Geography and Peoples of Italy
• Rome began as a small citystate in Italy and ended up
ruling the entire
Mediterranean world.
• Because of its geography
Italy was much easier to
unify than Greece.
• Italy has the advantage of
broad fertile plains, both in
the north and in the west
that could support a growing
population.
The Etruscans
• Before 509 B.C. the Etruscans ruled much of central
Italy including Rome itself.
• Romans learned a lot from Etruscan civilization like
their alphabet, how to use the arch in construction,
and engineering techniques.
Rome’s beginnings
The Roman Republic
• The Romans drove out their
Etruscans ruler in 509 B.C.
• This is generally accepted as the year
of the founding of the Roman state.
•Determined to never again be ruled by a king, the Romans
set up a new type of government called a republic.
•In a republic officials were chosen by the people.
•They thought it would keep any individual from gaining
too much power.
The myth of
Romulus and
Remus is
very famous
The Establishment of a Republic
•
•
•
•
The Roman Republic
The senate was the most
powerful governing body.
It was made up of 300
patricians or nobles.
Each year the senators
elected two consuls.
In the event of a war the
senate might choose a
dictator, however the dictator
could not rule longer then 6
months
Cincinnatus
• Cincinnatus, an
early Roman
dictator, was
regarded by the
Romans as one of
the heroes of early
Rome and as a
model of Roman
virtue and
simplicity.
With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of
power as appointed dictator of Rome. His other
hand holds the plow, as he resumes the life of a
citizen and farmer."
Early Roman Republic
• Plebeians were the middle
class of Rome.
• They were often farmers,
merchants, artisans, and
traders who made up the bulk
of the population.
• They had little say in
government affairs.
• A breakthrough for the plebeians came in
the form of the laws of the twelve tables.
• Similar to Hammurabi’s code, the
government of Rome had the laws of the
land inscribed on 12 tablets in the city.
• This made it possible for the first time for
plebeians to appeal a judgment handed
down by a patrician judge
Tribunes
• In time, plebeians gained the right to elect
their own officials to protect their
interests.
• These officials were called Tribunes.
• Tribunes could veto laws that they felt
were harmful to the plebeians.
Although the senate
still dominated the
government, the
common people had
gained access to
power and won
safeguards for their
rights without having
to resort to war or
revolution.
Expansion in Italy
• Roman armies expanded Roman power and influence
across Italy.
• Roman armies consisted of citizen-soldiers who
fought without pay and supplied their own weapons.
• They conquered the Etruscans and then the Greek
city-states in the south 270 B.C.
• Roman soldiers were well trained, loyal, and
courageous.
• Conquered peoples had to acknowledge Roman
leadership, pay taxes, and supply the soldiers for the
Roman army.
• In return Rome let them keep their own customs,
money, and local government.
War with Carthage
• Rome’s conquest of the Italian peninsula
brought it into contact with a new rival –
Carthage
• Carthage was a Phoenician city-state on the
Northern coast of Africa
• Between 264 B.C. and 146 B.C. Rome fought
three wars against Carthage called THE PUNIC
WARS
st
1
Punic War
•During this war Rome defeated Carthage,
forcing it to surrender Sicily, Corsica, and
Sardinia.
2nd Punic War
• In 218 B.C. Hannibal, general of the Carthage military,
embarked on one of the most daring expeditions in
history.
• Hannibal took almost 40 elephants and his massive
army across the Alps and down towards Rome.
• Hannibal had great success for 15 years. But was
never able to capture Rome. This is because as
Hannibal had his massive force located on the Italian
Peninsula, Roman Armies attacked Carthage.
• Hannibal rushed back to Carthage to defend his
Homeland.
• It was here that Rome finally defeated Hannibal.
rd
3
Punic War
• This war was much smaller
in scale but much larger in
its end results.
• Rome attacked Carthage
and completely destroyed
the 700 year old city.
• Survivors were killed or
sold into slavery.
• The Romans poured salt all
over the earth so that
nothing would grow there
again
Punic Wars
End of Section 1
• With Carthage
completely
destroyed, Rome was
now the sole
dominant power of
the Mediterranean,
free to pursue
whatever it desires