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Chapter 10 – Ancient Rome Lesson
2 Notes: The Roman Republic
The Roman Spirit
• Romans
were proud
of their
excellent
soldiers.
To the right:
Roman Forum
• Roman soldiers
were brave, tough,
and loyal to their
homeland – even
willing to sacrifice
their lives for
Rome.
• Roman citizens were
divided into two
groups. The
wealthiest and most
powerful citizens were
the patricians.
•
To the right: aerial view of the colosseum
• All other citizens were plebeians (farmers,
soldiers, merchants). Most of Roman
citizens were plebeians. In honor of the Roman plebeians,
freshmen at West Point are called plebes.
How the Romans Governed
Themselves
• After the Romans overthrew the Etruscan
rule, they established a republic.
Democracy
Republic
Constraints on the government
No; the majority can impose its will on the
minority
Yes; the majority cannot take away certain
inalienable rights
Definition
is ruled by the omnipotent majority. In a
Democracy, an individual, and any group of
individuals composing any minority, have
no protection against the unlimited power
of the majority. It is a case of Majority-overMan.
a constitutionally limited government, of the
representative type, created by a written
Constitution--adopted by the people and
changeable by them only by its
amendment--with its powers divided
between three separate branches of
government.
History
Originated in Classical Athens
Classical Rome
Sovereignty is held by
the whole population (as a group)
the people (individuals)
Famous Examples
Classical Greece, Rome
United States Of America
, Common confusion in the USA
People commonly confuse direct
democracy with representative democracy.
The US officially has a representative style
The US is governed by rule of law. The
elected is supposed to be bound by oath to
the written governing limits (ie constitution)
yet vote "together" and create laws to
address concerns of the represented in a
democratic way
• A republic is a type of government in which
the citizens have the right to vote, or choose
their leaders.
• Representatives were elected to represent
the people in the Senate.
•
Roman Senate house shown below.
• Not everyone in
Rome was a
citizen. Slaves
and foreigners
were not
citizens.
Women were
citizens, but they
had few rights.
• They could
own property
and testify in
court, but they
could not vote
or hold office.
• The Senate was made up entirely of
patricians. Each year, two patricians
were chosen as consuls to manage
the government and the army.
• In an emergency, the consuls could
appoint a dictator who had total control
over the people.
 The plebeians often
spoke out against the
power of the
patricians.
The Tribunes
• The plebeians began to demand more
rights. To meet their demands, the Senate
appointed men called tribunes to protect
the rights of the plebeians.
• Any of the tribunes could stop an
action by the Senate by shouting
“Veto!” – a Latin word meaning “I
forbid.”
Civil War
 The tribunes
became very
powerful, but the
wealthy patricians
still had more
power than the
plebeians.
Daily Life
• Boys and some girls from wealthy families
went to school. The main meal was eaten
in the late afternoon. Wealthy people ate
meat, fish, olive oil with herbs, and dates.
• Poor people ate grains, bread,
olives, and meat scraps.
 Because of the climate, Roman
clothing was light and comfortable.
Men wore togas, and women wore
two layers of tunics.
Wars with Carthage
• Carthage was a powerful city-state located
in North Africa Below: Mosaic at Carthage
• Carthage and Rome fought three wars
known as the Punic Wars. The wars
lasted nearly 120 years, and Rome won all
three. Below Ruins at Carthage
• Hannibal was a Carthaginian general in
the second Punic War who tried to invade
Rome
•
Mosaic Horse at Carthage
• He took his army across the Alps with a
herd of elephants. Rome was saved when
a Roman general named Scipio attacked
Carthage and Hannibal had to rush back
home.Image of Hannibal below left.
Image of Scipio below right.
Problems at Home
• The Romans made improvements in the
lands they conquered. They built
aqueducts, roads, and buildings.
• The Romans wanted the conquered
people to feel patriotism toward Rome.
• Rome had serious problems. Patricians
became wealthier, but many Romans
became poorer.
• Slaves taken in wartime took many of the
jobs held by the plebeians.
• The fighting in Italy had destroyed much of
the farmland and many homes.
The Republic Ends
• Julius Caesar was a great Roman general
who won power and was made ruler of the
Roman Republic for life.
• On March 15, 44 B.C. (the Ides of March),
Julius Caesar was stabbed to death on the
floor of the Senate. Civil war broke out
and the Roman Republic ended.
Roads in the Republic
• During the period of the republic, the
Romans built concrete roads. The Appian
Way (350 miles) is a Roman road that can
still be seen today. Below: Appian Way
Appian Way Pictures
Julius Caesar
• In the 50s B.C.,
Caesar led an army
that conquered Gaul
and made him very
popular
Gaul (now mostly France)
Julius Caesar
• In 49 Caesar
marched his army to
Rome and by early 46
he had named himself
dictator
• But instead of the
constitutional six
month term, Caesar
claimed to be dictator
for life
END of PPT 10.2