Download Chapter 11 The Roman Republic

Chapter 11
The Roman Republic
Ancient Roman Cities
• Most ancient cities
in Italy were built
on hilltops because
they could defend
their cities better.
• Remus and Romulus are legendary brothers
whose father was Aeneas, a Trojan hero. After
they grew up they became angry with one
another, battling until Remus was killed by
Romulus. Romulus founded and named the city
of Rome after himself.
The Early Roman Empire
The Early Roman Republic
The government
the Romans
created in 509
BC was a
republic. In a
republic, people
elect leaders to
govern them.
• The most powerful
members of the
Roman republic
were the
patricians.
Patricians were
powerful and
wealthy land
owners or nobles.
• The government
changed in the
republics. The
Patricians no longer
had the greatest
influence because the
Plebeians formed a
council and elected
their own officials.
The Plebeians were
the common people
of Rome.
Roman Government
Magistrates
• The first part of
Rome’s
government:
• Magistrates are
officials elected
every year. Some
were judges.
Others managed
Rome’s finances
and organized
games and
festivals.
• To keep anyone
from becoming too
powerful, the
Romans elected
two consuls each
year. These were
the most powerful
magistrates in
Rome. They ran
the city and led the
army.
The Senate
• The second part of Rome’s government was the Senate.
This was a council of wealthy and powerful Romans that
advise the city’s leaders. It was originally created to
advise Rome’s kings. They gained control of financial
affairs.
• They held office for life.
Assemblies
• The third part of Rome’s government protected and
represented the common people. It had two branches.
Both patricians and plebeians took part in the
assemblies. Their primary job was to elect the
magistrates who ran the city of Rome. Roman citizens
could take part in assemblies all their adult lives.
Tribunes
• The second branch of
the assembly was the
tribunes, who were
elected by the
plebeians and
remained in office one
year.
• The tribunes had the
power to veto any
action by government
officials.
• “Veto” means “I
forbid”, in Latin, the
language of the
Romans.
• The United States
Constitution was
written to protect
people’s rights.
The Romans
created the Roman
Law of the Twelve
Tables to protect
the rights of their
citizens.
• Like the United
States
Government, the
Romans had a
system of checks
and balances. This
system was put
into place so one
part of the
government would
not become too
strong.
• The Romans loved to be out in the
city. The forum was the center of life
and daily activity in ancient Rome.
The Forum in
Ancient
Times
The Forum
Today
• Hannibal was a
famous leader
from Carthage,
Tunisia, who
attacked Rome
during the
Second Punic
War. He used
elephants to
cross the Alps to
reach Rome.
Hannibal Crossing the Alps
Elephants In Battle
• 6,000 soldiers
made up the
incredibly brave
and effective
Roman legions.
Tribunes who worked for the good
of the poor people of Rome
Bothers
Tiberius and
Gaius Gracchus
were Tribunes.
Both worked for
the benefit of the
poor people of
Rome. Both lost
their lives in
doing so.
His idea
allowed
poor people
to join the
army
Gaius
Marius
His actions
led to civil
war in
Rome.
eventually
he became
a
dictator
Lucius
Cornelius
Sulla
Spartacus
A former gladiator,
Spartacus, led
an uprising of the
slaves in Rome,
who were being
treated very
badly.
He was killed in
battle during the
revolt.
The revolt fell
apart. The Romans
executed
6,000 rebellious
slaves.
Roman Hairstyles
Roman Clothing
Roman Fresco
Summary