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The Roman World
I.
Roman Republic
A. Geography
The geography of Italy had a great deal
to do with the rise of Roman power.
at north there is the Alps and the south is
Mediterranean Sea, to the east Adriatic Sea
with this the Romans could control the area
B. Rome and the Beginning of Empire
people live in Italy as early Paleolithic period
2000 B.C there were waves of invaders swept
through the mountain passes and overran the
peninsula
Sometime before the mid-700’s, a group of
people called Latin's moved into west-central
Italy the Latin's built villages along the Tiber
River
in there late 600s BC Rome came under the
rule of Etruscan kens from northern Italy.
Romans adapted the Etruscan language,
jewelry, clothing, metal, pottery, and wood
ernment
These people also knew how to pave roads,
drain marshes, and consruct sewers. Under the
Etruscans, Rome grew into large and
prosperous city. The Etruscans blended in with
the Romans general population.
Some Greeks settled in southern Italy
the Greeks had colonies in the south in Sicily
and these places became city-states
The Greek culture influenced the Romans
II. Early Roman Republic
Republic- a form of government in which
voters elect officials to run the state
in the Roman republic only adult male citizens
were entitled to vote and to take part in
government
three important groups of citizens helped
govern the republic the Senate, the magistrates
and a variety of popular assemblies
A. Senate
the senate is the most influential and
powerful of the three governing bodies
because it controls the public funds
Dictator- absolute rule
in emergency the senators could propose that
citizen be named dictator, the dictator can rule
up to 6 months
the dictator has complete control over the army
and the courts
Over time , the size of the Senate changed
dramatically
B. Magistrates
this group was made up of elected officials
this group was made up of consuls, praetors,
and censors
Consuls- chief executives
after the monarchy ended in 509 B.C. , 2
individuals were elected for one term, these
two
ran the government, commanded the army and
could appoint dictators
the consul had veto power
Veto- refuse to approve
these consul governed with the Senate
Checks and Balances- prevents one part of
the government from becoming too powerful
in times of war the praetors commanded armies
in peace times the praetors oversaw the Roman
legal system
these interpretations of legal questions made by
praetors formed much of the civil Roman law
Censors- registered citizens according to their
wealth
censors were appointed candidates to the
Senate and over saw the moral conduct of all
citizens
these censors became powerful in the Roman
Republic
C. Assemblies
There were several assemblies in the Roman
Republic. Citizens in these assemblies voted
on laws and elected officials, including
consuls. There some assemblies voted to
make war or peace, while others served as
courts. The assemblies elected 10 officials
called tribunes.
Tribunes- who had some power over
actions by the Senate and other public officials
If the tribunes believed actions were not in the
public interest, they could refuse to approve
them.
D. Conflict of the Orders
changes over time an for the common
people to win more rights
The struggle became known as the Conflict
of the Orders.
The early Republic was divided into two
classes of people: patricians and plebeians.
Patricians- powerful landowners who controlled
the government
these were nobles who inherited their power
Plebeians- made up most of the population and
were mainly farmers and workers
these for years had few rights
these people could vote, but they were barred
from holding most public offices
these people did not know Roman laws
because the laws were not written down
Over time the plebeians increased their power
through demands and strike own assembly,
They gained the right to join the army, hold
government office, form their own assembly,
and elect tribunes.
In one of their greatest victories, they forced
the government to write down the laws of the
Roman Republic.
About 450 B.C. the Romans engraved their laws
on tablets called the Twelve Tables.
The laws were placed in the Forum, the chief
public square, for all to view.
E. Republic Grows
the republic grew with their well-organized,
impressive army and wise political policies
Role of Roman Army- Every adult male citizen
who owned land was required by law to serve in
the Roman army. The main unit was the legion
and it consisted of 4,500 to 6,000 citizens called
legionnaires. The Romans later established the
auxilia, which were units made of noncitizens.
Role of wise policies- The Romans had a talent
for ruling other people. Because they wanted
people to be loyal to Rants of near Rome. The
Romans would grant full citizenship to the
inhabitants of Italian cities. People that were far
away were granted partial citizenship. The partial
can own property ans get married but can't vote.
The conquered peoples had to provide land for
Roman farmers. This land policy helped the
Romans to maintain control over conquered
areas.
II. Rome Expands Its Borders
A. Rome fights Carthage
Rome controlled most of Italian Peninsula,
but Carthage was becoming a powerful city
on
the coast of North Africa. Control of the
Mediterranean was coming to head between
the two. This started three costly conflicts
that are called Punic Wars
the first started in 264 B.C., Romans did not
Carthage asked for peace, the Romans made
they pay a large sum money for damages it had
caused.
2nd Punic War began in 218 B.C,
Hannibal is one of the greatest of all time,
assembled a huge Carthaginian army that
included foot soldiers, horse soldiers, and
elephants
the Romans were no match for Hannibal, but
Romans counterattacked, the Romans ending
up wining
After the second war Carthage lost its power
the third was basically because Romans hated
the city
B. Problems of Expansion
Rome controlled a vast area, the republic
and government had to change
Romans governed the new territories called
them provinces, and governed them loosely
new class of business people called equites
these had wealth and political influence