day 2

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC:

• The first groups in Rome were Greeks, Latins, and Etruscans
• between 750 and 600 BC, the Greeks built colonies along southern Italy and Sicily, which brought all of Italy into closer contact with Greece
• Etruscans strongly influenced the development of Roman civilization ex. a writing system
• in 600 BC, an Etruscan became king of Rome, in that time Rome grew immensely
• the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud, was a harsh tyrant who was driven from power in 509 BC
• Romans established a republic, which is when citizens choose representatives to vote on laws
• citizenship was only granted to free-born males
• two social groups, patricians (upper class rich people) and plebeians (low class poor people)
• tribunes protected the rights of plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials
• Rome had a executive, legislative, and judicial branch similar to America's 
• two officials called consuls who commanded the army and directed the government, but they served for one year and couldn't serve again for another ten years
• the senate was 300 people from Rome's upper class, excersized great influence over foreign and domestic policies 
• in a time of crisis, Rome could appoint a dictator for six months to take care of the issue at hand.
• Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called legions
• heavily armed infantry of about 5000 men and cavalry in each legion
• by the fourth century BC, Rome dominated central Italy
• eventually defeated Etruscans to the north and Greek city states south.
• Latins on the Tiber became full citizens of Rome
• Rome traded olive oil and wine for foods, raw materials, and manufactured goods. 
• in 264 BC, Rome went to war with Carthage known as the Punic wars 
• basically Rome won
• typing with stilettos sucks and i hate this  

3. What limits were there on the power of the Roman consuls?
They only were in power for one year, could always veto the other's ideas, couldn't serve again for ten years
4. What was the significance of the Twelve Tables?
They were the basis of Rome's laws later on.
5. How was Hannibal's attack on Rome daring and different?
Instead of attacking them head on, he sent his army through the Alps and he had elephants.