ROME: THE ETERNAL CITY

The Founding

753 BC: Rome is founded on the Italian Peninsula in a region called Latium Rome is founded on Seven Hills:

Capitoline Hill is the most important

650 BC: The Etruscans gain control of Rome

509 BC: The last Etruscan king is expelled and Rome forms a republic

Republican Government

REPUBLIC: a system of government where the people have control over the state

REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT: a system of government where the people ELECT or choose representatives to carry out their wishes Rome is the first example of republican

government in history!

The Senate of Rome

The Senate

300 landowners who advised public officials and served for life

From the Latin SENEX: meaning “old man,” senators were to be wise in their counsel

SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus – The Senate and People of Rome

Class Warfare

Patricians Plebeians Great landowners of

the ruling class They could be

consuls, senators Had the right to vote

Small farmers, craftspeople, merchants

Had the right to vote Formed the basis of the

army 287 BC: All citizens

(including the plebs) were equal under the law Basis of the U.S.

Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment

Government Offices

Consuls: 2 elected for one year, executive officers who led the army

Praetors: elected for one year, responsible for administration of laws

Senate: the ruling body of Rome

Council of the Plebs: passes laws binding on all citizens beginning in 287 BC, led by the Tribunes of the Plebs