The Romans

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The Romans
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Romes Geography

• Peninsula that is about 750 miles long north and
  south
• Plains ideal for farming
• Rome located 18 miles inland on the Tiber River
• Italy juts out into the Mediterranean making it a
  natural stopping point for Mediterranean
  travelers.

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INFLUENCES

• From 1500 to 1000 B.C. Indo Europeans moved into
  Italy. (Latins and Etruscans)
• Greeks had settled in Southern Italy.
• Greeks provided Rome with Alphabet, artistic
  ideas for sculpture, architecture, and
  literature.
• Etruscans turned Rome into a city and gave Romans
  dress and militaristic style.

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THE ROAD TO A REPUBLIC

• Early Rome ruled by Kings, some being Etruscan.
• 509 B.C. Rome overthrew the Etruscan King and
  established a Republic
• For centuries Rome would be at war with those
  around them
• By 264 B.C. Romans had defeated the surrounding
  states of Latium, the Greeks, and the Etruscans.
• Romans successful because of their diplomatic
  ways.
• Shrewd in allowing citizenship yet allowed states
  to run their own affairs.

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THE ROMAN STATEPatricians/Plebeians

• Distrusted kingship because of Etruscan Kings.
• Rome divided into two groups (patricians/plebeians
  )
• Patricians- wealthy landowners.
• Plebeians common workers and small landowners
• Both were citizens and could vote, but only
  Patricians could hold office

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REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT
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REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT

• Conflict between Plebeians and Patricians over
  social equality by the law.
• 471 B.C. Council of the Plebs created for Plebian
  representation in office.
• Later down the road Plebs would even get power to
  pass laws.

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Systems of Law

• One of Romes greatest contributions was its
  system of laws.
• First code of laws was Twelve Tables, adopted in
  450 B.C.
• Simple basic laws for small agricultural
  communities.

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Systems of Laws

• Twelve Tables
• Adopted in 450 B.C.
• First Code of Laws used by the Romans
• Very simplistic meant for small agricultural
  society
• Set the standard for written law protecting
  citizens

• Law of Nations
• Often referred to as natural or universal law.
• Based on reason.
• Enabled them establish a standard of Justice that
  applied to all people.

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Roman Law Influences