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Rome
Republic to
Empire
Romulus and Remus
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According to Roman
Mythology, the
legendary city of Rome
was founded in 753
B.C.E
Twin brothers. Sons
of the war god Mars
The Age of Kings
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For the first 250 years of Rome’s existence, it was
ruled by a group known as the Etruscans who
resided north of the Tiber River
In around 600 B.C. they overtake the city of
Rome
Even though Rome was ruled by kings there were
elements of the Republic already incorporated into
the city
The Age of Kings
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Rome under the Etruscans resembled a Greek city.
There was a senate that advised the king. This
consisted of a class of people called the Patricians
The most important building was called the Capitol.
It is here where the Comitia (Assembly) would meet
The Etruscans influenced the early Romans the
way the Greeks influenced the Etruscans.
The Age of Kings
Etruscan and
Greek territories
in Italy by
509 B.C.
Expulsion of the Kings
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In 509 B.C. a group of noblemen grew fed up with
their king, Tarquin.
They organized a revolt and drove him from the city.
The leading families in Rome took power and ruled
together a members of the Senate
They instituted no new kings, and formed the Roman
Republic
Age of the Republic:
The Seven Hills of Rome
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Provide a natural defense
system for the city
Quirinal
Viminal
Esquiline
Capitoline
Palatine
Caelian
Aventine
Age of the Republic
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During the years of the
Republic Rome was
split socially between
two classes.
The Patricians
represented the higher
class of citizens
The Plebeians
represented the lower
class
Age of the Republic
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Both Patricians and Plebeians had the right to vote.
But only patricians had the right to hold any
political, military or religious offices. Basically all the
power was in the hands of the patricians. Although
the plebeians had fewer rights than the patricians
they still had to serve in the army and pay taxes to
the people that were oppressing them.
http://yeseniaramirez14.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
Age of the Republic
 Struggle of the Orders
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Refers to the class struggle between the Patricians who had all
the power and made up a small percentage of the population and
the Plebeians who had no power and made up a majority of the
population in Rome.
This conflict lasted for over 70 years during the early days of
the Republic and resulted in numerous attempts at concession
from the Patricians in the form of more rights and more
participation in the Republic.
It also resulted in the creation of the first written law code in
Rome, the Twelve Tables
Age of the Republic
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In 450 B.C. Rome
develops its first law
code
Called the Twelve
Tables, these laws
talked about property,
crime, family, theft,
marriage and
inheritance.
Age of the Republic
Offices of the
Republic (# of members)
-Consul (2)
-Quaestor (20)
-Praetor (8)
-Censors (2)
-Aediles (4)
-Tribune (10)
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Age of the Republic
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Consuls
Elected by the Senate to one
year terms
Two elected each year from the
Patrician class
Initiated Legislation, served as
heads of the judiciary and the
military, as well as the chief
priests to the nation
Limited power of the Consul by
electing two to serve (each had
veto power over the other)
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Quaestors
Administered the finances of
the state treasury and served in
varying capacities elsewhere in
the provinces of Rome
After serving as a quaestor,
individuals automatically became
eligible for service in the
Senate-though they had to be
appointed by a Censor
Age of the Republic
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Praetors
Elected for one-year terms
Served primarily as judges
in law courts.
Had power to convene
Senate and Assemblies
Assumed administrative
duties of Consuls when
absent from Rome.
After term was finished,
they may have served as a
governor of a province given
the title of Propraetor
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Censors
Elected for 1½ year terms
Updated lists of Senators
Conducted census of
citizens
Assessed property values
for tax purposes
Granted state contracts
Age of the Republic
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Aediles
Two types: Aediles and Curule
Aediles
Supervised public places, public
games, and the grain supply of
Rome.
2 required to be Plebeian, 2 to be
from either order (curule Aediles)
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Tribunes
Heads of the Assembly, members
came from the Plebian class
Established to protect plebeians
from actions of the magistrates
Power to veto any act of
magistrates
By law were ‘sacrosanct’ meaning if
they were physically attacked the
attacker could be immediately killed
Power to convene Senate and
initiate legislation
Age of the Republic
The Senate
-600 Magistrates and ex-magistrates who served for life unless expelled by
Censors
-Met in building called the Curia in the Roman Forum
-Technically was an advisory body, but was more the chief governmental body
of Rome. It controlled foreign affairs, public finances, assigned military
commands and provincial governorships, and debated and passed decrees
and laws to be submitted to the Assembly for ratification
-Symbolized by the letters “SPQR” (Senatus Populusque Romanus)
meaning “The Senate and the People of Rome”
Age of the Republic
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Assemblies
Very similar to Greek Assembly
Comprised of all Roman citizens (males)
Voted on laws and decrees presented by the Senate
Votes counted in groups, not individually. Majority from each group
was final vote
Age of the Republic 509-27 B.C.
Age of the Republic
Age of the Republic
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Structure of Roman
Republic
Age of the Republic
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The Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
A series of three wars with the city of Carthage a city on the
north African coast. Originally settled by Phoenicians. Punic is
Latin word for Phoenicia.
By 272 B.C. Rome had attained control of the whole Italian
mainland and sought to extend its influence into the surrounding
islands of Italy
The western Mediterranean was under the control of Carthage
who had a vast trading empire that in the beginning did not
conflict with Rome’s intentions.
However by 264 B.C. the two powers would come into direct
conflict with each other. The first entanglement would be over
the Carthaginian territory of Messana in northeast Sicily
Age of the Republic
 First Punic War
(264-241 B.C.)
- After gaining control of
southern Italy, the Romans
came into direct conflict with
Carthage as the two civilizations
came in closer contact with each
other.
-Carthage had control of the
northern part of Sicily.
Age of the Republic
 First Punic War
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Carthage was a great Naval power and Rome knew that it had
to develop their own Navy
For twenty years Rome and Carthage were at war in Sicily.
Rome constructed a naval force that finally defeated Carthage
in 241B.C.
The terms of the treaty gave control of Sicily to Rome. This is
significant, because it is Rome’s first overseas territory.
Carthage was also required to pay Rome and indemnity (sum of
money) to pay for the costs of the war.
Age of the Republic
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Second Punic War ( 218-201 B.C.)
While Carthage suffered the loss of its territories in Sicily in the
first war, they still sought to create a great empire.
The set their sights on the region of Spain and invaded and
conquered between the years of 273-219 B.C. Under the
command of Hamilcar Barca
This violated part of the treaty between Rome and Carthage that
limited Carthaginian expansion past the Ebo River in Spain.
Additionally, the city of Saguntum, in Spain, approached Rome
asking for protection and alliance against Carthage.
Now Rome has an ally in the heart of Carthaginian territory.
Age of the Republic
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In 221 B.C. a young man of 25
years of age takes command of
the Carthaginian Spain
His name was Hannibal and at
first he stays away from
Saguntum, not wishing conflict
with Rome.
Saguntum, however, begins to
use their alliance with Rome to
their advantage when dealing
with other Spanish cities.
Hannibal, despite threats from
Rome, attacks Saguntum and
conquers it.
Age of the Republic
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Second Punic War
Rome attempts diplomatic measures and demands that Carthage
turn Hannibal over to Rome.
Hannibal’s refusal to meet the Roman demands forces Rome to
declare war in 218 B.C.
However, the enemy Rome faced in the second war, was much more
formidable than the enemy faced in the first war
Carthage had many years to raise a powerful army in Spain.
Hannibal makes the decision to take the war to Roman territory and
marches his army into Northern Italy by a dangerous route through
the Alps.
Age of the Republic
 Second Punic War
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Hannibal’s army, although extremely tired from their journey over
the Alps succeed in defeating Roman armies in North Italy and
within two months had conquered the whole of Northern Italy.
These victories brought in support from the Gauls from the
north numbering in the fifty-thousands.
Hannibal believed that his victory over Rome would be solidified
if he could succeed in turning Roman allies over to Carthage.
This strategy did not work as Roman allies remained faithful.
Meanwhile Hannibal has marched his armies to the city of Rome,
but lacking support he turns his army to the south
Age of the Republic
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Second Punic War
Rome builds up a huge army 80,000 strong to challenge Hannibal in
the south.
This army vastly outnumbered the Carthaginian army, but was
decimated by Hannibal-this was the largest defeat ever suffered by
Rome in its history.
Rome’s failures in the south cause southern allies to change alliance
to Carthage including the whole of the Sicily and even Greece
under the rule of Philip V of Macedon.
Rome’s new strategy would be to wait out Hannibal. Fortunately
none of Rome’s central allies had changed allegiance.
Age of the Republic
 Second Punic War
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Hannibal is now left ‘high and dry’ in Italy.
Scipio’s next move is to cross the Mediterranean and take the
war to the city of Carthage itself.
Carthage was unable to defend itself and was forced to sue for
peace with Rome
Under the stipulations of the new treaty, Hannibal was to leave
the Italian peninsula.
He returns to Carthage and engages Scipio’s army in 202
B.C. at Zama in north Africa. Hannibal was defeated and
Rome reduced Carthage to a dependent state.
Age of the Republic
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Second Punic War
Rome’s strategy was working. While Hannibal’s army marched
unopposed through southern Italy, he was running low on supplies
and men, unable to re supply his army with his distance from
Carthage.
This made Hannibal unable to attack cities as large as Rome.
Hannibal even gets his army to the doors of Rome in 211 B.C. ,
but does not lay siege.
Rome then appoints a new proconsul named Publius Cornelius
Scipio who takes the war to Carthage and attacks Spain.
By 206 B.C. Scipio has conquered all of Carthaginian Spain
and made it into Roman provinces.
Age of the Republic
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Second Punic War
Rome now had control over the whole of the western Mediterranean
including north Africa
During his campaign in Italy, Hannibal never lost a major battle.
Only at Zama was his army finally defeated by Roman forces.
Publius Cornelius Scipio was given an honorary name for his
conquest of Africa. He was now know as Scipio Africanus
Rome had faced certain defeat at the hands of Hannibal but they
stood strong. A strong system of alliances held strong for the most
part.
Victory over Carthage turned Rome into an international empire.
The lands acquired during the Second Punic War would nearly
triple the size of Roman territory.
Age of the Republic
 Third Punic War ( 149-146 B.C.)
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In the years following the end of the second Punic War,
Carthage saw a rebound of prosperity through commercial
activities. Although they never gained back much power
Rome was however fearful that a rejuvenated Carthage would
eventually seek to gain the power lost in the first and second
Punic Wars
They issued a decree that demanded that Carthage move its
city to inland Africa.
Being a commercial naval trading power Carthage was unwilling
to submit to the demands of Rome.
Age of the Republic
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Third Punic War
When Carthage refused Rome’s demands Rome declared war on
Carthage for a third time.
Rome attacked Carthage itself and lay siege to the city.
Roman soldiers went from house to house slaughtering the city’s
inhabitants-even non combatants (women and children)
The Carthaginians who survived were sold into slavery
The city itself was demolished including the harbor.
All the surrounding land was sown with salt-this renders it
uninhabitable and unable to produce crops.
Signifies the end of Carthage. Rome then sets is sites on Philip V
and conquers his territories in Greece.
Age of the Republic
 Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
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Following the end of the Punic Wars Rome was now the central power
in the Mediterranean.
In the span of little more than a hundred years Rome would shift from a
republic with democratic institutions into an empire under the control of
one man
Many historians pinpoint the shift in politics to the rise of one man:
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus-held office of Tribune
Many of the poor who served in the military, had come home from war to
find their land over taken by wealthy neighbors.
Age of the Republic
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Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
Tiberius, a plebian by birth, but nobleman by his service in the Tribune
designed a land reform plan to aid the poor who had lands taken. His
reform bill also dealt with what to do with lands owned by soldiers killed
in war.
Instead of making his proposal to the Senate like protocol dictated he
took his proposal directly to the Assembly of the People
One ancient writer said that this was when “the dagger entered the forum”
After numerous attempts to stifle the bill Gracchus’ land bill was
eventually passed, however, when he tried to stand for re-election to
the Tribune he was murdered by a group of Senators
Gracchus brought to attention many of the problems that Rome faced
with a growing empire
Age of the Republic
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Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
Tiberius’ methods also raised question in Rome as to validity of written
laws. During his attempts to pass a land bill, Tiberius physically
removed a fellow tribune who was vetoing the bill under the orders of
Patricians in the Senate
By law, tribunes were ‘sacrosanct’, but Tiberius’ popularity amongst
the people allowed this to be overlooked, and although there was no
written protocol that all laws should go through the Senate before
being passed on to the Assembly, it was considered courteous and
respectful.
Tiberius’ methods showed, that with the support of the masses in
Rome, any law could be manipulated or overlooked. A problem that
would plague Rome in the last days of the Republic
Age of the Republic
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The Gracchi
In 123 B.C. Tiberius’ younger
brother, Gaius, was elected to
the tribunate
He had already served as a
consul and governor of
Sardinia.
Motivated by the murder of his
brother he set forth his agenda
of administrative reforms and
social equity issues.
Age of the Republic
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Gaius was a man of the people and he gained support of the masses
with his proposals.
Among the proposals of Gaius was a state subsidized grain law, which
allowed every citizen to buy grain at half the market price, directly from
the Roman state. His brother's agrarian law, which was revoked after
Tiberius' death, was then re-adopted to allow the Plebes more access,
once again, to available public land
Renowned for his oratory skills, he was later admired by one of Rome’s
greatest public speakers, Cicero
Although he had more success than his brother is his laws, what is more
important is that the name of the Gracchi was redeemed.
Age of the Republic
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The Gracchi
Gaius remained a champion of the people until he proposed a law that
extended citizenship rights in Rome
This measure was not only unpopular within the Senate, but with the
general public as well.
It would conflict with his land rights laws and force poorer citizens to
share available lands with the new citizens of Rome.
When Gaius stood for re-election to the Tribunate in 121 B.C. he
was denied the position.
The Senate was not at all happy with Gaius, as they had not been
happy with Tiberius.
Age of the Republic
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The Gracchi
Realizing that the Senate had plotted against him in his election Gaius,
followed by his supporters led a protest in the streets of Rome.
Many of his supporters were armed with weapons and this violated
Roman law at time. This was all the Senate needed.
They ordered Senatus Consultum Ultimatum (martial law) and sent
armed military forces into quell the rebellion.
Swooping down on the Aventine, all hope was lost for the Gracchus
party. Ordering his own slave to stab him to death, the political career
of the famous Gracchi came to a violent end. In the end, thousands of
the mob were killed outright, and later, up to 3,000 more Gracchus
supporters were rounded up, arrested and strangled.
Age of the Republic
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The Legacy of the Gracchi
Around the time of the Gracchus brothers Rome began to think in
terms of political right and left, dividing the two factions into optimates
and populares (of which Tiberius and Gaius were members)
The optimates were the party of the elite patricians. The Populares
were the party of the people.
The populares were aristocratic leaders in the late Republic who relied
on the assemblies and tribunate to acquire political power. They are
regarded in modern scholarship as in opposition to the optimates, who
are identified with the conservative interests of a senatorial elite. The
populares themselves, however, were also of senatorial rank and might
be patricians or noble plebeians.
Age of the Republic
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Legacy of the Gracchi
The Gracchi legacy, noble though it goals may have been, resulted in
Roman society splintering, social and economic upheaval, and the slow
disintegration of the Roman political system. Politicians became
increasingly willing to play to the mob for power, and the use of violence
and mob tactics became mainstays of future politicians. Political parties
became more polarized and ruthless, and even the Senate began to
splinter into opposing factions. With Roman society collapsing into
chaos, the stage was set for the rise of popular magnates like Marius,
Sulla, Pompey, and Caesar.
http://antiquitatis.com/rome/biographies/bios_late_republic.html
Age of the Republic
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Gaius Marius
Was a Roman General of
plebeian descent who served
under the great Scipio
Africanus
Became Tribune in 119 B.C.