Welcome to ItalyWelcome to Italy

Italy: An OverviewItaly: An Overview

History stretches back nearly History stretches back nearly 3,000 years.3,000 years.

Home to Europe’s greatest Home to Europe’s greatest empire: Rome.empire: Rome.

People today owe their ideas People today owe their ideas about art, government, law, about art, government, law, and language to Italy.and language to Italy.

Ancient RomeAncient Rome

The city of Rome The city of Rome was built in the was built in the 700s BC.700s BC.

Legend says that a Legend says that a man name Romulus man name Romulus founded Rome.founded Rome.

Rome began to Rome began to conquer its conquer its neighbor and build neighbor and build an empire.an empire.

Roman ConquestRoman Conquest

Rome grew to control nearly all the Rome grew to control nearly all the land around the Mediterranean Sea.land around the Mediterranean Sea.– Referred to the Mediterranean as Referred to the Mediterranean as

“Rome’s lake.”“Rome’s lake.” At its height, conquered and At its height, conquered and

controlled all of Europe, North Africa, controlled all of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.and the Middle East.– Stretched from Britain to the Persian Stretched from Britain to the Persian

Gulf.Gulf.

How did Rome conquer?How did Rome conquer? Rome had a very Rome had a very

organized army.organized army. The army borrowed The army borrowed

ideas and weapons from ideas and weapons from other civilizations other civilizations (phalanx – fighting (phalanx – fighting formation).formation).

Used new fighting Used new fighting methods and adopted methods and adopted javelins, siege towers, javelins, siege towers, and catapults.and catapults.

Soldiers had protective Soldiers had protective uniforms and armor.uniforms and armor.

Roman Fighting TechnologyRoman Fighting Technology

Phalanx: Locked shields together, first fewrows would project spears out. This createda shield wall and made frontal assaults by an enemy difficult.

Siege Tower

Catapult

Roman Soldier UniformRoman Soldier Uniform

Roman Helmet

Roman CultureRoman Culture

Influenced by the Greeks.Influenced by the Greeks. Included a social hierarchy.Included a social hierarchy.

–Patricians – upper class (nobles Patricians – upper class (nobles and wealthy)and wealthy)

–Plebeians – lower class Plebeians – lower class (everyone but nobility)(everyone but nobility)

More culture....More culture....

Pater familias – same family structure in Pater familias – same family structure in all classes (male head of household).all classes (male head of household).

Religion – Borrowed Greek gods Religion – Borrowed Greek gods (renamed them)(renamed them)

Language – LatinLanguage – Latin Forum – the main marketplace and Forum – the main marketplace and

business center that people would visit business center that people would visit to shop or listen to some public speakingto shop or listen to some public speaking

Education – for wealthy childrenEducation – for wealthy children

The ColosseumThe Colosseum Arena built to entertain Arena built to entertain

citizens of Rome.citizens of Rome. Held events like: Held events like:

chariot races and chariot races and gladiator fights.gladiator fights.

Gladiator fights were Gladiator fights were the most popular event.the most popular event.– The gladiators were The gladiators were

professional fighters professional fighters who battled for sport who battled for sport or for their freedom.or for their freedom.

Roman ContributionsRoman Contributions

Paved roadsPaved roads – First paved roads; – First paved roads; helped to connect empire for trade helped to connect empire for trade and defense.and defense.

AqueductsAqueducts -- Structures built to -- Structures built to carry water to Roman towns.carry water to Roman towns.

CensusCensus – Population count of Rome – Population count of RomeRome was first to use concrete in Rome was first to use concrete in

buildings.buildings.

All roads lead to RomeAll roads lead to Rome

Empire was large and Empire was large and included paved roads.included paved roads.

Most people believed Most people believed that all roads led to that all roads led to Rome.Rome.– Even if they did Even if they did

travel for a long travel for a long distance, they distance, they never made it out never made it out of the Roman of the Roman Empire.Empire.

AqueductAqueduct

Roman RepublicRoman Republic

For a brief time, Rome was a For a brief time, Rome was a republic.republic.

Republic is a form of government Republic is a form of government that has the people elect that has the people elect representatives to make laws.representatives to make laws.– United States has this type of United States has this type of

government.government.Democratic RepublicDemocratic Republic

Christianity in RomeChristianity in Rome

Jesus spread the word of God in Rome.Jesus spread the word of God in Rome. Jesus was crucified by Romans who Jesus was crucified by Romans who

believed he was a threat to their power.believed he was a threat to their power. The message of Jesus was then carried The message of Jesus was then carried

by apostles throughout the Roman by apostles throughout the Roman empire.empire.

Rome did not like Christians to begin Rome did not like Christians to begin with because they refused to worship with because they refused to worship the emperor (leader) of Rome, as well the emperor (leader) of Rome, as well as, their own God.as, their own God.

Emperor Constantine Emperor Constantine

In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine became In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine became Christian.Christian.

Issued the Issued the Edict of MilanEdict of Milan which made which made Christianity the official religion of Rome.Christianity the official religion of Rome.

Christianity became popular and spread Christianity became popular and spread because:because:– Constantine embraced it.Constantine embraced it.– It was easy to understand It was easy to understand – Gave people hopeGave people hope

The Fall of Rome. The Fall of Rome.

Rome collapsed in 400 AD.Rome collapsed in 400 AD. The collapse was brought on by many The collapse was brought on by many

things but included:things but included:– Weak leadershipWeak leadership– Invasions from barbaric tribes of Invasions from barbaric tribes of

peoplepeople Italy then broke into city-states.Italy then broke into city-states.

– Each with its own laws, government, Each with its own laws, government, and army.and army.

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

Began in cities like Florence in the 1300s.Began in cities like Florence in the 1300s. Lasted from about 1350 through the Lasted from about 1350 through the

1500s1500s A period of great advances in art, A period of great advances in art,

architecture, and literature.architecture, and literature. From Italy, the Renaissance spread to From Italy, the Renaissance spread to

other parts of Europe.other parts of Europe. Some of the world’s greatest works of art Some of the world’s greatest works of art

were created at this time.were created at this time.– Artists included: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Artists included: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael,

and Michelangeloand Michelangelo

Unified ItalyUnified Italy

Italy became a unified kingdom in 1861.Italy became a unified kingdom in 1861. In the 1920s, under Mussolini, it became In the 1920s, under Mussolini, it became

a dictatorship and supported the Axis a dictatorship and supported the Axis powers in WWII.powers in WWII.

Italy is currently a democracy and power Italy is currently a democracy and power rests with the Parliament and prime rests with the Parliament and prime minister.minister.