Mr' Smith's Introduction to the Roman Republic

1
Mr. Smith's Introduction to the Roman Republic

• From humble beginnings to future empire
• Who is so thoughtless and lazy that he does not
  want to know in what way and with what kind of
  government the Romans in less than 53 years
  conquered nearly the entire inhabited world and
  brought it under their rule an achievement
  previously unheard of?
• - Polybius, Greek Historian, 2nd Century BCE

2
Geography

• Rome was founded on the Italian peninsula where
  Italy is today.
• The landscape was composed of high, rolling hills
  and mountains that ran the length of the
  peninsula.
• The ground was very fertile, giving rise to an
  agricultural society.
• The peninsula was surrounded by the Mediterranean
  Sea, allowing the Romans to trade with other
  societies and exchange ideas.

3
The Legend

• Twin baby boys were left by their cruel uncle to
  die along the banks of the Tiber River where Rome
  is today.
• A mother wolf saved the twins from certain death
  and took them in as her own.
• The boys, named Romulus and Remus, grew up to be
  heroes.
• In 753 BCE, they supposedly founded a city near
  where they had grown up.
• Romulus became the first king of the new city,
  and his followers named the city Rome in his
  honor.

4
What Really Happened

• Around 1000 BCE people known as Latins migrated
  from central Europe to the peninsula. They built
  villages near the banks of the Tiber River.
• Among seven hills along the river rose a small
  Latin farming village known as Rome.
• The rolling land around Rome offered good soil
  for farming and also had natural resources such
  as wood and stone for building.
• The location also offered protection for the
  settlers of Rome from enemies.
• In 600 BCE, the Etruscans, who were a neighboring
  people, took control of Rome. They introduced
  Romans to Greek ideas and customs and the
  Etruscan alphabet would be the basis for the
  Latin alphabet.
• In 509 BCE, the Romans rebelled against their
  cruel Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, and
  created for themselves a republic.

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Four Key Aspects of Republican Rome

• Military Soldiers, Armies, Warfare
• Society Social Classes, How Romans Lived
• Culture Art, Religion, Games, Architecture,
  Literature, Theatre
• Government Senators, Consuls, Tribunes, Voting
  Rights

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Military

• To better understand the most important Roman war
  during this time, it will be the focus of our
  week long game.

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Society

• Romans were divided into 2 distinct social
  classes the plebians and the patricians.
• In the next few days, well learn how people
  within each of these classes lived and what Roman
  life was like.

8
Culture

• Roman society was steeped in culture. From art
  to literature to gladiatorial games, well
  examine how Romans spent their free time and how
  they entertained themselves.

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Government

• Roman government was created as a republic.
  Well learn about what a republic is and how
  Roman government was organized.
• SPQR is an acronym for the Senate and People of
  Rome.

10
Links

• http//wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/Maecenas/ Images
  of Ancient Rome
• http//ww2.webcomp.com/virtuale/us/roma/movie.htm
  Rome in Virtual Reality
• http//www.roman-empire.net/ Illustrated History
  of the Roman Empire
• Link to Quiz Show