Rome : Geography and the Rise of Rome

The Basics or What You Should Have Learned from the Reading

Rome’s Geography – Some Basics

• Rome is located in Italy, which is in Europe.

• Italy is a peninsula.

Apennines

Alps

• Italy’s terrain is mountainous and hilly.

Mt. Vesuvius

• Often times, Roman cities were built around rivers.

Tiber River

Po River Arno River

• Italy’s climate is very much like that of southern California, which allowed the Romans to grow many crops.

The Alps

Mt. Vesuvius

Rome’s Beginning

• Not a lot is known about the actual beginnings of Rome.

• Because Romans lacked facts about how their great city started, they often told stories about how they came to be.

Aeneas

Romulus and Remus

Aeneas was a Trojan War hero who fled to what is today Italy. He married a Latin king’s daughter. Many of his descendants became rulers in Italy. His story was written in an epic poem by Virgil called the Aeneid.

Romulus and Remus were descendants of Aeneas who are thought to have founded Rome.

The Romans Create a Republic

• Rome was originally a monarchy, but after many years of cruel rulers, they decided upon a new type of government.

• Romans determined that a republic would better suit their needs.

• A republic is a type of government in which officials are elected to govern. Much like OUR government!

• A big difference, however, is that the Roman government was NOT a democracy.Democracy!Republic!

Cincinnatus: The most famous Roman dictator

• During times of war, Romans would elect dictators.

• Dictators would lead with ABSOLUTE power for only 6 months in order to keep them from abusing their power.

Cincinnatus• Cincinnatus was a farmer.

• He was asked to lead Rome with absolute power against a powerful enemy.

• After conquering the powerful enemy, Cincinnatus gave up his power. He did this even though the people of Rome wanted him to keep leading them.

George Washington is known as the American Cincinnatus because he gave up power despite Americans wanting

him to run for a 3rd term as president.

Two “Types” of People in Rome

Patricians

• Patricians were nobles who were the only Romans who could participate in government.

• They were usually wealthy and made up the minority of Rome’s population.

Plebeians• The plebeians were the

peasants, craftspeople, traders, and other workers.

• Even though they made up the majority of the population, they could not vote or be part of government.

• The patricians, knowing that the two sides needed to get along for Rome to succeed, decided to make a change in the government.