Download The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic
& the Punic Wars
Hypothetical reconstruction of Roman Forum in Imperial times.
Watercolor (18th century), Giuseppe Becchetti
Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy
& the Mediterranean World?
-Journal: 3 Ideas
Ancient Italy
(c. 6th century B.C.)
PEOPLE:
The Latins
-Rome: “The First Romans”
The Etruscans
-Northern Italy
-Urbanized Rome:
Building Programs (the Forum)
-Influence on Romans:
the arch, alphabet
The Greeks
-Southern Italy and Sicily
-Influence on Romans:
art, architecture, literature,
..government, engineering
GEOGRAPHY:
-Tiber River & Mediterranean Sea
-Fertile Soil & Strategic Location
Excerpt from Livy’s
The Early History of Rome
Think about…
 What danger did the Romans face?
 What did Horatius do to defend the Romans?
 What qualities does Horatius demonstrate in this passage?
 What is the moral of Livy’s account? What can we infer
about Roman values based on this?
Beliefs & Values:
Military Valor
Government:
Republic
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
 509 B.C., Romans rejected Etruscan king (monarchy) and
established a republic.
 Power rests with the citizens who have the right to vote for their
leaders.
 In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted only to free-born
male citizens.
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
STRUGGLE FOR POWER: CLASS CONFLICT
 Patricians- wealthy landowners who held most of
the power: inherited power and social status
 Plebeians- (Plebs) common farmers, artisans and
merchants who made up the majority of the
population: can vote, but can’t rule
 Tribunes- elected representatives who protect
plebeians’ political rights.
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
A “Balanced” Government
 Rome elects two consuls– one to lead army, one to direct
government
 Senate- chosen from patricians (Roman upper class), make foreign
and domestic policy
 Popular assemblies elect tribunes, make laws for plebeians
(commoners)
 Dictators- leaders appointed briefly in times of crisis (appt. by
consuls and senate)
republic:
Power & AuthorityTHE ROMAN REPUBLIC
Led by
Legally ruled by
was a
Leaders elected by
Consuls:
*
Twelve Tables:
*
Citizens:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
selected by
advised by
advised by
Senate:
*aristocrats:
Centuriate Assembly:
*citizen-soldiers:
Tribal Assembly:
*tribunes:
*patricians:
*
*plebeians:
*
*
*
See Chart: Comparing Republican
Governments
 What similarities do you see in the governments of
the Roman Republic and the United States?
 What do you think is the most significant difference
between the Roman Republic and that of the United
States today?
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
THE TWELVE TABLES
 451 B.C., officials carve Roman laws on twelve tablets and
hung in Forum.
 Laws confirm right of all free citizens to protection of the
law
 Become the basis for later Roman law
The Twelve Tables:
Primary Source Review
 What can we infer about Roman values based on the
laws cited in the Twelve Tables?
 How do the Twelve Tables compare to modern laws in
the United States?
Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy
& the Mediterranean World?
Military Organization:
The Roman Army
The Roman Army
 All citizens were required to serve
 Army was powerful:
 Organization & fighting skill
 Legion- military unit of 5,000 infantry
(foot soldiers) supported by cavalry
(horseback)
Rome Spreads its Power
 Romans defeat
Etruscans in north
and Greek city-states
in south
 Treatment of
Conquered:
 Forge alliances
 Offer citizenship
 By 265 B.C., Rome
controls Italian
peninsula
Rome’s Commercial Network
 Rome establishes a large trading network
 Access to Mediterranean Sea provides many trade routes
 Carthage, powerful city-state in North Africa, soon rivals
Rome
Military Organization:
The Punic Wars
Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
 Three Wars between Rome and
Carthage
 1st Punic War- Rome gains control
of Sicily & western
Mediterranean Sea.
The destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.
New York Public Library Picture Collection
Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
 2nd Punic War- Carthaginian
General Hannibal’s
“surprise” attack through
Spain & France
 60,000 soldiers and 60
elephants
 Romans experience severe
losses, but eventually ward off
attacks & invade North Africa
The destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.
New York Public Library Picture Collection
Hannibal's troops crossing the Rhone River on their way to attack northern Italy.
Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
 3rd Punic War- Rome seizes
Carthage
 Scipio- Roman Strategist
 Conquered people sold into
slavery
The destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.
New York Public Library Picture Collection
Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy
& the Mediterranean World? (Give a few reasons and explain)
Do you think the Roman Republic owed its success more to its form
of government, or its army? Why?
How does Rome’s rise to power relate to modern efforts to gain
power and authority?
Forthcoming…
 How did the struggle for power between patricians
and plebeians affect the Roman Republic?
 How does leadership impact the power and authority
of a nation/republic/empire?




Julius Caesar
Augustus
The Good & Bad Emperors
Diocletian & Constantine