EARLY PEOPLE OF ITALY Chapter 9: The Ancient Romans
INTRO: The Italian peninsula is a mountainous land, shaped like a highheeled boot. Many different people migrated to the Italian peninsula through many years. Most of these people spoke the Italic Language. Some Italic Language speakers were people known as Latins. Legend says that the Latin people founded a village that became the city of Rome. What does it mean for the Italian culture if many people from different regions migrated to the Italian peninsula?
The Founding Of Rome Location & Geography 7 Hills Rome was built on a group of 7 hills along the Tiber River. Location is ideal for trade and communicating with other civilizations. Strategic location: Steep hills helped protect from enemy attack by land. Inland location helped so they can escape attack by sea. 24 Km from the Mediterranean sea.
The Founding Of Rome Terrain (Physical geography, referring to the type of land.) The land in Rome provided many resources. Geography Features Steep Hills Inland Location Fertile Soil Nearby Sea Stones & Wood Tiber River Benefits to Rome. Protection from attack by land. Protection from attack by sea Farming & Food Salt & Fish (Food) Building material Sea-trade routes
The Founding Of Rome Who was Livy? A roman historian. Believed that Rome s location was excellent for a city. He said, Not without good reason did gods and men choose this spot as the site of a city.
The Founding Of Rome There was a Latin king who had a cruel brother that took the kings throne by force. The original Latin King had a daughter who have birth to twin bothers after her father was overruled by her uncle. When the new King found out about the birth of the twins he ordered that the babies be taken and left to die by the Tiber River. The new King was afraid that the boys would grow up and take back the throne that is lawfully theirs. According to the legend, a mother wolf found the boys in the river and saved them. Later when the boys grew into children they were found by a farmer that took the boys home with him. Legend of How Rome Began.
The Founding Of Rome Legend of How Rome Began. When the twins grew up, they defeated their Great-Uncle who stole the throne from their grandfather. The boys gave the throne back to their grandfather. The twins, Romulus and Remus, then set out to build a new settlement along the Tiber River where they were rescued by the wolf years ago. Romulus and Remus fought over which hill to build there new settlement on. Remus was killed in this fight. Romulus became the first ruler of the new city which was named Rome in his honor. According to legend, Romulus said, My Rome shall be the capital of the world.
The Etruscan Civilization Location: Across the Tiber River to the north of Rome Northwestern part of the Italian Peninsula.
The Etruscan Civilization Culture: Etruscans were descendants of an early people who spoke a non-italic language. Had an urban culture with major settlements. By time they became the dominant culture on the Italian peninsula. The Etruscans traded with Greek colonies. This influenced some of the Etruscan culture. Adapted Greek alphabets & art styles. Like the Greeks, the Etruscans formed independent citystates.
The Etruscan Civilization Etruscan City-states The city-states shared more than just their cultural identities. They all used the same system of government. Governed by a king. (Monarchy) Leaders of powerful families within each city-state elected a king. The kings did not inherit the throne.
The Etruscan Civilization Etruscan Confederation Having similar governments helped the Etruscans unite in a confederation. Etruscan city-states were able to build a strong army. They used their army to control neighboring peoples. Some of the conquered peoples were forced to work for the Etruscans. By 600 B.C. the Etruscans controlled large areas of the Italian Peninsula, including Rome. Etruscan kings ruled the city of Rome for more than 100 years.
The Roman Republic After almost 100 years of being ruled by the Etruscans, the Romans rebelled. The Romans started a new form a government with some features that were kept from the Etruscan system. Election of leaders. The new Roman government was called a Republic Citizens elect leaders to represent them in an assembly.
The Roman Republic Assembly Makes laws and runs the government. Elected the consuls. Consuls 2 Elected Consuls Headed the republic and led the army. Served for 1 year Dictator Used in an emergency. Ruler with absolute authority. Every citizen and government official had to follow dictators orders, even the Consuls. Senate The most power governing body in the Rome. Served for life. Declared wars, made peace treaties, and formed alliances. Made official orders and handled money matters.
The Roman Republic Patricians Wealthy descendants of Rome s earliest settlers. Controlled both the Senate and the assembly. Plebeians Ordinary citizens, or common people. Craftworks Farmer, Foot soldiers Etc.
The Roman Republic In time a 3 rd, larger assembly developed This assembly was called the Tribal assembly. Unlike other assemblies, the tribal assembly represented all Roman citizens. Because there were more plebeian citizens, they controlled the tribal assembly. More changes followed, and by 367 B.C. plebeians could also serve as consuls.
Roman Society Class System Upper Class Lower Class Slaves