3.1 The conquest of a great empire

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The time of the Greeks and Romans

The conquest of a great empire 

What you can explain /  do after this lesson

• You can describe how the Roman Republic came into being and how the republic was governed.
  
• You can explain how the Roman Empire grew into a huge empire.
  
• You can give the key differences between the government of the Roman Republic and that of the Roman Empire.

Romulus and Remus 

Myth: Founders of Rome 

In the eighth century BC Rome was founded at the banks of the river Tiber and built on a hill 

Graeo-Roman culture

The Romans adopted a lot of Greek culture like; 

Olive oil,  wine, use of writing, coins and how to build a seaport.

Rome was built near a river on a hilltop.

a. What was the benefit of building a city near a river?

Rome was built near a river on a hilltop.

b. What was the benefit of building a city on a hilltop?

Rome 

• Rome started out as a city-state with a monarchy. 

• The last king ''Superbus'' got chased out for being too cruel 

• 509 BC Rome became a republic

What is a republic? 

• There is no king, but several hundred (rich) men. They formed the senate.
• They decided on laws 
• Two consuls they were elected for a year and had the veto right. They also led the Roman armies.
• Dictator elected to save Rome.

senators

tribune?

2 consuls

bodyguards

Which of these 2 statements is correct?


I. In the beginning, Rome was a monarchy
II. In the beginning, Rome was a city state

1. both are correct
2. both are incorrect
3. only I is correct
4. only II is correct

Monarchy

Republic

hereditary

2 consuls

king / emperor

senate

elections

Drag the words at the bottom to the correct place in the table.

dictator

senate

republic

Superbus

Romulus

The growth 

• Around 272 BC they had control of Italy.
• They took this land for more power, fame and riches. 
• Defeated Carthage in two wars in 146 BC.

Carthage

What you can explain /  do after this lesson

• You can describe how the Roman Republic came into being and how the republic was governed.
  
• You can explain how the Roman Empire grew into a huge empire.
  
• You can give the key differences between the government of the Roman Republic and that of the Roman Empire.

Reasons of succes 

• 1. Well trained army, with good equipment. 
• Good rewards for fighting in the army 
• 2. Rome's attitude changed after the enemies defeat. (alliance) 
• Keep your own culture and religion 
• Citizenship rights 

Imperium Romanum 

Trouble at the border 

Rome made use of natural borders (limes). 

Generals had a lot of power with their armies. 

Dictator 

• Julius Caesar started a civil war when he got in an argument with the senate
• He was made dictator to sort everything out. 

• 27 BC Augustus the adopted son of Caesar won the civil war and became Emperor. 

• The Emperor brought peace in the first and second centuries AD. (Pax Romana)

Name the two reasons of succes for the Roman expansion.

When Romans had conquered an area, they could bring wealth and peace. What was the peace called?

1. denarii
2. Pax Romana
3. principes senatus
4. Romanisation

Fill in the 5 blanks. One word remains.

senators

monarchy

Julius Caesar

republic

Carthage

Augustus

Roman monarchy

Roman republic

Drag the words to the correct box.

consuls

king

senate

Julius Caesar

Augustus

Emperor

senators

dictator

Write down one question about something from this lesson that you find difficult.