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Chapter 7, Section 1: The Roman Republic
Vocabulary
republic
consul
patrician
plebeian
veto
dictator
a government in which citizens who have the right to vote select their leaders
one of two officials who led the Roman Republic
a member of an upper-class family in the Roman Republic
an ordinary citizen in the Roman Republic
the rejection of any planned action or rule by a person in power
a ruler who has total control of the government
Key Idea: Romulus and Remus is a legend telling about the founding of Rome.
This legend shows that…
 Romans valued loyalty and justice
 Law breakers would be punished
 Pleasing the gods was important
Key Idea: The geography of Rome had many advantages.
 Center of long, narrow Italian peninsula
 Hills made it easy to defend
 Tiber River provider water source
 Close to Mediterranean Sea for trading
Key Idea: The Romans created a republic in which citizens select their leaders.
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The republic was led by two chief officials called consuls.
Citizens wanted to limit the power of their leaders.
o Consuls only ruled for 1 year.
o A consul could veto, or reject, the plan of the other.
The powerful senate was made up of 300 men that advised the consuls.
After 367BC, a law allowed plebeians to be senators and declared that at least one consul must be a plebian.
Key Idea: There were conflicts between the Patricians and the Plebeians.
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As Rome grew, the Patricians became richer.
Patricians employed slaves to do farm work and left Plebeians jobless.
Angry Plebeians refused to fight in the army.
The Patricians were forced to agree to the “Twelve Tables,”
a set of laws that applied to all people equally.
Key Idea: Roman armies conquered many new territories.
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Conquered Spain, Greece, and Carthage
Key Idea: Julius Caesar became a powerful leader, and that angered the Senate.
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Caesar became the only consul, and later, he became dictator for life.
Many people were angry because he ruled like a king.
 A group of senators assassinated Julius Caesar.
Key Idea: Thirteen years after Caesar’s death, his adopted Son, Octavian, became emperor.
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The republic government ended and became an empire.
 Octavian had absolute power.