The Roman Republic

1. The Roman Republic 509-27 BC

2. Rome’s Beginnings: • According to legend, the city of Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC, by brothers Romulus and Remus (descendants of Aeneas, who fought in the Trojan War). • Abandoned as infants, they were raised by a wolf, then fought over the best place to start a new city. Eventually Remus was killed, and the city was built on the spot preferred by Romulus.

3. Expansion into italy: • Between 396 and 265 BC, the Romans succeeded in conquering all the tribes on the Italian Peninsula. • Defeated tribes included the Etruscans to the north, Latins and Sabines in central Italy, and the Greeks & Samnites in the South. • Usually, once a city was conquered, Rome annexed the city and gave the inhabitants citizenship, but without the right to vote. The Rape of the Sabines

4. Roman Government during the republic Patrician: the members of the wealthy, high-ranking families who originally held all the power. Plebian: the workers and common citizens of Rome who originally held no power at all. • Originally a monarchy, with kings elected by patricians in the Senate. • In 509 BC the monarchy was overthrown and Rome became a Republic. • A Roman symbol was SPQR – SenātusPopulusqueRōmānus The Senate and People of Rome

5. The Roman Republic GOVERNMENT CITIZENS NON-CITIZENS Magistrates Praetor:Ruled the city or army; judge Quaestor: In charge of the city treasury Aedile: In charge of public works Censor: Kept public records & morals Patrician: the members of the wealthy, high-ranking families who originally held all the power. Consuls: Two elected per year, for one year term. Can veto each other’s decisions. Ruled over the Senate, proposed laws, and led the armies. Senate: Unpaid, served for life. Advised the Consuls and proposed laws. These people had no say in how Rome was governed Tribunes: Very powerful leaders of the Councils Council of the Plebs: Citizen’s assembly. Committee of Tribes, Committee of Soldiers Plebian: the workers and common citizens of Rome who originally held no power at all. Women, Slaves, conquered tribes: No power at all.

7. The Roman Army • All citizens required to serve, but most soldiers volunteer or are drafted. • Army was well organized and disciplined – Romans were taught to value courage, bravery, and respect for authority • Divided into Legions of approx. 5,000 soldiers, supported by cavalry and auxiliary troops. • Soldiers were promoted if they proved talented and brave • Units that fled during battles were decimated – 1 out of 10 randomly chosen were executed. • Identical camps were set up wherever needed, with good roads connecting them.

8. Cassis: Metal helmet, sometimes with decoration Pilum: 6-7 foot weighted javelin Loricasegmentata: armor made of strips of iron or steel, joined together but flexible. Gladius: Short sword Scutum: Shield, made of layers of wood or wool, covered in leather and edged with metal. Tunic: long wool shirt worn under the armor. Usually red or white Caligae: Boots made of leather straps

9. The Roman Army • Roman tactics: • The testudo: Soldiers in formation create a wall with their shields or hold them up to form a protective “roof.” Very effective against thrown missile attacks. • The Wedge: Soldiers would create a wedge-shaped formation, like an arrow point, to charge into the enemy • Triple line: Three lines of men would line up For battle, with the least-experienced men in the front.

10. The Punic Wars – 254-146 BC • A series of wars between the Roman Republic and Carthage, a Phoenician city in north Africa (modern Tunisia)

11. 1st Punic War – 254-241 BC • Begins as a dispute about who controls Sicily • Rome had little naval experience and its original fleet was destroyed by the Carthaginians • Rome rebuilt its navy and fought naval battles like land battles – and won. • Ends when Carthage surrenders Sicily. A few years later, Rome bullies Carthage into giving up Sardinia and Corsica.

13. 2nd Punic War – 218-201 BC • Carthaginian leader Hamilcar Barca and his sons Hasdrubal and Hannibal had invaded Spain to expand their empire – and conquer a Roman-backed city, starting the war. • Hannibal Italy by marching through Spain and France and crossing the Alps • Carthaginians had 60,000+ soldiers, plus 60 war elephants

15. 2nd Punic War – 218-201 BC • Hannibal defeats the Romans at several battles across Italy, attempting to gain anti-Roman allies. • Largest Roman defeat at the Battle of Cannae, where 68,000 Romans were killed or captured. • Rome adopts the “Fabian Strategy” of avoiding direct conflict but harassing the Carthaginians and depriving them of resources. Battle of Trebia Battle of Lake Trasimene Battle of Cannae

16. 2nd Punic War – 218-201 BC • Unable to attack Rome itself, Hannibal returned to Carthage • In 202 BC Roman general Scipio led a Roman army into North Africa and defeated Carthage at the Battle of Zama. • Carthage surrendered its navy and all of Spain to Rome. Scipio Africanus

17. 3rd Punic War – 149-146 BC “Carthage ought to be destroyed!” – Cato the Elder • Romans decide to eliminate Carthage as a rival, and find an excuse to declare war • After Rome captures Carthage: • Sells all 50,000 living Carthaginians into slavery • Hannibal commits suicide • Carthage burns for 17 days • The walls are pulled down • The land may have been salted.

18. Other roman Wars • Pyrrhic War (280-275 BC): Romans defeat Pyrrhus, king of Epirus (western Greece and Albania). Pyrrhus wins most battles but his losses are too great. This is where we get the phrase “Pyrrhic victory” • Macedonian Wars: (214-148 BC) Romans conquer Macedonia, parts of Turkey, and Greece. Greek phalanxes are no match for the Roman Army. Romans adopt much of the Hellenistic culture they find.

20. Sulla • Roman general and statesman • Had many military victories in northern Italy, Greece, and Turkey • During a period of civil conflict in Rome, he invaded Italy and became dictator with no term limit. • Executed up to 8,000 enemies, including 1,500 senators • Reformed Roman law, allowing for more courts, stricter treason laws, and strengthening the power of the Senate and the people • Voluntarily stepped down

21. The First Triumvirate • An alliance between Julius Caesar (politician & conqueror of Gaul), Crassus (richest man in Rome) and Pompey (conqueror of Turkey). • Lasts from 60-53 BC • The three would share power between consulships, governorships, etc to get laws passed that benefitted themselves, despite Senate opposition. Julius Caesar Marcus LiciniusCrassus GnaeusPompeius Magnus (Pompey)

22. Gallic Wars – 58-50 BC “Gallia estomnisdivisa in partestres.” All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Aquitani another, those who in their own language are called Celts, in ours Gauls, the third."  • Roman conquest of Gaul, modern-day France and Belgium, led by Julius Caesar. • Also invaded Germany and Britain, though they remained unconquered. • The Celts’ last attempt at victory was led by Vercingetorix in 52 BC, but he was captured after the Battle of Alesia and executed in Rome.

25. Rise of Julius Caesar • After Crassus is killed in battle, Pompey becomes dictator in Rome, and forbids Julius Caesar from returning to Italy. • Caesar crosses the Rubicon River into Italy with his legions, and Rome descends into civil war. • After fighting battles in Spain and Greece, Pompey is defeated, escapes to Egypt, and is murdered. • Julius Caesar becomes dictator of Rome in 49 BC.

26. Assassination! • Julius Caesar assumed the powers of Consul, Tribune, Proconsul, and Censor at the same time. • Expanded the Senate to 900 and filled it with his supporters, and could veto laws. • Was in charge of submitting all proposed laws and naming candidates for offices, so no one could oppose him. • A group of senators, worried he was becoming too powerful, plotted his assassination. • On March 15, 44 BC (“The Ides of March”) he was assassinated publicly in Rome.

27. The second Triumvirate • An alliance between Octavian (Julius Caesar’s heir), Mark Antony (Caesar’s assistant) and Marcus Lepidus (a close ally). • Lasts from 43-33 BC • Held all power Julius Caesar had held, and defeated Caesar’s assassins. • Eventually Mark Anthony and Octavian would become rivals, and fight each other. Gaius Octavius Octavian Marcus Lepidus Marcus Antonius Mark Antony

28. Battle of Actium – 31 BC • Naval battle between Octavian’s fleet and the combined fleets of Mark Antony and his lover, Cleopatra of Egypt • Octavian’s navy won, causing Mark Antony’s army to desert him. • Powerless, Mark Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt, where both committed suicide. • Octavian conquered Egypt, renamed himself Augustus Caesar, and becomes the first Roman Emperor – ending the Roman Republic.