Chapter 8 Section 1

World History

Mrs. Deborah Thompson

Geography played an important role in the rise of Roman civilization.

Italy is a narrow peninsula in the Mediterranean that looks like a high-heeled boot jutting into the sea.

The “heel” points toward Greece

and the “toe” toward the island of Sicily.

Across the top are the Alps, craggy mountains that separate Italy from other European lands.

The Apennine Mountains run all the

way down the boot from north to south.

The Apennines can be crossed more easily than the mountains of Greece.

This resulted in settlements

not split up into isolated communities

like in Greece.

The farmland of these

mountains was better than

those of Greece. (more

food means MORE

PEOPLE!)

Groups from the

north settled in Italy between

1500 B.C. and 1000 B.C.

Newcomers were

attracted to mild climate and

rich soil, and among these were the Latins, who built the city of Rome on the plain of Latium

in central Italy.

People on the Move!

Where was Rome

located?

The site chosen was about 15 miles up the Tiber

River from the Mediterranean Sea.

Rome became a stopping point for people traveling north

and south in western Italy and for merchant ships sailing

in the western Mediterranean Sea.

The Tiber River

was a water source and outlet to

the Mediterranean

Sea.

Rome was built on seven

steep hills, so the

Romans were able

to protect their city from attack.

A bridge over the Tiber River

The traditional story is that twin brothers Romulus and Remus founded the city.

As babies they were abandoned near the Tiber

River and rescued by a wolf and raised by a shepherd.

They decided to build the city in

753 B.C. but fought as Remus made fun of the wall

that his brother was building.

Romulus killed Remus

and then became the

first king of Rome.

Check for UnderstandingTrue or False

1.  A myth is a true story. 2.  Romulus and Remus were twin brothers.3.  The twin babies were thrown into the

river Nile.4. Italy and Greece are both peninsulas. 5.  The babies were rescued by a she wolf. 6. Italy has three mountain ranges. 7.The brothers were found by a shepherd.8. The land of Italy is shaped like a glove.9.  Remus killed Romulus.10. Rome’s location helped it become a center

for trade.

The other story involves the Aenied written by Roman poet Virgil.

It is the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas. He and his followers are said to have sailed the Med. Sea after the Greeks captured Troy. The Trojans landed at the mouth of the Tiber. Aeneas united the Trojans and the Latins through war and then marriage to the local king’s daughter. He became the “father” of the Romans.

The other story involves the Aenied written by Roman poet Virgil.

It is the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas. He and his followers are said to have sailed the Med. Sea after the Greeks captured Troy. The Trojans landed at the mouth of the Tiber. Aeneas united the Trojans and the Latins through war and then marriage to the local king’s daughter. He became the “father” of the Romans.

Historians think the Latins arrived in the early 1000s B.C.,

tended sheep,

built huts,

and formed a community that eventually became Rome.

After 800 B.C., other

groups migrated to Italy.

From the Greeks the

Romans learned to grow

olives and grapes, the

Greek alphabet,

architecture, sculpture,

and literature.

The Greeks and the Etruscans played a

major role in shaping Roman civilization.

Many Greeks

came when they were building colonies between

750 B.C. and 550 B.C.

were metalworkers who became

rich from mining

and trade

forced slaves to

do the heaviest

work

After 650 B.C. they moved

south and took control

of Rome and most of

Latium.had tomb paintings that show men and women feasting, dancing, and playing music and sports

The Etruscans lived north of Rome in

Etruria .

They left behind They left behind painted scenes painted scenes showing bloody showing bloody

battles and pride battles and pride in their military.in their military.

They had an army They had an army

that served as the that served as the

model for the mighty model for the mighty

army the Romans army the Romans

eventually eventually

assembled.assembled.

They changed Rome They changed Rome from a village of from a village of

straw huts to straw huts to a city with wood a city with wood

and brick buildings, and brick buildings, streets, temples, streets, temples, public buildings public buildings

around a around a central squarecentral square

More on theEtruscans!

They taught They taught Romans new dress Romans new dress

with cloaks and togas with cloaks and togas (loose garments (loose garments

draped over draped over one shoulder)one shoulder)

The Romans created a Republic and conquered Italy. By treating people fairly, they built Rome from a small city into a great power.

The Etruscans ruled

Rome for more than 100 years.

In 509 B.C. the Romans overthrew the Tarquins and set up a republic.

In a republic

the CITIZENS

have power!

The ruling family, called the Tarquins,

grew more and more cruel.

A republic is a form of government in which the leader

is not a king or queen but someone put in

office by citizens with the right

to vote.

At the time Rome

became a republic,

it was still a small city with many enemies.

In 338 B.C., they finally

Defeated the other Latins nearby and

defeated the Etruscans in

284 B.C.

By 267 B.C., the Romans had conquered

the Greeks in southern

Italy and became the masters of

almost all of Italy.

Every male citizen who owned land had to serve in the army.

Discipline was harsh and deserters were put to death.

Remember when I told you That the Romans used Realism

in their sculpture? He is Scary Real!!

The results were …

So this happened …

Then this happened …

And that led to this …

Started with …

They were problem solvers and developed effective military strategies.

Each unit carried its own Each unit carried its own standardstandard-a tall poll -a tall poll with a symbol. The standards helped keep with a symbol. The standards helped keep

units together.units together.

Roman soldiers, or Roman soldiers, or legionarieslegionaries, were armed , were armed with a short sword called a with a short sword called a gladiusgladius and a spear and a spear

called a called a pilumpilum..

At first they fought like the At first they fought like the GreeksGreeks (shoulder to (shoulder to shoulder with spears in hand)shoulder with spears in hand)..

The Roman generals organized soldiers The Roman generals organized soldiers into smaller groups called into smaller groups called legionslegions that had that had

about about 6,0006,000 men. men.

Groups were further divided into groups of 60 and 120 men and could easily cut

through enemy lines.

Rome was able to conquer Italy because the Romans were excellent soldiers.All male citizens that owned land had to serve in the army.Discipline was harsh, and deserters were punished by death.

http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/romancent.htm

Horrible Histories Video

• Conscription

• Decimation

• Surviving the Roman Army

They built permanent military

settlements in the areas

they conquered.

They built roads between these towns that allowed troops to travel swiftly to any

place in their growing territory.

They created the Roman Confederation to rule their

new conquests.

Romans gave full citizenship to some peoples, especially other Latins.

Citizens could vote and serve in the

government, and they were treated the same

as other citizens under the law.

The Romans granted other peoples the status of allies.

They knew that conquered peoples would be more loyal to the government if they were well treated.

Allies were free to run their own local affairs but had to pay taxes to the republic and provide soldiers for the army.

Romans were not afraid to use force if

necessary to put down any revolt.