Download Ancient Rome

• 5/18 Focus:
– The Romans established a new
form of government known as
a republic
–The Romans influenced many
of the values and institutions
of western civilization.
Ancient Rome
The Roman Republic
Bell Work May 18th
• What were
some of the
geographic
advantages of
Rome’s
location in
Italy?
Early History of Rome
• The Legend of
Romulus and Remus
– Legend states that
the city of Rome
was founded by two
twins, Romulus and
Remus.
– Twins were
abandoned near the
Tiber River and
raised by a shewolf
– Romulus kills Remus
and starts Rome
Early History of Rome
• 3 groups that influenced
early Rome
– Greeks
• Established colonies in Italy
and Sicily
• Taught Romans how to grow
grapes and olives
• Art, literature, and
architecture influenced
Romans
– Etruscans
• From northern Italy
– Latins
• First to settle in Rome
• Gods were influenced by
Greeks and Etruscans
The Roman Republic
• Etruscan kings ruled Rome
from 600 B.C. to 509 BC
–Roman aristocrats
overthrew the last
Etruscan king in 509 BC
–Establish a republic
The Roman Republic
• Republic
– A form of government in which elected
officials govern the state
– power rests with citizens who have the
right to vote for their leaders
– Indirect democracy or representative
democracy
• Rome allowed free-born male citizens to
participate in elections
– Women could not vote
The Roman Republic
• Patricians
– Aristocratic landowners
who held most power in
Rome
• Made up 10% of the
population
– Ran the government and
made the laws
Patricians and Plebeians
• Plebeians
– Farmers, craftsmen,
artisans, soldiers
laborers and
merchants
– Majority in Rome
– Were barred from
holding most
government positions
Patricians and Plebeians
• Plebeians demanded more rights in Rome
from the patricians (Conflict of Orders)
– Plebeian Council
• Allowed to elect their own assembly
– Tribunes
• Officials elected to protect the rights
of plebeians
• Could veto laws that were unjust to
plebeians
The Twelve Tables of Rome
• First written code of
law in Rome
• Plebeians demanded laws
of Rome be written
down
– Laws were carved on
twelve bronze tablets
and displayed in the
Roman Forum
• Established the principle
that all free citizens
had the right to
protection of the law
Roman Government
• Consuls
–2 consuls elected
by the assembly
for 1 year
–Chief executives
and commanded
the army
Roman Government
• Senate
–300 patrician
men
–Served for life
–Controlled
finances and
foreign relations
–Advised consuls
Roman Government
• Assemblies
– Tribal
Assembly
and
Centuriate
Assembly
– Made laws
and elected
officials
Gaius Gracchus, tribune of the people, presiding over
the Plebeian Council
Roman Government
Cincinnatus
• In times of crisis,
the republic could
appoint a dictator to
rule Rome.
–Dictator
• a leader who has
absolute power
–Could only rule for
six months
–Were chosen by the
consul and elected
by the Senate
Famous Roman Senator
• Cicero was a
famous Roman
writer and
orator and
Plebeian that
lived during the
same time as
Julius Caesar.
The Roman Forum
• The center of life
in Rome
• Marketplace and
civic center
– Senate met in
the forum
– Public speeches
were given here
– Site of many
businesses
Social Classes
• Senatorspatricians
• Equites- the
Roman Knights
• Plebs- general
body of free Roman
citizens who were
not patricians
• Slaves
Closure
A. What is the difference between
a republic and a direct
democracy?
B. What was the difference
between patricians and plebeians?
c. How are the Twelve Tables of
Rome and Hammurabi’s Code
similar?