Ancient Rome and the

Roman Republic

Geography

-Located on the
Italian peninsula, in
the center of the
Mediterranean Sea

Rome Geography
Rome is located:
-On the banks of
the Tiber River
-On and around
seven hills

Early Civilization
-Italy was originally occupied by many
different groups of people
-Two main groups were Greeks and the
Etruscans
-Latins settled in the area that is now
Rome around 800 B.C.

Legend of the Founding of

Rome

-Legend has it that

twin brothers,
Romulus and Remus
founded the city

Citizens of the Republic

Patricians=
landholding upper
class
Plebeians= farmers,
merchants, artisans,
traders

Religion
-Romans were polytheistic-they
believed in many gods and
goddesses
-Many of the gods were adapted
from the Greek gods
Greek God

Roman God

Zeus-ruler of all gods

Jupiter-ruler of all gods

Hera-wife of Zeus,
protected marriage

Juno-wife of Jupiter,
protected marriage

Poseidon-god of the sea

Neptune-god of the sea

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Government & Expansion

-509 B.C. Rome becomes a republic
-Rome grows strong and begins conquering
the rest of Italy
-By 270 B.C., Rome controls most of the
Italian peninsula