Roman RepublicBuilding an Empire

Warm Up

Romulus & Remus

• According to legend, King Numitor was overthrown by his brother. The king’s daughter, Silvia was imprisoned in the Temple to Mars, god of War.

• There she gave birth to twins, Romulus and Remus. The new king ordered the twins to be drowned in the Tiber River but they were rescued by a wolf.

• The boys were later adopted by a shepherd, named Faustus.

• When the boys grew up they met their grandfather and planned to avenge him. They raised an arm and overthrew the king.

Reme or Rome?

• To commemorate their victory, the brothers planned to build a city along the banks of the Tiber River where the wolf had found them.

• There were 7 hills in this area. Romulus and Remus fought over which hill to build the city upon and what to name of this new city

• When Remus made fun of the wall that Romulus was building, the fighting increased and Remus was killed.

• The city was named Rome after the surviving brother.

Task #1

• Turn to your shoulder partner.

• One of you will tell the other the story, you just heard.

• The other one will listen quietly and then fill in any details that the other person missed.

• What 3 facts do you think is most important to remember about this legend of the founding of Rome? Write them down in your notes.

Etruscans

• By 600 BCE Rome had grown to become a powerful city state.

• It relied on trade with groups around the city—most importantly the Etruscans.

• The Etruscans shared many Greek ideas with the Romans:• Alphabet• Toga• Architecture (like the arch)• Sewage systems• Chariot Racing

Republic!

• Early Rome was ruled by 7 kings.

• In 509 BCE, the last king (an Etruscan) was overthrown by a group of Roman aristocrats

• Rather than crown their own king, the aristocrats decided to create a new kind of government, called a republic.

• A republic is a type of government in which citizens have the right to vote select their leaders. Leaders rule in the name of people.

Task #2

• On your map of Europe, draw in the beginnings of the Roman Empire. This marks the first stage of Rome’s expansion.

Punic Wars

• To become a leading power in the Mediterranean, Rome had to defeat the Phoenicians and their powerful stronghold of Carthage.

• What do we know about the Phoenicians?

1st Punic War

• Carthage and Rome fought for 23 years over control of Sicily

• Rome’s strength: army• Carthage’s strength: navy• Rome’s solution – build up

its navy• Rome’s new weapon –

grappling hook– Lashed ships together

• Rome won – Sicily became a province of Rome

2nd Punic War

• Carthage regained its strength and became a world power again.

• General Hannibal wanted to keep Rome from threatening Carthage’s trade. He gathered 35,000 soldiers and 37 elephants in Spain.

• Challenge: Rome is not along the ocean and Rome now has a navy. How is Hannibal going to attack Rome?

• Leads army from Spain, through southern France and the Alps, to invade Italy from the north.

• What would you do if you were leading Roman forces? How would you defeat Hannibal?

Scipio Afrikaunus

• Rome’s general, Scipio, developed a surprising counter-offensive. He attacks Carthage itself.

• Hannibal is forced to choose whether he tries to take Rome or save his home city.

• Hannibal was defeated at the Battle of Zama, Northern Africa.

• Carthage had to pay heavy fines to Rome, give up all their new colonies in Spain and sign a treaty promising never to fight another war without Rome’s permission.

3rd Punic War

Results OF the punic Wars

• Carthage became a Roman colony/province in North Africa

• Rome went on to conquer Greece, which had been an ally of Carthage.

• Rome was the only superpower and went on to conquer western Europe and the Mediterranean.

Task #3

• On your map draw in the lands Rome takes after defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars.