Geography and Economy of Ancient Rome
6th Grade UBD - Unit 7 - Geography and Economy of Ancient Rome
Preview
Where was Rome- Rome grew from a city in
central Italy to a huge empire that included parts
of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Location Leads to Expansion- Rome’s location
and geography gave it advantages that other
locations did not have.
Roman Roads and Coins- Roman coins and
roads helped make trade and travel much easier
during the Roman Empire.
Reach Into Your Background
Roman soldiers were often
used as labor on large
construction projects. The
many roads built by the
Romans were just one of
the reasons they were
able to build a strong and
long-lasting empire.
Explain what role roads
played in shaping the
United States. ( 5
minutes)
Partner Activity
Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)
Key Ideas- Where was Rome?
Rome was founded along the Tiber River in the
center of the Italian peninsula.
The Roman Empire extended as far north as
modern-day Great Britain and Scotland.
The empire extended as far southwest as the
country of Morocco and as far east as the country
of Syria.
The Roman Empire began as a small city in
central Italy but expanded greatly over hundreds
of years.
Key Term
Rome- The
capital city in
Italy, was
founded in 753
BCE. Rome rose
to become the
capital of an
entire empire
comprising
almost all of
current-day
Europe.
Key Term
Italy- A peninsula
on the north
coast of the
Mediterranean
Sea, in the
southern part of
Europe. The Alps
form the
country's
northern border,
and the Apennine
mountain range
runs down its
length.
The Beginning of the Roman CivilizationVideo- The Beginning of the Roman Civilization
The Founding of Rome
Roman civilization had an
enormous impact on the
world, as the Roman Empire
expanded and conquered
much of modern-day Europe
and the Middle East and
parts of North Africa.
For more than 1,000 years,
Rome ruled this part of the
world.
The Founding of Rome
Rome is located in the
center of modern-day
Italy on a peninsula,
which is a piece of
land surrounded by
water on three sides.
This peninsula
stretches into the
Mediterranean Sea.
The Founding of Rome
Over time different towns
joined together to form
the city of Rome.
In 509 BCE, the Roman
Republic formed, and the
city eventually became
the political center of a
large empire.
Natural Benefits
The geography and
climate helped the
different towns develop
into a city and then into
an empire.
Mountains protected
Rome from attack.
A warm climate allowed
year-round farming.
Key Term
Weather- The
state of the
atmosphere at
a place and
time as
regards heat,
dryness,
sunshine,
wind, rain, etc.
Key Term
Climate-
The weather
conditions
prevailing in
an area in
general or
over a long
period.
Rome’s Natural SitesReading Handout- Reading Handout- Rome's Natural Sites
Key Ideas- Location Leads to Expansion
Rome’s location on the Tiber River in central Italy meant
that it could easily sail in the Mediterranean to trade with
other places.
The mountains and hills of Italy helped keep Romans safe
from attacks.
Rome’s warm climate made it a good place for farming,
which meant that Romans had plenty of food. Rome’s
location and climate made it an excellent location for
growing grains and other crops.
Rome’s geographic conditions helped it to develop a trade-
based economy. It also made it easier for Rome to extend
throughout the Mediterranean region.
Rome’s Waterways
Access to freshwater
allowed Romans to
irrigate their crops,
increasing
agricultural output.
Proximity to
waterways made
trade easier, helping
the economy grow.
Rome’s Waterways
Like many other
ancient civilizations,
Rome’s farmers
depended on a major
river.
The Tiber River
provided them with
fresh water.
The Romans used the
water to irrigate their
farms.
Rome’s Waterways
The Tiber also
provided drinking
water for humans
and animals.
However, unlike
many other
civilizations, Rome
did not develop in
the river’s delta.
Rome’s Waterways
Rome began about 15 miles from where the
Tiber River empties into the Mediterranean
Sea. This distance gave Rome extra
protection.
Its enemies had to move inland from the
coast to reach the city.
However, Rome was still close enough to the
sea that Romans could use the river to get to
the Mediterranean.
Rome’s Waterways
As the empire got bigger,
Roman farmers could not
grow enough food to feed
the larger population.
Rome imported wheat
from North Africa and
olive oil from Spain.
Trade became important
for the Roman food supply.
Key Term
Import-
Bringing
goods or
services into
a country
from abroad
for sale.
Key Term
Export-
Sending
goods or
services to
another
country for
sale.
Key Ideas- Roman Roads and Coins
Romans built thousands of miles of roads and bridges.
Soldiers, messengers, and traders throughout the
empire used them.
Romans had such advanced building skills that some of
their roads still exist today.
Romans made coins that were used for trade throughout
the empire. These coins showed pictures of Roman
rulers, gods, and goddesses.
The development of roads made travel and trade
throughout the empire easier. This helped Rome to
expand its influence and empire.
All Roads Lead to RomeVideo- All Roads Lead to Rome
Roman Roads and Bridges
Roman emperors
stressed road building
as a way to increase
trade, strengthening
the economy, and as a
way to move armies,
increasing the
capability of the empire
to conquer even
farther-flung lands.
Roman Roads
The phrase “all roads
lead to Rome” is a
reminder that Roman
roads connected the
whole empire to the
capital.
These roads show the
strength of Roman
engineering.
Roman Roads
The roads were built of several different
layers. Often, the top layers were paved.
The Romans also built drainage ditches along
the sides of the roads. The ditches kept water
from damaging the roads.
Some parts of this road system are still used in
Europe and the Middle East.
Roman Bridges
In addition to roads,
Romans also built
many bridges.
The bridges helped
Romans reach
territories that were
separated by rivers
and other bodies of
water.
These bridges were
made of stone.
Key Term
Monetary
System-
Anything that is
generally
accepted as a
standard of
value and a
measure of
wealth in a
particular
country or
region.
Coin MintingReading Handout- Coin Minting
Monetary System
The development of metal
coins used as money to
increase the economic
power of the empire.
The common monetary
system used throughout
the Roman Empire made it
easy and efficient to trade
with far-flung territories.
Monetary System
The Romans made
coins out of gold, silver,
and other metals.
The coins were worth
different amounts
based on the different
metals from which they
were made.
Monetary System
The Romans had
coins of several
different values.
Like today, the
government
guaranteed the
value of the coins.
Monetary System
The decorations on
Roman coins, many of
which are still in
existence, show
present-day historians
and archaeologists
details of life in the
Roman Empire.
Field Trip to the Money FactoryVideo- Field Trip to the Money Factory
Review
Achievements such
as roads, bridges, and
coins helped Romans
develop trade
networks that allowed
them to grow rich and
helped to unify the
empire.
Independent Activity
What has been the
“muddiest” point so
far in this lesson? That
is, what topic remains
the least clear to you?
(4 minutes)
Partner Activity
Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)
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