The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic Mr. Morris World History

Key Terms: Chapter 6, Section 1 pg. 155 • Republic • Patrician • Plebian • Tribune • Consul • Senate • Dictator • Legion • Punic Wars • Hannibal

The Origins of Rome • Legend has it that Romulus and Remus, twin sons of a god and a princess were born on the banks of the Tiber River and raised by a she-wolf. These brothers later went on ti found Rome • Not true, Rome was built by men because of several key geographic features

Rome’s Geography • Built on seven hills at a curve in the Tiber River • Halfway between the Alps and the southern tip of Italy • Right in the middle of the Mediterranean • Great place to start a city • Can you think of reasons why? • Fill out blank map

The First Romans • Three groups arrived at first • Latins • Greeks • Etruscans • Latins got there first and settled on Palatine Hill • First Romans • Greeks came to southern Italy and Sicily, brought their culture • Etruscans came from the north • Skilled workers – architecture and writing used in Roman civilization

The Early Republic • Around 600 B.C., Etruscan became king of Rome • Grew to nearly 500 square miles • Kings ordered temples and public centers built • Tarquin the Proud was last king – terrible tyrant • Driven from power • Romans set up a republic • Power rested with citizens who voted for their leaders • Citizenship with voting rights was granted to males who were born free

Patricians and Plebians • Patricians (rich people) vs. Plebians (commoners) • Patricians inherited status and power • Argued that their ancestry gave them power to make Rome’s laws • Plebians were citizens who had the right to vote • Banned from holding most important positions in the government • Eventually, plebians were able to form their own assemblies (tribunes) that protected them from unfair acts by patricians

Twelve Tables • 451 B.C. – Group of officials carved Rome’s laws into stone tables • With written laws, harder to misinterpret laws to favor the rich • These tables became the foundation of Roman law • All free citizens had the right to protection by the law

Comparing Republican Governments • Look at the table at the top of page 157 • What are some differences between the Roman and United States governments?

Government Under the Republic • Two consuls commanded the army and directed the government • One could overrule, or veto, the other’s decisions • The senate was full of the well-to-do • 300 men • Made the laws • Dictators could be appointed in times of crisis • Only served for six months • Chosen by consuls and elected by senate

The Roman Army • Great value placed on military service • Any citizen who owned land was required to serve in the army • Those who wanted some political offices had to serve for ten years • Organized into legions • Roman legion was 5,000 strong • Organization of the military and fighting skills helped Rome rise to power

Rome Conquers Italy • By 265 B.C. the Romans had defeated the Greeks in the south and the Etruscans in the north • Latins on the Tiber became full Roman citizens • In places farther from Rome, those conquered had full rights of citizens except voting • Everyone else – “allies of Rome” • No interference as long as they supplied soldiers and did not make agreements with other states • This lenient policy helped Rome to establish a great and long-lasting empire • Why do you think this is so?

Rome’s Commercial Network • Great location gave Rome access to anything near the Mediterranean • Merchants moved by land and by sea • Traded wine and olive oil for many things from other lands • Carthage, another powerful city, interfered with Rome’s access to the Mediterranean • How would the Romans solve this problem?

War with Carthage • 264 B.C. – Rome and Carthage start a set of wars that will last for the next 120 years • Three wars • Control of Sicily and the western Mediterranean • Hannibal marched his men up through Spain, France, and the Alps to reach Rome from behind • Rome eventually recovered and stopped Hannibal from conquering • Scipio then attacked Zama, near Carthage, and defeated Hannibal • Finally, Rome besieged Carthage, eventually setting it on fire and selling its 50,000 people in to slavery and making Carthage a Roman province • By 70 B.C., Rome controlled most of the Mediterranean region

The Roman Republic