ANCIENT ROME

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ANCIENT ROME
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Introduction

• Latins
• 1500 BCE crossed Alps, invaded Italy
• founded Rome on Tiber River
• according to legend Rome was founded by Romulus
  and Remus
• Etruscans
• Took Italy around 750 BCE
• New technologies (construction, weapons,
  tactics), but were driven out around 500 BCE

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Social Classes

• Classes
• Patricians Upper class, could hold public office
• Plebeians lower class (could not hold office,
  but over time, Rome became more democratic and
  Plebeians gained rights)
• Plebeians demanded a law code for fair treatment
  and eventually law was written into the Twelve
  Tables which were displayed at the Forum

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Early Rome

• Government Republic, Aristocracy (power in the
  hands of the wealthy nobles)
• 2 Consuls (terms of 1 year), each could veto (I
  forbid) the other
• In an emergency a dictator could be elected for 6
  months
• 300 Senators (life terms)

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Religion

• The early Romans worshipped nature spirits
• Borrowed Greek gods and goddesses
• Believed in foretelling the future

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Rome Expands

• Powerful, well-trained army troops fighting for
  their own freedom, not a despot
• quick troop movement
• Treated those they conquered well could either
  become partial or full Roman citizens

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Army
Legionary

• Well trained
• Deserters put to death
• Every male citizen had to serve when needed
• Had Legions of 6000 men in units of 60-120 men

Legate
Centurion
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Punic Wars

• chief rival Carthage (originally Phoenician
  which the Romans called Punic)
• 1st Punic War, Rome takes Sicily (264-241 BCE)
• 2nd Punic War, Hannibal Spain, over Alps into
  Italy, Rome wins (218-201 BCE)
• 3rd Punic War, Rome sacks Carthage, Cato
  Carthago Delende Est! (149-146 BCE)

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Conquests

• Conquers Greece, Egypt, Asia Minor (eventually
  entire Mediterranean)
• Results
• Greek Culture (Hellenism) spread and copied by
  Rome
• Wealth to Nobles, Merchants, and Governmentt
  officials
• Ruin small farmers and workers could not compete
  with slaves
• Type of soldier changes Mercenaries hired
  because small farmers could no longer be soldiers