In the 8th century B.C., a group of Latin-speaking people built Rome, a small community along the Tiber River in Italy. This city expanded to include almost all of the Italian Peninsula. Between 264 and 133 B.C., Rome expanded west and east and became master of the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman Republic was one of the largest empires in antiquity. Its republican institutions proved inadequate for ruling such a vast empire. After bloody civil wars, Augustus created the Roman Empire, now led by a series of autocratic rulers.
Students will be able to:
Explain how geographic features contributed to the settlement and growth of Rome.
Analyze how the policies of the Roman conquerors led to an increase in power.
Discuss the perspective of the Roman social classes.
Explain how conflict was resolved between patricians and plebeians.
Describe the events of the Punic Wars.
Identify the causes of the Roman Republic’s decline.
Determine the impact of Julius Caesar.
Identify the events and people that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire.
Determine the impact of Augustus.