Geography
Which river is Rome located on?
Tiber River
According to legend, who were the twin brothers that founded Rome?
Romulus and Remus
Define “cause” in a cause-and-effect relationship.
why something happens.
Who was the first king of Rome according to Roman tradition?
Romulus.
How many hills was Rome made on?
7
Name one geographic feature of Italy that helped defend cities and provided a place to build (hint: Rome was built on several of these).
Hills (Rome was built on seven hills). Mountains also works.
Who is the hero from Troy that Roman writers connected to Rome’s founding?
Aeneas.
Define “effect” in a cause-and-effect relationship.
Effect = what happens because of it.
How many kings did Romans say ruled before the republic?
Seven kings.
These violent games were held in large arenas to entertain the Roman people.
Gladiator Games
Explain how Italy’s location in the Mediterranean Sea helped Rome grow.
Being on the Mediterranean allowed easier sea trade with other civilizations and movement of people and goods; also central position for expansion.
What is the name of the epic poem that tells part of Rome’s origin story and who wrote it?
The Aeneid by Virgil.
Give one possible cause that helped Rome become powerful.
Good location, strong leadership, innovation like roads and engineering, or trade.
Which group lived north of Rome and influenced Roman early culture (religion, alphabet, engineering)?
The Etruscans.
This Roman leader crossed the Rubicon River and changed Rome forever.
Julius Casear
What problem could volcanic mountains like Mount Vesuvius cause for nearby towns?
Volcanic eruptions could devastate towns (e.g., ash, lava, destruction).
What year did Romans traditionally believe Rome was founded?
753 BCE
Give one effect of Rome having strong leadership in its early history.
Strong leadership could help Rome expand, maintain order, and build infrastructure.
What happened to the last king of Rome that led nobles to end the monarchy?
The last king was cruel; nobles rose up and ended the monarchy (leading to the republic in 509 BCE).
This natural disaster suddenly destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii.
Volcanic Eruption
Describe two ways geography shaped Rome’s ability to trade and defend itself.
Mountains and hills provided defense; rivers provided fresh water and trade routes; the peninsula position allowed sea trade and naval power.
Describe the story of Romulus and Remus and explain why Romans might prefer a founding myth with heroes.
Romulus and Remus were twins, descendants of Aeneas, set adrift on the Tiber, raised by a wolf, Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome; Romans liked heroic myths because they inspired pride and unity and linked Rome to gods and famous heroes.
Explain why Rome did not fall for a single reason — give two connected causes that could lead to an empire’s decline
Combined causes like economic troubles (heavy taxes, reliance on slave labor), weak leadership, military problems, invasions, and political corruption interacting over time lead to collapse.
Describe two ways Etruscan influence helped early Rome (give specific examples such as engineering, alphabet, temples, or sewers).
Etruscans influenced Roman temples and architecture, the sewer system and forums, and introduced alphabetic or numeral practices.
This type of government was created after Romans got rid of kings.
Republic