Rome Notes

Today in Western Civ, we answered some questions on a worksheet.  Here are the answers to the questions: 

1. How did geography affect the development of Rome? The Latin people that first settled in Rome settled by a river in the center of Italy.  It was a good location for them to control Italy and it also put them in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea which is a place that had fertile soil and it gives them water and it was in the middle of everything.

2.  How did the Etruscans influence the development of Rome?   The Etruscan king ruled over Rome by 600 B.C. which made Rome grow as a wealthy and large city. 

3. Which are the main groups that competed for power in the early Roman republic? The two groups that competed for the power in the early republic were the nobles and the common people.

4. What is the significance of the Twelve Tables in Roman law? The Twelve Tables said that all free citizens were protected by law and they were posted in a public place for everyone to see.

5. How did Rome regain control of Italy after the sacking of the city by the Gauls? Rome eventually defeated them. The Gauls were french that lived in the city Gaul.  

Notes on the Punic War:

• ·        All of Rome’s success brought them into collision with a rival city state beyond the sea called Carthage.
• ·        Carthage became an oligarchic and empire-building republic similar to Rome.
• ·        They were interested in Sicily that was between Africa and Italy that caused them to conflict with the Romans.
• ·        The Punic Wars were waged on land and sea in three vicious rounds between 264 and 146 B.C.
• ·        In the first phase, Rome was able to force Carthage out of Sicily, but the North African city kept the rest of it empire.
• ·        In the second phase, Carthage’s general Hannibal invaded Italy, defeated several Roman armies, and brought Rome to defeat.
• ·        Roman allies were able to get citizens and allied soldiers from all or Italy, while Carthage relied on smaller mercenary armies
• ·        This enabled Rome to Triumph.
• ·        Eventually, Rome provoked a third war, and in 146 B.C., Carthage was captured after bitter fighting.
• ·        The Senate ordered the city to be leveled, its people sold into slavery, and even the ground on which it had stood to be solemnly cursed.  
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