Rise of Rome
• Legend states that the city of Rome was
founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus
who were twin sons of the God Mars and a
Latin princess.
• Actually founded by men who chose the
spot for its great location and fertile soil
Who was in Rome?
• There were three groups who inhabited the region and
would battle for control of Rome.
• Latins: who built the original settlement at Rome and
considered to be the first Romans
• Greeks: had colonies along southern Italy and Sicily.
They would have closer contact with Greek civilization
• Etruscans: skilled metal workers and engineers and had
a great influence on development of Rome with their
system of writing and Rome eventually adopted their
alphabet
Early Republic
• Last King of Rome was a tyrant called Tarquin
the Proud. He was a harsh tyrant Rome refused
to ever have a tyrant again so they set up a
republic.
• Republic is a form of government where the
power rests with citizens who have the right to
vote for their leaders.
• So began the patricians-the wealthy class and
the plebeians-the working class.
Rome is Connected
• Rome dominates the Etruscans and the Greeks to take
control and by 265 B.C. they were masters of nearly all
of Italy.
• Conquered peoples became full citizens of Rome but
could not vote. They also became allies of Rome
• Allies were not interfered by Rome but allies could not
form any treaties with any other state. Allies must
provide Rome with troops for war. This very relaxed
relationship with Allies and conquered people helped
Rome grow into a super power.
Battle for Carthage and the Punic
Wars
• Fought three wars between 264 and 146B.C.
• Carthage was in the way of Rome and their
expansion and power of the Mediterranean Sea
• Carthage located on a peninsula on the North
African Coast
First War of the Punic Wars
• First War was fought for control of the
island of Sicily and the western
Mediterranean
• Lasted for 23 years (264-241B.C.)
• A great deal to cover, just know Rome
defeated Carthage in this battle
2nd War of the Punic Wars
• Rise of Hannibal a 29 year old
Carthaginian who was a brilliant military
leader
• Wanted revenge for their earlier defeat to
the Romans
• Only assembled an Army of 50,000, a
cavalry of 9,000 and throw in 60 elephants
Hannibal Continued
• Hannibal’s goal was to siege Rome with a
surprise attack by traveling through Spain, the
French alps and eventually down to Rome
• Lost half of his men and most of his elephants,
but managed to fight up and down the Italy coast
for a decade, but never took Rome
• Rome would answer Hannibal with their own
attack which will lead us to the third and final war
of the Punic Wars
Third and Final War of the Punic
Wars
• Rome matches Hannibal with their own military
leader whose name was Scipio
• Scipio wanted to siege Carthage, this would
force Hannibal out of Italy and back to Carthage
• Rome finally sieges Carthage in 146B.C., the
city was set afire and the 50,000 inhabitants
were now slaves of Rome
• Rome had expanded their empire, and now
controlled Carthage.
• Huge empire that would be difficult to control