A. Latins - built villages on the hills of Rome

2. Greeks - built villages on the island of Sicily (Romans borrowed literature, military systems, art, and architecture)

C. Etrustcans - had military power and ambitious kings

1. Controlled northern Italy by 600 BC

2. Romans borrowed heavily from them

a. Alphabet (borrowed from the Greeks)

b. Road building

c. Architecture

d. Pottery-making

e. Sanitation

3. Ruled Rome for 100 years and developed it into a great city

1. Italy occupies a boot-shaped peninsula that runs from southern Europe into the Mediterranean Sea
2. Mostly hilly or mountainous (Alps in the north, Apennines along the boot)
3. Some good farmland and fertile plains
4. Roman geography

1. Lies about half way up the "boot"
2. Built on seven hills near the Tiber River (provided transportation, food, and fresh water)
3. Hills protected Romans from floods and enemy attacks

1. Social Classes

1. Patricians [pater = father]

1. Wealthy landowners
2. Could hold governmental offices

2. Plebeians

1. Commoners
2. Were citizens, but could not hold offices
3. Could not marry patricians or participate in some religious ceremonies
4. Gained a political voice after threatening to stop serving in the army

2. Republican Government

1. Supreme power rests with the people
2. Officials

1. Consuls [one who is consulted] - two patricians who ran the government and army (held office for 1 year and could veto [I forbid] each other’s actions)
2. The Senate - 300 member council of patricians who debated issues such as finances and foreign affairs
3. The Patrician Assembly - consisted of 10 tribunes who could veto the actions of the consul or the Senate

3. Struggle for Equality

2. By 287 BC both groups had equal rights (could inter-marry, hold

office in the Senate, etc.) but real power stayed with the patricians due

to their wealth

1. Based on Roman desires to expand their land holdings

1. Done using legions (3000 - 6000 foot soldiers and 100 or more

2. Could not have conquered Italy without help from neighbors

1. Offered citizenship and protection in return for military service
2. By 225 BC, half of Roman army = allies

2. Punic Wars

1. Fought to gain control of the Mediterranean world
2. Enemy = Carthage, a city founded by Phoenicians [Punic = Latin for Phoenician]
3. 1^st Punic War

1. Rome = stronger army and built strong navy
2. Rome wins and receives Sicily in treaty (becomes first Roman province - area outside of Italian peninsula)

4. 2^nd Punic War

1. Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Rome from the north
2. Crossed the Alps with war elephants to attack Italy
3. Won important battles (including the Battle of Cannae where Hannibal pretended to retreat) but lost the war when Rome sent troops to attack Carthage
4. Rome gained more land from Carthage in the treaty

5. 3^rd Punic War

1. Rome invaded Carthage in 146 BC for revenge
2. Roman army burned Carthage to the ground and poured salt into the ground to prevent crops from growing

3. Conquest of Macedonia

1. Rome attacked to gain control of the Hellenistic city-states
2. Also gained control of colonies in Asia Minor
3. By 133 BC, Rome controlled the entire Mediterranean

1. Problems

1. Farm debts

1. Prices dropped due to surplus food from conquered lands
2. Farmers forced to sell to rich people with slaves

2. Unemployment

a. Farmers moved to the city looking for work

b. Formed a large urban poor population

3. Attempts at reform

a. Tiberius Gracchus

1. Called for a limit on the size of farms
2. Was killed in rioting when up for re-election

2. Gaius Gracchus

1. Gave grain to the poor
2. Opened up more land for farmers
3. Killed in fighting between his supporters and opponent

1. First written down in the Twelve Tables

1. Listed in the Roman Forum
2. All citizens were equal under the laws
3. Citizens could demand to be tried in Rome and appeal decisions to the emperor (change of venue)
4. Death penalty for a variety of crimes

1. Adultery, counterfeiting, false witness, arson, poisoning, possession of weapons with criminal intent
2. Execution carried out by burial alive, being thrown off a cliff or burning

1. Other penalties included exile, hard labor in mines, and being sent to the arena

1. Trial Procedures

• Plaintiff and defendant represented themselves
• Lawyers gave advice and speeches (could not accept payment)
• Rules for evidence were relaxed
• Anyone could be sent to prison for contempt of court

1. Republic

• any citizen can press charges
• decision made by a jury and announced by the head judge
• Accuser wins = damages
• Accuser loses = fine for bringing false charges

1. First Triumvirate

1. Group of military leaders who joined forces to take control of the failing republic in 60 BC
2. Gnaeus Pompey (wealthy and military might), Marcus Licinius Crassus (wealth and political connections), and Julius Caesar (political ability)
3. Worked together to make Caesar consul

2. Caesar took power from the Triumvirate

1. Knew he needed the army’s support so he took control of Roman legions in Gaul
2. When ordered to return home, Caesar ignored and prepared for civil war
3. Caesar’s troops won the civil war [Veni, vidi, vici] and Caesar became sole dictator and consul of Rome in 46 BC
4. Made many popular reforms

1. Lowered taxes
2. Gave land to veterans
3. Granted citizenship to people outside of Italy
4. Instituted a more accurate calendar (Julian calendar)

5. Popularity led to Caesar being named dictator for life

3. Caesar’s popularity scared senators

1. Feared he would eliminate the Senate and end the Republic
2. Stabbed to death by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius in the Senate on

1. Added Gaul to Roman territory (55 - 54 BC)
2. Returned to Rome a military hero in 46 BC
3. Had himself named dictator and consul
4. Ran the government without the consent of the Senate
5. Moved 100,000 veterans to new colonies and gave them land
6. Granted citizenship to people outside Italy despite public disapproval of recognizing barbarians
7. Put Julian calendar into effect
8. Conquered Asia Minor, Syria, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands
9. Reorganized city government

1. Were generally overcrowded (vehicles often banned during the day)
2. Fire was a constant threat
3. Had standard buildings

1. Houses - were usually built in apartment blocks

- poor lived in drafty 1 or 2 room slums

- wealthy lived in elaborate multi-story homes with

separate wings for servants

2. Forums - meeting places for political discussions and voting
3. Markets - specialized on particular goods
4. Temples - dedicated to each of the gods

- largest would be for the city’s patron god

5. Aqueducts - carried water from the hills into the cities; could even

carry water uphill

6. Schools - were for rich males and gladiators (usually slaves)
7. Entertainment

1. Circuses - race track for horses and chariots driven by slaves or

nobles

- would race 4 to 12 chariots at a time

- could be a team event (Green, Blue, Red, and White)

- Rome had 5 circuses

- Circus Maximus could hold 250,000 spectators

2. Colosseum - arena for events (concerts, gladiator fights, animal

1. Retiarius - large net and a trident
2. Thracian - small shield and a long dagger
3. Samnite - large shield, helmet, and sword

1. Baths - places for nobles to exercise, relax, and discuss the