Rome Located in Italy Fertile plains and river

Rome Located in Italy Fertile plains and river valleys for food and easy communication.

Roman Religion Polytheistic Knowledge of the Greek Gods filtered into Roman culture= cultural diffusion.

The Roman Republic Romans founded a new type of govt called a republic In a republic, people chose officials to represent them.

Family Roman families were headed by the eldest male. Women had many rights and duties. Did not the right to vote.

Society Upper class Romans- patricians. Common framers, artisans, and merchants-plebeians. These two classes were based on birth alone.

A Mighty Army Everyone led double lives as farmers and soldiers. All male citizens required to serve in the army

A Mighty Army Massive military units were called legions. : Infantry: armed foot soldiers. Cavalry: Smaller groups on horseback.

A Fight with Carthage By 270 BC Rome had conquered all of Italy. They went on to control northern Africa (Carthage), Greece and parts of Asia Minor. The expansion also led to much corruption.

Julius Caesar 1 st Emperor. Caesar reformed the govt, founded libraries, planned public work projects.

Caesar Murdered in 44 BCE by a group of Roman aristocrats who feared his power and did not want a dictator.

Augustus Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian (Augustus) took over. Peaceful period that lasted about 200 years=Pax Romana. Govt maintained order, enforced laws, defended borders, helped the poor

Cultural Contributions Virgil and Tacitus wrote works that survive to this day. Latin is the root of several modern languages. Roman numerals

Legal Contributions Most valued contribution-Twelve Tables of written laws. The Roman legal system inspired legal principles still practiced around the world today

Decline and Fall Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into east and west. Western empire fell into chaos and was invaded by German barbarians Eastern empire survived as a center of trade and culture-Byzantine Empire.