Rome Day 1

ROME TIMELINE 500 B.C.- 500 A.D. :
509 B.C. - Rome becomes a republic.
264 B.C. - First Punic War begins.
218 B.C. - In the Second Punic War, Hannibal invades Italy.
31 B.C. - Octavian defeats the forces of Antony and Cleopatra.
284 A.D. - Diocletian becomes emperor of Rome.
476 A.D. - Western Roman Empire falls.

MAIN IDEAS:
Power and Authority- Rome becomes a republic, a form of government in which elected officials represent the people. However, Emperors, absolute rulers, would eventually gain power and expand the Roman Empire.
Empire Building- At its peak, the Roman Empire touched three continents; Europe, Asia, and Africa. For several countries, the Roman Empire would bring peace and prosperity til the eventual collapse of the Roman Empire, and in others, maybe not so much.
Religion and Ethical Systems- Out of Judea rose a monotheistic, single-god, religion known as Christianity. Based on teachings from Jesus of Nazareth, it would soon spread throughout the Roman Empire and soon, throughout the world eventually becoming the world' largest religion.

Chapter 1 - The Roman Republic:
The Origins of Rome-
According to legend, the city of Rome was founded in 573 B.C. by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars, and a Latin princess. The twins were abandoned on the Tiber river as infants and raised by a she-wolf. The twins decided to build a city near the spot. In reality it was men not immortals who chose the spot, and they did so mainly due to its strategic location and fertile soil.
Rome's Geography-
Rome was built on seven rolling hills (namely one, Palatine Hill at the beginning) at a curve on the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian peninsula. Also being located near the center of the Mediterranean Sea.
The First Romans-
The Earliest Settlers on the Italian Peninsula came in prehistoric times, but from about 1000 to 500 B.C., three groups inhabited the region and eventually battled for control. These groups were the Latins, the Greeks, and the Etruscans. The Latins (considered to be the first Romans) were the original ones who built Rome, which was originally a cluster of wooden huts built atop the Palatine Hill. Between 750 and 600 B.C., the Greeks established colonies along southern Italy and Sicily. The cities became prosperous and commercially active. These cities brought all of Italy into closer contact with Greek civilization. The Etruscans were native to northern Italy. They were skilled metalworkers and engineers. They strongly influenced the development of Roman civilization. They had a system of writing, that the Romans would adopt their alphabet. Also influenced Roman architecture, especially through the use of the arch.
The Early Republic-
Around 600 B.C., an Etruscan became king of Rome. In the following decades, Rome grew from a collection of hilltop villages to a city that covered nearly 500 square miles. Various kings ordered the construction of Rome's first temples and public centers; the most famous of which was the Forum, the heart of Roman political life. The last king of Rome was Tarquin the Proud. A harsh tyrant, eventually driven from power in 509 B.C. The Romans declared they would not be ruled by a King ever again. Instead, they established a republic, from the Latin phrase res publica, which means "public affairs." A republic is a form of government which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders. Although, the only people who could vote were free-born male citizens.
Patricians and Plebeians-
In the early republic, groups of Romans struggled for power. One group was the patricians, the wealthy landowners who held most of the power. The other important group was the plebeians, the common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population.Patricians inherited their power and social status. Making claims that their ancestry gave them the authority to make laws for Rome. The plebeians were the citizens of Rome with the right to vote. However, they were barred from holding most important government positions. In time, Rome's leaders allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes. Tribunes protected the rights of plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials.
Twelve Tables-
Carved, stone tablets containing Rome's laws. Began in 451 B.C. when a group of ten officials began writing down Rome's laws. Became hung in the forum and later the basis for all Roman laws and the idea that all free citizens had a right to the protection of the law. Previously, with the laws unwritten, laws were up to interpretation from unfair patrician leaders.
Government Under the Republic-
Rome had two officials called consuls. Like kings, they commanded the army and directed the government. However, their power was limited. Their terms lasted for only one year and they could not be elected again for another ten years. Also, one consul could always overrule the other's decisions. The senate was the aristocratic branch of Rome's government. Made from three-hundred members of Rome's upper class, it worked in legislative and administrative functions. Although, later plebeians would be allowed in. Senate exercised great influence over both foreign and domestic policy. The more democratic side was represented by the assemblies. For example, an assembly organized by the plebeians, the Tribal Assembly, elected the tribunes and make laws for the common people, and later the republic itself. In times of crisis, the republic could appoint a dictator; a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army. Power only lasted for six months. Would be chosen by the consuls and elected by the senate. Through this Rome's government had aspects of other government like monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.
The Roman Army-
In addition to their government, Romans placed great value on the military. All citizens who owned land were required to serve. Seekers of certain public offices had to preform ten years of military service. Roman Soldiers were organized into large military units called legions. A Roman legion was made up of some five-thousand heavily armed infantry. A group of cavalry would support each legion. Legions were divided into centuries, made up of eighty men. The organization and skill of this army were key factors in Rome's rise to greatness.
Rome Spreads Its Power
For hundreds of years after the founding of the republic, Rome sought to expand its territories through trade and conquest
Rome Conquers Italy-
Eventually, Romans would come to defeat the Etruscans in the north and the Greek city-states in the south. This lead to them having complete control of all of Italy.
Rome's Commercial Network-
Rome's location gave easy access to the riches of the lands ringing in the Mediterranean Sea. Roman merchants, moving by land and sea, traded Roman wine and olive oil for a variety of foods, raw materials, and manufactured goods. However, other large and powerful cities interfered with Roman trade. One such city was Carthage. Once a colony of Phoenicia, Carthage was located on a peninsula on the North African coast. Its rise to power soon put it in direct opposition with Rome leading to...
War with Carthage-
In 264 B.C. Rome and Carthage went to war. This would be the beginning of the long struggle known as the Punic Wars. Between 264 and 146 B.C., Rome and Carthage fought three wars. The first, ending in the defeat of Carthage, was for control of Sicily and the western Mediterranean, lasting twenty-three years (264-241 B.C.). The Second Punic War began in 218 B.C. The mastermind was twenty-nine-year-old Carthaginian general, Hannibal. Hannibal was a brilliant military strategist who seeked vengeance for Carthage's earlier defeat. Hannibal's army of fifty-thousand infantry, nine-thousand cavalry, and sixty elephants was intent on capturing Rome. Instead of attack head on they became in Spain to France to the Alps. Despite losing more than half his men and most of his elephants, the move initially worked. For more than a decade, he and his army marched up and down the Italian peninsula at will. His greatest victory was won at Cannae in 216 B.C. There he and his army inflicted massive losses on the Romans. However, the Romans regrouped and with the aid of allies stood firm, preventing Hannibal from capturing his main objective, Rome.
Rome Triumphs-
Eventually, the Romans found a daring military leader to match Hannibal's boldness. General Scipio devised a plan to attack Carthage. The strategy would force Hannibal to return to Carthage to defend his native city. In 202 B.C., at Zama near Carthage, The Romans would finally defeat Hannibal. During the Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.), Rome laid siege to Carthage. In 146 B.C., the city was set afire and its fifty-thousand inhabitants sold into slavery, with its territory being made into a Roman province. Rome's victories in the Punic Wars gave it dominance over the Western Mediterranean. The Romans went on to conquer the eastern half. By about 70 B.C., Rome's Mediterranean stretched from Anatolia (what is modern day Turkey/Asia Minor) in the east to Spain in the west. However, such growth and power brought with it a all new set of difficulties.