The Rise of Rome

6th Grade World History

Essential Question:

Why did Rome become successful?

Rome’s Beginnings

Italy is located in the Mediterranean region Italy is cut off from Europe by the Alps

Not as rugged as mountains in Greece and much easier to cross

Italy is more unified than Greek city states Better farmland than Greece

Geography of Italy

15 miles up the Tiber River and from the

Mediterranean Sea Source of water Connected to the Mediterranean world

Built on seven hills Easy to defend against enemy attacks

Geography of Rome

Two different legends describe how Rome

began Romulus and Remus Aeneid

1,000 B.C.E.: Latins lived on Rome’s hills Tended herds and grew crops 700-800B.C.E. – banded together for

protection

Origins of Rome

Greeks

Romans learned to grow olives and grapes from the Greeks

Adopted the Greek alphabet Modeled architecture, sculpture and literature after the

Greeks Etruscans

Skilled metal workers Changed Rome from straw-roofed huts to a city with

wood and brick buildings, temples and public squares Influenced Roman dress Etruscan army served as a model for Roman army

Early Influences

Romans overthrew cruel ruling family, the

Tarquins Set up a republic

Leader is put in office by citizens who have the right to vote

Rome conquered all of Italy

The Birth of a Republic

Excellent soldiers

Every male citizens who owned land Deserters punished by death Organized into small groups called legions

who could cut through enemy lines

Why Was Rome So Strong?

Built permanent military settlements in areas

they conquered Build roads between towns

Roman Confederation Gave full citizenship to most conquered

people Gave other conquered people the status of

ally Quickly put down any resistance

Shrewd Rulers

1. How was Rome able to control the territories they conquered?

2. How did geography determine Rome’s location?

3. Answer the Essential Question: Why did Rome become so successful?

Making Connections

Essential Question:

What differences existed between the early Roman social classes?

The Roman Republic

Patricians

Wealthy land owners Ruling class Could hold public office

Plebians Artisans and shopkeepers Owners of small farms

Both were considered Roman citizens Right to vote, pay taxes, serve in army Intermarriage is forbidden

Early Roman Social Classes

Three part government Consuls

Two chosen each year Patricians Headed army Ran government Served short terms Could veto the other’s decision

Rome’s Government

Praetors

Interpret the law Act as judges in court

The Senate Law making body 300 patrician men Served for life Proposed laws Held debates Approved building programs

Rome’s Government

****Eventually the plebians rebelled and set

up the Council of the Plebs. This gradually gained the right to make laws for all Romans. They allowed all Roman citizens to hold public office and allowed intermarriage.****

Rome’s Government

Dictators in Rome held complete power on a

temporary basis during emergencies Appointed by the Senate

Cincinnatus Famous early Roman dictator Helped Rome defeat a powerful army Returned to farming his fields only days

later

Roman Dictators

Twelve Tables

Basis for all future Roman laws Established principle that all free citizens had the

right to be treated equally by the legal system Only applied to Roman citizens

Law of Nations Principles of justice applied to all people

everywhere Innocent until proven guilty Right to defend yourself before a judge

Basis of the American legal system

Roman Law

First Punic War

Fought between Carthage and Rome for control of Sicily Rome built a navy and defeats Carthage 20 years later

Second Punic War Fought between Carthage and Rome to remove

Carthage from Spain Carthage sent Hannibal to defeat Rome with 46,000

men, 37 elephants and horses Hannibal crossed the Alps and attacked Italy but was

defeated Rome slowly destroyed the Carthaginian Empire and took

control of the entire Mediterranean region

Rome Expands

Why do you think the legacy of Roman law is

considered so important?

Answer the Essential Question: What differences existed between the early Roman social classes?

Making Connections

Essential Question:

What problems did the Roman Empire face before the take-over of Julius Caesar?

The Fall of the Republic

Rome’s armies were very successful At home

Dishonest officials stole money and came to power “bread and circuses”

Farmers faced ruin Could not compete with wealthy Romans who created

large estates Cities were becoming overcrowded and dishonest

People could not find jobs because enslaved workers were popular

Roman army became corrupt Growing gap between the rich and the poor Rival armies resulted in civil war for the next 50 years

Trouble in the Republic

60 B.C.E. – Three men decided to rule Rome together

with separate military commands Julius Caesar: Gaul Pompey: Spain Crassus: Syria: killed in battle

Fearing Julius Caesar was too powerful, the Senate asked Pompey to return to Rome to rule alone

Caesar, the better general, marched into Rome and seized power in 48 B.C.E.

Julius Caesar

Had himself declared dictator Filled the Senate with people loyal to him Became popular with the poor

Granted citizenship to more conquered people Created work for jobless people Ordered landowners to hire more free workers

Caesar was popular with many but others thought he wanted too much power Assassinated on March 15th in 44 B.C.E. Rome plunged into civil war

Caesar’s Rise to Power

Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, and one of

his top generals, Marc Antony, divided the Roman world Octavian: West Antony: East

Antony’s relationship with Egyptian Queen Cleopatra made western Rome nervous that Antony wanted full power Octavian declared war and defeated Antony

and Cleopatra

Rome Becomes an Empire

Using the influence of writer Cicero, Octavian

gave much power back to the Senate but earned the title, “emperor.”

Changed his name to Augustus

Augustus

What was the “bread and circuses” policy and how

did Roman politicians benefit?

What reforms did Caesar put in place that increased his popularity with the poor and working class Romans?

 

Answer the Essential Question: What problems did the Roman Republic face before the take-over of Julius Caesar?

Making Connections

Essential Question:

What characterized the Pax Romana?

The Early Empire

Paved the way for 200 years of peace and prosperity Pax Romana: “Roman Peace”

Professional army that conquered new territories

Supported the arts Imported grain from Africa to feed the poor Improved the government Appointed governors to rule each of Rome’s

provinces

The Emperor Augustus

Tiberius

Great military leader and kept Rome’s economy stable

Caligula Suffered from mental illness

Claudius Built new aqueduct for Rome and conquered

most of Britain Nero

Had people murdered, gave slaves right to file complaints and committed suicide

Who Came After Augustus?

A series of five “good emperors” helped Rome

to grow Programs for the poor Common currency Roads and bridges Aqueducts Ports (traders came from all over)

Roman law unified an empire of 3.5 million square miles

Unity and Prosperity

Why would the creation of a common currency

be important?

Answer the Essential Question: What characterized the Pax Romana?

Making Connections