Early Rome: The Birth of a Republic

1
Early Rome The Birth of a Republic
2
How Geography Influenced Rome

• While the landscape of Italy is similar to
  Greece, it is more hospitable.
  
• The Apennines mountains Not as rugged as
  Greece. Allowed for communities to come
  together, better farmland, and in turn a larger
  population.
• Tiber River Rome was located 15 miles up the
  Tiber, giving Romans a source of water, and an
  outlet to rest of the Mediterranean.
  
• However, Rome was far enough from the sea to
  escape raids by pirates.
  
• Seven hills Set up on 7 steep hills that
  allowed for easy defense of the city.
  
• Romes location in Italy and on the Tiber allowed
  it to develop into stopping ground for travelers
  and merchant ships.
  

3
Early Influences on Roman Civilization

• Greeks colonized southern Italy between 750-550
  B.C.
  
• Romans learned to grow olives and grapes, and
  eventually modeled their architecture, sculpture,
  and literature after them.
  
• Etruscans After 650 B.C. moved south and took
  control of Rome and most of Latium.
  
• Changed Rome from a village of straw roofed huts
  into a city of wood and brick buildings.
  
• Laid out streets, temples, and public buildings
  around a central square.
  
• Etruscan army would serve as the model for the
  mighty Roman Army.

Italy in 750 B.C.
4
Etruscan Rule

• Around 616 B.C. An Etruscan family, the Tarquins,
  became the rulers of Rome.
  
• They held power for over 100 Years.
• Romans grew tired of the rule of the Tarquins and
  of the cruelty and corruption of their rulers.
  
• In 509 B.C. Romans rebelled and overthrew the
  Tarquins, vowing never again to be ruled by a
  king.
  

5
The Rape of Lucretia

• By this blood, most chaste until a prince
  wronged it, I swear that I will pursue Lucius
  Tarquinius Superbus and his wicked wife and all
  his children, with the sword, with fire, aye with
  whatsoever violence I may and that I will suffer
  neither them nor any other to be king in Rome!
• - Lucius Junius Brutus
• -As quoted by Livy

6
Birth of the Roman Republic

• A republic is a form of government in which the
  leader is not a king/queen but someone put into
  office by citizens who have the right to vote.
  
• For the next 200 years Rome fought war after war
  with its neighbors conquering the other Latins,
  Etruscans, and Greeks in Southern Italy, to
  become masters of almost all of Italy.