200 years a Kingdom-500 years a republic
– 500 years an empire

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King of Macedonia died in 323
B.C.
His general split the empire into
3 parts – Macedonia, Egypt and
Persia
Power shifted from Greece on the Balkan Peninsula to Rome on the Italian Peninsula
Alexander the Great

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The “Latin's or Romans” migrated from over the Alps into Italy in about 800 B.C.
- they were herders and farmers
People settled near the Tiber River
◦ An area of 7 hills for defense and nice place to live
◦ Near water but not on the coast
◦ Rome 18 miles from the sea
Peoples of Italy

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Another group of people was called the
Etruscans- they ruled much of central
Italy
Etruscans brought Greek ideas to Rome
After 100 years of rule- In 509 B.C.
Romans drove the Etruscans out and set up a Republic form of government
Republic means of the people
◦ Forum grew in the center of town for trade and public discussion
Etruscans

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ADVANTAGES
◦ Protected by mountains
◦ Apennine Mountains are not hard to travel through for travel
◦ Peninsula –great for trade
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DISADVANTAGES
◦ Separated from the rest of Europe by
Alps
◦ Open for enemy attacks due to coastline and
Apennine Mountains
Rome’s geography

After removing the
Etruscan kings, Rome vowed to never have a king again
A republic gave citizens the right to vote for their leaders

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Patricians were the wealthy aristocrats
Plebeians were the merchants and farmers
Slaves were popular but not considered citizens
Roman Class system

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The Romans used the three best governments they knew:
 monarchy
 aristocracy
 Democracy
Roman Republic

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CONSULS
Monarchy
2 consuls who served one year terms and could veto each other’s decisions
DUTIES: command army, ran government, appoint dictator in times of emergency
LIMITS: only could serve one year terms
Roman Republic

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SENATE
Aristocracy
330 member Senate (eventually spread to
Plebs)
DUTIES: controlled budget, proposed and passed laws
LIMITS: could not control army
◦ CENSORS:
◦ Took census; upheld laws (courts)
◦ PRAETORS:
◦ Made laws; served as military commanders
Senate

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ASSEMBLIES
Democracy
TRIBUNES(35 tribes elected 10 officials) came from all over the Republic to represent the plebs VOICE
DUTIES: could VETO Senate’s laws; decided to declare war or not
LIMITS: could not propose laws
Tribunes (the plebs get power!)

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Citizenship extended to:
◦ People born in Roman territories
◦ Through naturalization (petitioning for citizenship by foreigners)
◦ Slaves who are freed by Roman masters
Roman Citizenship

The Forum was a place in the center of town where the temple and government buildings were located.
12 tables posted
Romans in the Forum

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First dictator for life
Led the Republic
Assassinated by his Senate
13 years of civil war
Julius’s adopted son gained control
 Augustus Caesar (Octavian)
Julius Caesar

509 BCE Roman Republic founded
450 BCE 12 tables adopted
367 BCE Plebeians are allowed as consuls
264 BCE Rome controls all of the Italian
Peninsula
265-146 BCE Romans conquer the Mediterranean
Area
120 BCE – 44BCE Breakdown of the Republic
44 BCE Julius Caesar rules
27 BCE Octavian Caesar becomes emperor of the
Roman
Empire
Timeline

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Augustus spread the Roman control far beyond the Italian Peninsula
Empire stretched from Britain to
Mesopotamia
Roman’s ruled wisely
Used their army for protection and building
Roman Empire