The Roman Empire

Front 1

Geography of Rome

Back 1

o Italy
o Alps and Apennine Mountaubs
o Po River
o Tiber River
o Mediterranean Sea
o Adriatic Sea

Front 2

City of Rome

Back 2

o Centrally located
o Built on seven hills
o Located in the Tiber
o Founded in 753 BCE
o Two twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, raised by a wolf, founded a city, Romulus kills Remus, becomes king of Rome
• Creates a noble and notable past for the city of Rome

Front 3

Etruscans

Back 3

o Greeks move north from southern Italy
o Greeks had permanent settlements in Italy
o Etruscans move into region, mostly in northern Italy
o Around 650 BCE, Etruscans began to move further south, eventually move south of Rome and control Latium, which is good for growing crops
o Come into contact with the Greeks; adopt Greek written language, styles of pottery, architecture, etc.
o In 400 BCE, the Etruscans are defeated by the Greeks, forced to move back into northern Italy, limited to city of Etruria
o When the Etruscans are conquered by the Romans, the Romans adopt some of the Etruscans things, which are originally form the Greeks

Front 4

Early Rome (The City)

Back 4

o Controlled by a series of seven kings
• The last three are probably Etruscan
o For about 100 years, the Etruscans ruled over the city of Rome
o Etruscans live within cities and build walled cities

Front 5

What aspects of Greek culture did the Etruscans adopt?

Back 5

• Alphabet
• Military strategies
• Art and architecture

Front 6

How did the Etruscans build the foundations of Rome?

Back 6

• Established the public arena that would become the forum
• Built the first roads
• Built temples, market, shops, streets, and houses

Front 7

How did the Etruscans influence the Roman Empire?

Back 7

o Toga and cloak
o Insignia of Etruscan king is the insignia of the Roman magistrates
o Fasces (a bundle of rods containing an ax with a projecting blade, carried in front of magistrates in ancient Rome) used as a symbol of power; symbol adopted from Etruscans

Front 8

The Rise of Rome

Back 8

o City is founded in 753 BCE
o Etruscans depart around 400 BCE
o Rome is surrounded by enemies
o By 340 BCE Rome has crushed the Latin States
o By 200 BCE Rome had conquered most of Italy

Front 9

The Roman State

Back 9

o Laws were developed as a problem arose
o Not concerned with creating the “ideal” state
o Distrusted kingships
o Established a different kind of government

Front 10

Consuls

Back 10

• Served as chief executive officers of the Republic
• Two consuls
• Elected every year
• Could only serve one out of every 10 years
• Ran the government
• Led the army into battle

Front 11

Praetors

Back 11

• Elected every year
• In charge of civil law as it applied to citizens
• As territory expanded additional praetors were added to deal with conflicts related to non-citizens

Front 12

Quaestors

Back 12

• Elected for one year
• In charge of finances
• Administered the treasury

Front 13

Aediles

Back 13

• Elected for one year
• In charge of maintenance and repair of public buildings

Front 14

Tribunes of the Plebs

Back 14

• Ten elected from the plebeians for one year
• Summoned and presided over meetings of the council
• Council of the plebes
• Legislative body
• Established in 471 BCE
• Resolutions were binding for all citizens (287 BCE)

Front 15

Censors

Back 15

• Two elected every 18 months
• Responsible for taking a census of property and citizens