• Italy
– Shaped like a boot
– In the Mediterranean
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– In the Mediterranean
– “toe” points at Sicily
– Alps border Italy in the North
– Apennines extend North to south
– Terrain easier to farm than Greece
�Italy supported more people
because of this!
• Latins built Rome on
the Latium Plain
– Located in Central
Italy on Tiber River
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Italy on Tiber River
– 2 stories tell of
Rome’s beginning
– Remus and Romulus
– Aeneas and the Trojan
followers
• Remus and Romulus– As babies, they were abandoned by the
Tiber River, rescued by a wolf, raised by a shepherd. Built a city, had a fight, Romulus
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shepherd. Built a city, had a fight, Romulus killed Remus, became king and named the city after himself
Remus and Romulus Statue in Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH
• Aeneas and Trojan followers– A famous Greek poet named Virgil wrote
an epic called the Aeneid. Aeneas was the main character, a Trojan hero who along
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main character, a Trojan hero who along with his followers sailed the Mediterranean Sea after the Greeks captured Troy. He had many adventures ending with marriage to the king’s daughter. He united the Trojans and the Latins (local people) and became known as the “father” of Rome.
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– Latins were influenced by Greeks and Etruscans especially
» The Etruscans» The Etruscanswere skilled metal workers
» The Etruscans were a model for Roman army
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•Tarquins
•Leaders of Etruscan-
ruled Rome
•Romans rebelled •Romans rebelled
after 100 years of
rule
•Established a
republic
•Leader is not
king or queen
•Elected to
office by
citizens
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• Rome had large army
– Very powerful
– Excellent and
disciplined soldiersdisciplined soldiers
– Soldiers were good
problem solvers
– Legion is a group of
6,000 soldiers
– Roads connected all of
Rome’s military
settlements
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• Roman Confederation
– Gave full citizenship to some (vote, serve gov’t)
– Others received status of allies (rule own local
affairs)affairs)