Roman Empire Growth

• Unit 4 is about the growth of empires, specifically Chapter 1: The Roman Republic

Culture

• Ancient Rome was located on the Italian Peninsula
• The large, fertile plain and suitable climate supported farming efforts
• Rome was built on the Tiber River
• The Mediterranean Sea provided accessibility and ease, thus boosting sea trade

Infrastructure

• Insulae served as apartment-type buildings with several floors, the poorer people would live on the upper floors
• Rome had a sewer system, public toilets, public bathhouses, aqueducts, roads, bridges, and amphitheaters like the Pantheon

Government

• Rome had a republic, a representative democracy
• In times of war, a dictator would arise
• Consuls were elected to their positions and were tasked to make laws
• Senators conducted debates
• The Twelve Tables are a set of laws made to protect the plebeians
• Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to begin a civil war in Rome
• Julius Caesar eventually became dictator for life, but was killed on the Ides of March

Belief Systems

• Romulus and Remus are believed to have founded Rome
• Rome was polytheistic, similar to the Greek beliefs

Specialization

• Farming was a key specialization
• Sea trade was a key specialization
• Architecture was a key specialization

Stable Food Supply

• Olives were a key food source
• Grapes were a key food source
• Fish was a key food source

Technology

• Arches and domed structures were common

Writing

• The Twelve Tables were inscribed onto bronze tablets to be read by the public

Social Structure

• Patricians were the wealthiest and most powerful families
• Patricians had citizenship
• Patricians could vote
• Plebeians originally did not have political rights, and later revolted to gain a voice in government
• Plebeians gained citizenship
• Plebeians gained the right to vote
• Women had citizenship but could not vote
• Enslaved people were born into slavery, or were captured in war, or sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts
• Enslaved people had no citizenship and could not vote

Factors

• The following factors helped enable Rome to become a major power
• The following can be located on a map of ancient Rome: the Mediterranean Sea; Italian Alps; the city of Rome; the Italian Peninsula; and the Tiber River