Download The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic
Chapter 6 Unit 1
Notes
The Roman Republic
Main Idea:
Power and Authority - The early
Romans established a republic, which
grew very powerful.
Why Now:
Fundamental values and institutions
of western civilization began in Rome
The Roman Republic
Terms:
Republic, patrician, plebeian, tribune,
consul, senate, dictator, legion, Punic
Wars, and Hannibal
Setting the Stage:
Rome grew from a small city to a
major empire that stretched 3500
miles east and west . It will become
the most famous and influential.
Origins of Rome
753 BC by Romulus and Remus
Sons of the God Mars and a Latin
princess
They were abandoned on the Tiber
River and raised by a wolf
They decided to build a city on that
spot for its strategic location and
fertile soil
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Origins of Rome
Rome’s Geography
- Built on 7 rolling hills
- Mid - location:
- It is half way down the peninsula
- And half way point of the
Mediterranean Sea
Origins of Rome
The First Romans
- 3 groups migrated to Italy
- Latins
- Settlement on the Palatine Hill (1st Romans)
- Greeks
- Colonies along southern Italy (center of
commerce)
- Etruscans
- Settle in northern Italy (Rome adopted their
alphabet)
The Early Republic
600 BC an Etruscan became King of
Rome, this is the beginning of Rome’s
growth
Forum: heart of Roman political life
Last King of Rome, Tarquin the Proud
(extremely harsh ruler)
He was driven from power in 509 BC
Rome declared they would never be ruled by a
King again
Established a REPUBLIC: (from Latin res
public, public affairs) form of government in
which power rests with the citizens (free
born males) who can vote for leaders
The Early Republic
Patricians and Plebeians
- Patricians were wealthy landowners
(held most the power)
- Inherited power and claimed ancestors gave
them the right to rule
- Plebeians were commoners (farmers,
artisans, merchants) who made up the
majority of the population
- Eventually were able to vote but not hold
public office
- In time formed own assembly with elected
officials called TRIBUNES: protected the
rights of the plebeians
The Early Republic
The Twelve Tables
- Plebeians wanted written laws so
the patricians couldn’t interrupt
laws to suit them
- The Twelve Tables: were carved and
hung in the Forum, became the
foundations of Roman law
- All free male citizens had the right to be
protected under the law
The Early Republic
Government Under the Republic
Command army
Directed government
300 members from upper class
Foreign and domestic policy
Eventually plebeians will be allowed in
Senate
aristocrats
advise consuls
Consuls
two rulers
serve 1 year
Couldn’t be re-elected for 10
years
Centuriate Assembly
soldiers only
chose consuls
Tribal Assembly
ordinary citizens
makes laws
SERVES FOR LIFE
One couldn’t over rule the other
Comparing Republics
ROME
USA
2 Consuls elected by Assembly
for 1 year, chief of government
and head of Army
Executive
-Senate 300 (life) head of
foreign policy and financial
policies, and advises Consuls
- Centuriate Assembly soldiers
(life) selects consuls and makes
laws
- Tribal Assembly citizens
grouped by where they live
(life) elects tribunes and make
laws
Legislative
Praetors, judges, 8 chosen for 1
year by Centuriate Assembly
Judicial
President, elected by the
people for 4 years, chief of
government and Army
-Senate 100 (6 years) make
laws and advise president on
foreign policy
- House of Representatives
435 (2 years) make laws,
originates revenues bills
Supreme Court, 9 justices,
appointed for life by president,
highest court
Twelve Tables were a list of
rules that were the basis of
Roman legal code
Legal Code
US Constitution is the basic
law of the USA
All adult landowner males
Citizenship
All native born or naturalized
adults
Rome Spreads Its Power
Rome Conquers Italy
- 4th c. Rome dominated Italy (defeated
Etruscans and Greeks)
- Rome treated all conquered differently:
- Latins: Full citizens
- Farther from Rome: all rights but no vote
- Allies of Rome: just had to supply Roman
Army and they would be left alone
HELPS BUILD A STRONG AND
SUCCESSFUL EMPIRE!!!
Rome Spreads Its Power
Rome’s Commercial Networks
- LOCATION: merchants moved by land
and sea
- Traded wine and olive oil
- Large and powerful Carthage in
Northern Africa, once a Phoenician
colony, was rising in power and
influence
- STOOD IN ROMES WAY FOR DOMINANCE
OF MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Rome Spreads Its Power
War with Carthage
- Punic Wars: 264-146 BC Rome v. Carthage
- 1. Control of Sicily and W. Med.
- 26 years
- Carthage defeated
- 2. Hannibal: Carthaginian general assembled an Army of
50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants
- Wanted to surprise Rome
- Almost won, then Rome regrouped
- Roman general Scipio decides to force Hannibal
home by Rome going to attack Carthage
- Carthage is defeated
- 3. Rome goes to Carthage and sets city on fire, sells
50,000 inhabitants into slavery
- RESULTS: (1) Rome’s dominance in W. Med, (2) empire
now stretched from Spain to Anatolia=MORE CHALLENGES
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