any decision

• Senate- made laws and decisions– Was 300 nobles, then plebeians added – Membership was for life

Government of the Republic

• Had 2 Assemblies- – Citizen-soldiers made up Centuriate Assembly

• Was controlled by patricians (rich), changed • Appointed consuls and made laws

– Plebeians made up the Tribal Assembly• Eventually became the law making assembly

• Dictator- elected in times of crisis for 6 months– Had absolute power to make laws and run the army

The Roman Army

• All citizens who owned land were required to fight in the Roman Legion– Organization and skill of Roman Army made them very

successful in battles• Legion- group of 5000 soldiers

– Usually heavily armored– Were foot soldiers or infantry– Had to serve 10 years to serve some offices

• Cavalry- horse mounted soldiers• Century- smaller group of legion

• All citizens who owned land were required to fight in the Roman Legion– Organization and skill of Roman Army made them very

successful in battles• Legion- group of 5000 soldiers

– Usually heavily armored– Were foot soldiers or infantry– Had to serve 10 years to serve some offices

• Cavalry- horse mounted soldiers• Century- smaller group of legion

1 Equals 20 soldiers

4 Equals 80 soldiers = Century

The Roman Legion

Cavalry