The Rise of

ROME

Greek Presence on the Italian Peninsula

Between the Greek Dark ages and the Persian Wars (800-550 BCE) Greeks colonized the Northeast Portion of the peninsulaFollowed the Greek City-State model

Rome vs. Greece

323 BCE – Disintegration of Alexander’s Empire307 BCE – Founding and Rise of Successor States215 BCE – Macedonian Wars148 BCE – Rome conquers Greek peninsula133 BCE – Roman Incursion into Hellenistic States31 BCE – Rome Defeats Cleopatra

The Italian PeninsulaBoot shaped, juts out into the MediterraneanEasy access to Africa, Spain, France, Middle EastLargely mountainous, Apennines Mountains, AlpsThree fertile areas: Po River (Northern Plain) Latium Plain, Campania region

The Birth of Rome

Legend: Romulus and RemusEarly settlement of the region by Europeans and Eastern peoples circa 1200 BCERome established in the Latium region (Tiber river) circa 800 BCE by the “Latins”http://www.historyonthenet.com/Lessons/Legendofrome/story.htm

The Estruscans

By 800 BCE the Estruscans occupied the region north of RomeA well developed society with mandatory military service, fine arts, and gladiatorsAround 600 BCE the Estruscans successfully took over Rome“Tarquin the Proud” removed in 509 BCE

Etruscan Tombs

Establishing the Roman Republic

A “Republic” formed in 509 BCE in which elected officials ran the governmentLasted almost 500 yearsSuccessfully defended against the Gauls, Etruscans, Greeks by organizing troops into LegionsBy 265 BCE Rome controlled all of Italy Obelix and Asterix: Gauls

circa 50 BCE

The Punic Wars - “N” not “B”

Rivalry over land (Carthage area and Sicily) incited war between the Carthaginians and RomansFirst Punic War 263-241: Rome invaded Sicily, Rome won against Hamilcar BarcaSecond Punic War 218-202 BCE: Hannibal invaded Rome from the North, Carthaginians eventually lostThird Punic War 149-146 BCE: Carthage built up their army, Rome quickly won

Hannibal

The Rise of the Roman Empire

The Successor States

Zenith of Hellenistic CultureAntigonous – Macedonia Selucus – old Persian EmpirePtolemy – Egypt

Culturally united although never at peaceEgyptian resurgence as a unified and independent state

Alexandria = greatest urban center

Macedonian Wars

Macedonia joined Carthage (Phoenician state in North Africa) in it’s struggles against Rome146 – Rome brings all of Greek Peninsula under their control

Roman Incursions

133 BCE - Pergamum willed to Rome with death of rulerSelucid kingdom conquered in 65 BCE31 BCE – Cleopatra’s forces defeated by Octavian and Roman Navy