Chap 6.1 Slides Flashcards
What was Italy’s Geography like?
–south from Europe far into Mediterranean Sea
–Halfway between eastern, western boundaries of the sea
–Protected by mountains, sea
–Rich soil, mild climate
What was the story of the The Founding of Rome?
- Legend: Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by she-wolf; founded city 753 BC
- City near Tiber River
- Valuable trade routes, easy access to sea
Who were The Etruscans?
- Rome first ruled by Latin Kings
- Came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC
- Etruscans came from northern Italy
–Great metalworkers, jewelers
–Etruscan culture influenced by Greeks
•Etruscans had great influence on Roman society
Who were the 2 groups of people in Rome?
Patricians - elected officials; Patrician controlled all society—politics, religion, economics, military
Plebeians - common people, Lower free class
What became of Rome after Etruscan Rule Ended?
Republic—elected officials governed state
What was the Plebeian Council?
- After receiving new rights, plebeians formed own assembly
- Gained right to veto—ban laws that seemed harmful, unjust
What were the Laws?
- 450 BC, plebeians forced patricians to have all laws written down
- Laws displayed in Roman Forum on 12 large bronze tablets
What were the Offices and Institutions of the Republican Government?
Consisted of three parts:
Senate
popular assemblies
magistrates
What was the SENATE?
•Senate:
300 members, advised elected officials, controlled finances, handled foreign relations
What was the Assembly?
•Assembly: in these all citizens voted on laws, elected officials
What were the Magistrates?
•Magistrates: governed in name of Senate and people, put laws into practice, acted as priests
What were the Consuls?
- When last king thrown out, his place taken by two magistrates called consuls
- Elected for one year; chief executives, army commanders
What were the Censors?
- Next most important after consuls
- Recorded wealth, residence of population
- Filled vacancies in Senate
What were Constraints?
- Government worked well because of system of checks, balances
- Like in the USA
Who was Cincinnatus?
- Romans turned to greatest general, Cincinnatus, to save them from invasion
- Cincinnatus plowing fields at the time
- People made Cincinnatus dictator
- Office of dictator had nearly unlimited power but could be held for only six months
- Cincinnatus defeated enemies and returned to farm
- Had no interest in retaining power
What was The Legion?
Military Might
- Successful expansion not possible without powerful army
- All Roman men between ages 17 and 46 required to serve in army during times of war
What was Roman Army like?
- Organized into units called legions, led by centurions
- Centurions: Officers who commanded 100 men
- Army highly disciplined, well-trained force, could fight in all types of terrain
How was Life in the Republic organized?
At its heart was the Forum, the public square and site of the most important government buildings and temples
Where was the Political Center?
At its heart was the Forum, the public square and site of the most important government buildings and temples
What happened at the Forum?
- Forum more than just political center
- Popular place for shopping, gossip
- Busy shops lined either side of Forum
- Public celebrations usually held there
What were the The Punic Wars?
Violence between Rome and Carthage broke out in 264 BC.
Who was Hannibal?
- 218 BC, Carthaginian general Hannibal led army to Italy
- Hannibal ravaged Italy, defeated every army he faced
- Romans needed new strategy
Who was Scipio?
- Romans decided to take war to Africa
- General Publius Cornelius Scipio sailed to Africa, besieged Carthage
- Forced Hannibal to sail home
- Scipio defeated Hannibal, took Carthage, won Punic War
What happened to Greece?
The Conquest of Greece
- After Carthage, Romans annexed Greece as province as well
- Romans adopted many elements of Greek culture, particularly art
What happened to Greek culture?
•Romans also borrowed ideas of religion from Greeks, adopted their gods but changed the names
