The Founding of Rome

The Founding of Rome

By MARGARET JACKSON

​The Beginning of Rome

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Italy is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a boot. The heel points toward Greece. The toe points toward the island of Sicily.

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The Alps cross the top of Italy and separate it from the rest of Europe. Another mountain range, called the Apennines, runs down Italy, from north to south. Passes, which run through the mountains, helped link people from different parts of early Italy. They could trade ideas and goods with each other. Italy has a mild climate, rich soil, and large, flat plains that make good farmland.

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Multiple Select

Which two mountain ranges are located in Italy?

• Alps

• Olympus

• Mediterranean

• Apennines

Historians know little about the first people in Italy. Between 2000 b.c. and 1000 b.c., groups of people settled in the hills and on the plains. These people included the Latins. Historians think that a group of Latins tended herds and grew crops on Rome’s hills. Their community developed into Rome. The people living there became known as the Romans.

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Rome was built along the Tiber River about 15 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The river could be used for fresh water, transportation, and the shipping of goods. Its location meant that sea-going pirates could not attack the city. Rome was built on seven hills. The hills made it easy to protect the city from attackers.​

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Multiple Select

How was Rome protected from attackers?

• The Tiber River's location protected it from sea-going pirates.

• The open plains created a barrier.

• The Alps run across the top of Italy and cut if off from others.

• The seven hills if was built on made it hard for attackers.

Roman history does not just involve the Latins. Around 800 b.c., the Greeks and the Etruscans came to Italy. The Greeks built many colonies in Italy between 750 b.c. and 500 b.c. They taught the Romans to grow olives and grapes and to use the Greek alphabet.Romans also copied Greek sculpture and other art forms.

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The Etruscans had an even greater influence. They came from the area north of Rome. Many Etruscans were rich miners and traders. Others were devoted to art. They painted pictures and created jewelry, tools, and weapons. When the Etruscans came, Rome was a village with straw huts. That changed, however, after 650 b.c. when the Etruscans conquered Rome. They taught the Romans to build temples, streets, and public squares.​

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Multiple Choice

The Roman way of life was influenced by

all of the following civilizations EXCEPT........

• Latin

• Greek

• Egyptian

• Etruscan

The Etruscans introduced togas and short cloaks. A toga is like a sheet wrapped around your body, with one end over your shoulder. Most importantly, the Etruscans showed the Romans how an army could be more effective. Later, the Romans copied the Etruscan army and conquered an empire.​

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Open Ended

List something the Romans borrowed

from the Greeks.

Open Ended

How did the Etruscans influence early Rome?

Becoming a Republic​

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The Etruscans ruled Rome for more than 100 years. The people benefited from Etruscan culture and ideas, but they got tired of Etruscan rulers. According to Roman tradition, in 509 b.c., the Romans rebelled and set up a republic. A republic is a form of government in which citizens elect their leaders.

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Rome was still a small city when it became a republic. It had

enemies all around it. Over the next 200 years, Rome fought

many wars. By 267 b.c., the Romans had taken over the Greek

colonies in what is now known as Italy. By then, the Romans ruled almost all of the Italian peninsula.

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Multiple Choice

What is a form of

government in which citizens elect their leaders?

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Republic

• Oligarchy

The Roman Republic grew because of its strong army. Roman soldiers were well trained. At the beginning of the republic, every male citizen who owned land had to join the army. Men who ran away, or deserted the army, were killed. This turned Romans into loyal fighters.

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The Romans also thought of better ways to organize their army in battle. At first, the soldiers marched next to each other, moving in one large group. They attacked their enemy from only one direction. This way of fighting was slow. Then the generals changed the style of battle. The Roman generals divided their armies into groups of soldiers called legions. Each legion had about 6,000 men. Legions were broken into even smaller groups of 60 or 120 men. These small groups could move very quickly in battle.​

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Multiple Choice

How did Roman generals change the style of battle in order to move more quickly?

• They marched in one large group.

• They divided them into smaller groups called legions.

• They invented new weapons to make fighting more effective.

• They made the soldiers run and ride on horseback.

Roman soldiers used a short sword called a gladius and an iron spear called a pilum. Each group also had a standard. A standard was a tall pole with a symbol on top—sometimes an eagle or other animal. One soldier would hold up the standard so others could see it. This helped the group stay together during battle.

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The Romans were also smart planners. They built military

towns in every region they conquered. Then they built roads between these towns. Soon their armies could travel quickly across the land.​

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Multiple Choice

What helped the Roman soldiers stay with their group during battle?

• Pilum

• Gladius

• Standard

• General

The Romans believed they needed to treat conquered people fairly. They stressed that people would become loyal to Rome if they were treated well. The Romans created the Roman Confederation. It gave some conquered people full Roman citizenship. They could vote and be in the government. They were also treated the same as other citizens by law.

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The Romans made other people allies. Allies could run their own towns, but they had to pay taxes to Rome. Allies also had to fight in Rome’s armies. With these procedures, the Romans hoped to keep the peace. If an area did rebel, Rome was ready to squash it. As a result, the Roman republic grew stronger.​

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Multiple Select

Why were the Romans able to expand their control of Italy?

• They were smart planners.

• They had many allies.

• They treated conquered people fairly.

• They had a lot of land.

Open Ended

What effect do you think geography had on the rise

of Roman civilization?