Day 1

Main Ideas

• Rome began as a republic, a government in which elected officials represent the people. Eventually, absolute rulers called emperors seized power and expanded the empire.
• At its height, the Roman Empire touched three continents- Europe, Asia, and Africa. for several centuries, Rome brought peace and prosperity to its empire before its eventual collapse.
• Out of Judea rose a monotheistic, or single-god, religion known as Christianity. Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, it soon spread throughout Rome and beyond.

Timeline

• 509 B.C.- Rome becomes a republic
• 321 B.C.- Chandragupta Maurya founds Mauryan Empire in India
• 264 B.C.- First Punic War begins
• 218 B.C.- In the Second Punic War, Hannibal invades Italy
• 202 B.C.- Han Dynasty takes power in China
• 31 B.C.- Octavian defeats the forces of Antony and Cleopatra (bust of Cleopatra)
• 100 A.D.- Moche culture arises in South America 
• 284 A.D.- Diocltian becomes emperor of Rome
• 300 A.D.- Aksum kingdom emerges in east Africa
• 476 A.D.- Western Roman Empire falls

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The Roman Republic

The Origins of Rome

• According to legend the city of Rome was founded in 753 B.C.
• Founded by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the God Mars and a Latin princess (legend)
• Rome located on Tiber, with good fertile soil, supposedly where the two Demi-Gods grew up
• Built on 7 hills, almost midpoint of Mediterranean Sea
• From about 1000 B.C. to 500 B.C., Greeks, Latins and Etruscans fought for the area Rome would inhabit
• Latins built wooden structures and huts atop the Palatine Hill; they were the first settlers of Rome
• Between 750 B.C. and 600 B.C., Greece established colonies along southern Italy and Sicily, which brought them into closer contact with Rome
• Etruscans were natives of northern Italy and worked as metalworkers and engineers. Romans used their alphabet and parts of architecture

The Early Republic

• Around 600 B.C., an Etruscan became king of Rome
• Following, Rome grew from numerous hilltop villages to a city that covered nearly 500 square miles
• Various kings ordered to build the first temples and public centers, the most famous being the Forum, the heart of Roman political life
• The Twelve Tables were a set of laws carved into 12 tablets in 451 B.C. that were posted around the city
• At first the 300 member senate was only for the rich, Patricians or the noble, but later on, Plebeians could be a part of it as well
• All citizens who owned land had to be a part of the military
• Seekers of public office had to of served at least 10 years in the military to be able to be in office
• Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called legions
• The Roman legion was made of up some 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (infantry)
• The cavalry supported each legion (on horseback)
• Each legion was split into groups of 80 men call century's
• The military organization led to the military's success and Rome's greatness