I. Geography
A. Rome began as a small city-state in Italy but ended up
ruling the entire Mediterranean world.
B. Its
location
allowed for
good TRADE
II. The Roman Republic
A. Romans hated monarchy (rule by a king)
B. In 509 BCE- the Roman Republic is
established.
Republic- gov’t leaders are
elected
C. Two main social classes:
1. Patricians
2. Plebeians
Post it Note Parking Lot
On your post it note, write one thing that
is similar between Rome and a modern
country (1 min).
Ex: Polytheistic like Hinduism
 Find a big piece of paper on a classroom
wall and put your post it note there (1
min).

D. Powers are shared:
1. Senate- Patricians only
2. Consuls- Every year, Senators elected
two consuls to supervise the government
and command the armies.
3. Dictator- elected by the Senate for war
- six month time limit
E. Plebeians demand equality
1. Tribunes could veto laws
2. Laws of the Twelve Tables (450BCE)
allowed plebeians to appeal a judgment by
a patrician judge
- all citizens are
innocent until
proven guilty
- all citizens are
equal under the
law
- helped shape
Western legal
systems
Who are these two boys?
The Capitoline she-wolf. Museo Nuovo in
the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Rome.
Punic Wars Reading
1. Why is it called the Punic Wars?
 2. Why was Rome in conflict with
Carthage?
 3.Describe Hamilcar Barca.
 4. Describe the Punic Wars.
 5. What was the result of the Punic Wars?

III. The Punic
Wars
A.
B.
Rome vs. Carthage
over TRADE.
Three Punic Wars:
Rome wins all!
1. Rome won islands
2. Hannibal brought
elephants over the
Alps to surprise the
Romans. Rome still
wins!
3. Romans poured salt
on Carthage.
IV. Roman Expansion
A. Roman Military
1. Legion- basic unit of the army = 5,000
men
2. The army was strong, well-disciplined,
and loyal.
3. Conquered people were required to:
 be loyal
 supply soldiers for the army
 pay taxes
4. Conquered people were allowed to:
keep their own culture and officials
Note Break:
1.
2.
Go find someone else’s post it note.
Stick it in your notebook and draw a
picture in your notes that represents the
idea on your post it note.
Ex:
V. The Roman Empire
“Rome wasn’t built in a day!”
A. 270 BCE- Rome conquered the Italian Peninsula
B. 44BCE- Carthage, Greece, Spain, Gaul, parts of
Asia Minor
Broath Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbpz_y
0MIbY
Do Now Caesar Reading- be
able to answer these questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What happened when Caesar was
captured by pirates?
How did Caesar gain notariety early in his
career?
Why was Caesar assassinated?
Did he really say, “Et tu? Brute?”
5. What did Gaius Octavian become?
C. Changes in gov’t:
In 48 BCE, Julius Caesar became dictator for
life
RESULT: ENDED THE REPUBLIC!
D. Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE on
the Ides of March (March 15)
E. Augustus Octavian became dictator. Took title
of emperor.
RESULT: THE EMPIRE BEGAN
F. Augustus began the Pax Romana
(Roman Peace) which lasted 200 years.
VI. Roman Economy
Expansion of the empire promoted trade
B. Mediterranean was a “liquid highway”
C. Army built roads
“All roads lead to Rome.”
D. Goods were imported from all over the
empire.
A.
Crash Course- terms to write
down in your notes to focus on
SPQR
AristocracyMonarchyDemocracyCincinnatusDomestic vs. foreign policyCharacteristics of empire: diversityexpansion, central power-
VII. Decline of Rome
A. Economic Problems
1. Cost of defending empire led to too
high taxes = over expansion
2. Inflation ($ is not worth as much)
and unemployment
B. Political Weakness
1. Government became corrupt and ineffective.
C. Military Decline
1. No citizen army.
2. Hired mercenaries- paid soldiers that were
less loyal than Roman citizens
D. Divided Empire
1. Emperor Diocletian divided the empire
East- capital was Constantinople
West- capital was Rome
Constantinople
Rome
DIOCLETIAN DIVIDE!
E. Foreign Invasions
1. Rome under constant attack by nomadic
tribes
- Attila the Hun
- Odoacer ousted the emperor (476 CE)
RESULT: THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Solve Rome’s Problems
For each problem:
 3 minutes: role play
 1 minute: quiet think time
 2 minutes: discuss with group
 4 minutes: class discussion