World History Chapter Five The Roman World Takes Shape.
-
Upload
phoebe-arnold -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
0
Transcript of World History Chapter Five The Roman World Takes Shape.
World HistoryChapter Five
The Roman World Takes Shape
Geography
• Rome is located on the Western side of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea
• Italy is not broken up with mountains like Greece is…it lends itself to a growing population with a good climate and good soil
Early Rome
• Latin's – settled in Italy along the Tiber river• Ancestors of the Romans• They were herders and farmers• Romulus and Remus – Twin brothers –
founded Rome on seven hills• Brothers said to of divine origins – from a
Latin woman and the god Mars – giving the Romans the idea they were divine
Etruscans
• Lived in Italy along with the Latin's• Lived north of Rome• Not sure where they came from (Asia Minor,
the Alps) but they controlled most of central Italy
• Romans learned a lot from the Etruscans• Merged their gods and goddesses
Republic
• Romans defeated the Etruscans and drove them away in 509 B.C.
• Republic – “res publica” that which belongs to the people
• People chose some of the officials• Romans believed this would stop an individual
from gaining to much power
Senate
• Senate – most powerful body of government in Rome
• 300 members made up of Patricians – landholding upper class
• Senators served for life• Senators nominated two consuls every year
to supervise the government and the military• Consul – could only serve one term
Senate
• Consuls had to approve each others decisions• Rome had checks and balances. How?• If war broke out then a dictator would be
named by the senate • Dictator would have complete control over
the government for six months• Cincinnatus
Plebians
• Plebians – farmers, merchants, artisans, traders, bulk of the population, little influence
• Pushed for more representation and won the right to elect their own officials called tribunes
• Tribunes could veto – block – laws that could hurt the plebians
• Senate eventually was opened to the Plebians• Laws of the Twelve Tables – Plebians could
appeal judgments of patrician judges
Women
• Could own property, run businesses• Most women worked at home, raising
families, spinning, weaving• Patrician women went to public baths, dined
out, attended theater with husbands
Children
• Boys and girls from upper and lower classes learned to read and write
• Greeks were hired to tutor wealthy families• Rhetoric was an important skill taught to boys
seeking a career in politics
Religious
• Polytheistic – adapted from the Greeks• Mars – god of war• Had feasts and celebrations for the gods all
throughout the year• Most joined in, creating a sense of unity and
community• Temples all throughout Rome with statues of
gods
Roman Army
• Success of Rome was due to its great army• Legion – basic unit of the Roman army – 5,000
men• Citizen-soldiers – fought unpaid, supply own
weapons – like Greece had done• Started receiving a stipend but largest reward
was their share in the spoils after a victory
Army
• Roman citizens were raised with the values of loyalty, courage, and respect for authority
• This helped to make them good soldiers• Commanders mixed rewards and punishments• If they performed well they were praised and
given gifts• If they fled – one of every ten men was put to
death
Conquered People
• Treated its enemies fairly• Enemies had to acknowledge Rome, pay taxes
and supply soldiers• Could continue to rule themselves• Some became full citizens or partial citizens –
let them marry Romans and trade in Rome• Rome posted soldiers all throughout the
conquered lands – built roads to connect territory