where is rome located
in the center of the italian peninsula
how did romes location benefit them
they could easily expand throughout the rest of italy and beyond
what mountain range runs down the center of italy
the apennine mountaisn
fertile plains supported ___________
growing population
where did the ancestors of the romans settle
along the tiber river
what is the mythical version of the beginning of rome
the founders were twins (romulus and remes) that were abandoned. then they were founded and raised by a she-wolf, then were found and raised by a shepherd. they decided when they grew up to build a city, had an argyment, and romulus killed remus.
who was rome named after in the mythical version
romulus
what is the historical version of the beginning of rome
lation people settled on the palentine hill in rome, estruscans conquered the latins,, rome was ruled as monarchy for over 200 years, romans overthrew the estrucscan kings and established a republic in 509 BCE
what was family like in roman society
male was head of household with absolute authority
what were women like in roman society
women gained greater freedoms over the centuries, some ran businesses but most worked at home and raised families
what was education like in roman society
education was highly valued, both girls and boys learned to read and right
what was religion like in roman society
gods and goddesses resembled those of greeks and etruscans, had religious festivals, built many temples of worship
why was romes expansion into italy successful
skilled diplomacy, loyal and well trained army, treated defeated enemies fairly, gave rights to conquered people
rome was protected by an advanced army that was divided into groups of 5000 soldiers called what?
legionsc
legions were divided into smaller groups of 80 people called a __________
century
what happened after the romans threw out the etrustcan king
they set up a republic
after rome was set up as a republic, it was ruled by its ______________
senate and its assembly
how long did consuls elected for
1 year terms
what did the consuls do in office
they initiated legislation, served as head of the judiciary and the military, served as chief priests to the nation.
what were proconsuls
they were also consuls, but their terms were extended due to military campaigns
what were the two financial advisors called
quaestors
what was the praetor
the military officed
what did the two censors do
they drew up rle of citizens in order to assess taxes
where was power concentrated in the roman republic
it was concentrated in the hands of the patricians who elected the consuls, quaestor, praetors, and censors from their own class
what kind of people was the senate comprised of
patricians and were the principal power in rome
why did the plebeians resent the patricians
because the patricians dominated roman law, finances, and foreign policy
what happened for the plebeians after years of conflict
they won the right to assembly, headed by tribunes, which could veto any decision by a roman official and could veto anything passed by the senate
what happened in 450 BC
the law of the 12 tables formalized and codified roman law and its constitution
what were some of the rights given to the roman citizens
equal treatment, punished for actions and not thoughts, right to marry, innocent til proven guilty, right to marry, serve int he army for ten years, pay taxes
who was fighting in the first punic war
rome and carthage
what did rome do to carthage in the first punic war
took its cities on sicily and destroyed their navy
what was a result of the peace treaty signed between rome and carthage after the first punic war
rome took the island of corsica from carthage
what happened in the second punic war
carthage retaliated under the leadership of hannibal by crossing the alps to the north to invade italy
who won in the second punic war
the romans
the second punic war turned rome from a __________ into a _____________
regional power, international power
what happened in the third punic war
the romans attacke the city of carthage, destroying the city and its harbor and sold their citizens into slavery
romans followed a policy of _________________
imperialism
what were some places placed under roman rule
carthage, macedonia, greece, and parts of asia minors
what did julius caesar do to the senate
he forced them to make him dictator
how was caesar killed
he was killed by his enemies
what did caesar do when he became dictator
he instituted reform to try to solve romes many problems
octavian killed _____________ in a struggle for power
mark antony
the roman senate gave octavian the title of _______________ and declares him frst citizen
augustus
augustus laid the foundatuon for a stable gov. that would function well for 200 years. This period was called
pax romana
what were some things augustus did for rome
created efficient civil service to enforce laws, opened up high level jobs to men of talent, ordered a census to make the tax system more fair, employed the jobless.
how were different religions seen in rome
as long as they honored roman gods, they were allowed to worship other gods
why did the romans make an exception or the jews when they invaded judea
they believed in one gods only
what happened when the empire began to decline adn was threatened by the sassanid empire in persia
a lot of people converted to christinity in larger numbers which threatened roman leadership
why did christians become martyrs in rome
roman officials persecuted the christians and idolized people who died for the christian beliefs
what were some of jesus’ teachings
belief in one god, ten commandments, mercy and sympathy for the poor and helpless
what were some of jesus’ new beliefs
called himself the sun of god, proclaimed that he broght salvation and eternal life to anyone who would believe in hom, jesus also emphasized gods love and taught the need for justice, morality, and service for others
the apostles and disciples preached only in ___________
judea
how did christianity spread throughout rome
disciples began to preach to jewish communities throughout rome, and the jews who accepted the beliefs of jesus became the first christians
who spread chrisitanity beyond the jewish communities to non jews
paul
what were some roman advances in tech
built roads, bridges, harbors, aqueducts
what were some roman advances in science
ptolomy proposed that earth was the center of universe, galen used experiments to prove a conclusion
what were some roman advances in art
sculptors, artists used mosaics and frescoes
what were some roman advances in architecture
emphasized grandeur, improved columns and arches, developed rounded dme
roman laws and principles inspire many of the principles in legal systems where?
in europe and the americas
what were some political problems in rome
emperors repeatedly were overthrown and assassinated
what were some economic and social issues
high taxes to support the army hurt businesses and people and farmers, poor farmers were forced to work and live on wealthy estates, farmland lost its productivity
how many pieces was the empire divided into under constantine
three parts for his three sons
after much fighting, ______________ united the empire and made christianity the state religion
theodosius
how did theodosius divide the empire once it was united again
into two parts for his two sons
who conquered the roman empire by dislodging germanic peoples
the huns
in 410 BC, _________________ sacks rome further weakening the western empire
the visigoth leader, alaric
from 451 to 453, the __________, under the leadership of __________, overruns teh western empire
huns, atilla
what were some military causes for the fall of rome
germanic invasions, weakened roman legions
what were some social causes for the fall of rome
erosion of traditional values, self serving upperclass what
what were some political causes of the fall of rome
oppressive government, corrupt officials, divided empire (west and east portions make up the byzantine empire)
what were some economic causes of the fall of rome
heavy taxes , population decline
what did jews refer to their god as
yahweh (Ya-way)
what did constantine do (emperor of rome) regarding christianity
he converted to christianity
what happened when constantine converted to christianity
rome stopped killing and persecuting christians
where was power concentrarted
in the hands of the patricians
the patricians elected their very own
quaestors, praetors, and censors from their own class
when was the law of the 12 tables formalized and codified
450 BC
why was the codifying of the Law of the 12 tables important
it was a victory for the citizens under the law
roman persecution of christians increased under which rulers
nero, domitian, and marcus aurelius
whenw as the largest and bloodiest persecution of christians
303-311 under Diocletian