The peoples of the western Atlantic zone of Europe had never known
political union, until Rome would - change that.
Because the Romans were so successful and left behind so much evidence of their
activities, Rome has become the foremost example of an - ancient empire.
Rome's initial military success arose under a political system different
from that of surrounding states, as it was officially a republic starting in - 509
B.C.E.
Rome started out as a small settlement in the center of Italy, but through military
expansion Rome was the master of most of Italy by - 264 B.C.E.
Part of this success was due to three bloody wars known as the Punic Wars,
against Carthage in North Africa, in which Rome prevailed and came to dominate
the - western Mediterranean.
The essential unit of Roman society was the family, headed by the oldest
man, the pater familias. The family also included slaves, and clients, who were
persons of lower social rant economically attached to - the family.
, Women had a secondary rule, but over time they gained - financial power.
Wealthy families of the hereditary aristocratic class were known as
patricians, and held all of the political power in early Rome, and the
other commoners were known as - plebeians.
The Republic in Rome sought a balance of power between people and
magistrates (government officials), but the real power was in the hands
of the - Senate.
To limit the power of the magistrates, they were restricted to a one-year
term, and they placed two men in each office, the most prominent being the
_______. (Exception in time of crisis, when Senate gave absolute power to a
single magistrate, the dictator). - consuls
As the military relied on plebeian recruits, the plebeians forced the senate to
create the office of tribune, to protect plebeians from - patrician magistrates.
While wealthy businessmen joined the order of equestrians, rich men bought up
lands and turned them into latifundia .... - large plantation-like estates.
Slavery was prominent in Rome as well (estimated that around 100 B.C.E. two
million of the six million people in Italy were slaves). Some were freed, but often
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