Download The Roman Republic and Empire

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The Roman Republic and Empire.
Rome began as a small city-state.
Geography of Rome- centrally located on Italian peninsula/ access to
Mediterranean,
Establishing a Republic.
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Rome was easier to unify than Greece.
Great farmland in North and in South
Etruscan Rule.
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Ancestors of the Romans migrated to area in 800 BC.
Primarily herders and farmers.
Ran by aristocracy that was led by a king.
A New Government.
 In 509 BC Romans drove out Etruscan inhabitants.
 Create a Republic= thing of the people, People chose some officials.
 Created so no one would gain too much power.
 In early republic, the Senate held most power.
 Made up of 300 members, all patricians, made laws.
Created Consuls- elected by their Senate supervised business and ran the army.
 In times of war, a Dictator would be used. After the threat was over, the Senate
was again in charge.
Common People Demand Equality.
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Plebeians= lower/ middle class citizens of Rome. Made up the majority of the
population.
In 450 BC Plebeians demand 12 tablets- Know and can now appeal laws
Eventually tribunes are elected by the Plebeians,
They would veto/ block laws that were harmful to plebeians.
The U.S. got our ideas about Senate, Veto and checks and balances from Rome.
From Republic to Empire.
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As political systems evolved at home, Rome’s armies expanded their control
across Italy.
By 270 B.C. Rome controlled most of Italian peninsula. An Empire had begun!!
Continuing Conquest.
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Carthage a North African city state stretching throughout western Mediterranean.
Between 264- 146 BC Rome and Carthage fight 3 times ( Punic Wars)
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Rome won the first two Punic Wars.
2cd Punic War- Hannibal led army and elephants destroying sections of Italy.
3rd Punic War = Romans completely destroy city of Carthage and establish
themselves as masters of the western Mediterranean.
One by one, Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Asia Minor surrendered and became
part of Roman provinces- areas under Roman control.
By 133 Roman power extended from Spain to Egypt. They called the
Mediterranean “Mare nostrum”= our sea.
Economic and Social Effects
Control of trade routes brought riches to Rome.
Generals, officials and traders made fortunes from loot, taxes and trade.
They bought huge estates and made captured slaves work them.
In turn, small farmers could not compete and soon grain prices decreased.
(Conquered lands could now produce it as well.)
In addition, citizen-soldiers who did all the actual conquering weren’t paid and
received little success.
Tiberius Gracchus ( Tribune) and his brother attempt to enact social reforms that
would benefit the Plebeians.
In response, the brothers and 1000s of their followers were killed by violence
caused by Senators and their hired thugs. (Most senators are still patricians.)
As you can imagine, Civil Wars erupted throughout Rome.
Julius Caesar’s Rise to Power
In chaos of civil wars, citizen-soldiers professional forces who pledged their
allegiances to their commanders not to Rome.
Julius Caesar was one of those military commanders who would rise in ranks and
take charge of the republic.
His armies began large-scale conquest throughout Europe.
Fearing his increasing power, the Senate orders him to return to Rome and
disband his army.
Instead, he destroys roman forces and marches towards the capitol.
He then forced senate to declare him as dictator.
He kept senate and other features of the republic but held ultimate power.
Between 48- 44 B.C. issued reforms. (Public works, jobless, and granted
citizenship to people in provinces.
Fearing his growing power, Caesars enemies stabbed him to death. (March of 44
B.C.) Beware the Ides of March = Ides=15 and 13 of each month.
He is succeeded by his grand-nephew Octavian.
Emperor Augustus Caesar.
Senate gives Octavian title Augustus, or exalted one, and declared him first
citizen of Rome.
He had absolute power; he chose his successor but never claimed the title of king.
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Under Augustus the 500 year republic would come to an end. The age of the
Roman Empire had begun.
Changes to republic= he leaves senate in place, creates civil service to enforce
laws, lets provinces self-govern. (his purpose was to secure allegiances to Rome)
The Pax Romana
The government Augustus created would last for 200years.
Pax Romana= “Roman Peace” peace, order, and prosperity. Trade flourished
(Ivory, Silk, and other commodities entered the empire from distant lands)
Ideas and knowledge also spread across the empire.
He would have many successors who would all try to fill his shoes.
Roman Law
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1st system of written laws were twelve tablets/tables
As new laws are added they become Civil Laws= laws for Roman Citizens
As new people were conquered a new system was needed for non citizens
Laws of Nations= based on reason and applied to all people/ this is what we based
our natural rights on!!!!!!
Key Principles
 Innocent until proven guilty
 Right to face accuser
 Guilt needs to be “Clearer than Daylight”
Justianian’s code
 Roman emperor reformed Roman Law Code
 Create book of laws Justinian’s code. =)