Geography and Beliefs of Ancient Rome

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Geography and Beliefs of Ancient Rome

• By Drake, Joe, Eric, and Pat

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Location of Rome and Italy

• Rome located on the Italian peninsula
• Italy at midpoint Mediterranean Sea
• Sicily- Island southwest of Italy
• Rome placed on Tiber River
• Adriatic Sea northeast of Italy
• Rome was well protected by mountains

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Geography of Rome and Italy
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Terrain

• Alps in northern Italy
• Po Basin south of Alps
• Po River near Po Basin
• Fertile coastal plain
• Land not as rugged as Greece

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Climate
January 41-52F April 50-66F July 68-86F
October 55-77F Summer has plentiful rain
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Mount Vesuvius/Pompeii

• Mount Vesuvius (volcano) erupted 79 C.E.
• Lava poured into the town of Pompeii.
• Poisonous fumes were exposed.
• 2,000 people died.
• Houses were destroyed.

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Religion

• Believed gods were involved in aspects of life
• Romans expanded empire, adopted gods and
  goddesses
• Offerings and prayers encouraged gods to be
  friendly
• Offered, fruit, wine, and sweet cake
• Romans started Christianity
• Christianity is still being practiced in the
  world today

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Rituals and Sacrifices
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Temples / Pantheon

• One of the largest temples was Pantheon
• Pantheon built by Hadrian
• Pantheon dedicated to all gods
• Powerful gods where honored with temples

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Gods and goddesses

• Some Roman gods are version of
• Greek gods
• Same gods different names
• Jupiter- master of gods
• Mars - god of war
• Pluto - king of under world

Name Roman Greek
Master god Jupiter Zeus
War god Mars Ares
Under world Pluto Hades
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God and Goddesses (cont.)

• Neptune - God of sea
• Venus - Goddess of love
• Vulcan- God of smithing
• Apollo - God of music
• Ceres- Goddess of earth
• Minerva- Wisdom

Name Roman Greek
Love goddess Venus Aphrodite
Sea God Neptune Poseidon
Wisdom goddess Minerva Athena
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Mythology
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If Rome settled in Sicily.

• Sicily was not well protected
• Could have been attacked
• Could have been conquered any time
• Empire would not have grown well
• Empire would not prosper

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Romans Adopting New Gods

• Unreasonable to adopt new gods
• As Roman conquered they adopted new gods
• They are not following true religion
• Cant just keep adding gods
• Too many to keep track of

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The End!!!!!!!
Thanks for watching