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The Roman Republic
Rome: Rise to Power
Objectives for this section
• Know the origins of Rome.
• Know the shift and significance of Rome’s
government from monarchy to republic and what the
cause of this shift was.
• Know the differences among the classes (patrician,
plebian, et al)
• Know the basic structure of the Roman republican
government and the checks and balances each
division had on the others.
• Know what the Punic Wars are and between whom
they were fought and why.
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What caused each war and what was the aftermath?
Who’s Hannibal?
Why was Cannae important?
What’s the overall result of all the Punic Wars?
509 B.C. Rome becomes a
republic.
218 B.C. In the Second
Punic War, Hannibal
invades Italy.
284 Diocletian, who will
divide the Roman Empire,
becomes emperor.
A.D.
500 B.C.
264 B.C.
The First Punic War with
Carthage begins.
44 B.C. Conspirators
kill Julius Caesar.
476 Western Roman
Empire falls with the ouster
of the last emperor, Romulus
Augustulus.
A.D.
Rome’s Origin
• According to legend, Rome was founded Romulus and
Remus, twin sons of Mars
– Mars raped their mother who happened to be a Vestal virgin. She
was buried alive as punishment. R and R were supposed to be
exposed, but the servant left them on the bank of the Tiber
instead. It flooded and they floated away.
– Went downriver, were rescued and raised by she-wolf.
Origins (cont.)
• In a dispute over where to put the city, Romulus
slew Remus.
• Romulus proceeded to name it after himself, set
up all of its institutions, and attracted to it people
who needed a fresh start… which typically
meant criminals.
• When women ran short, he just kidnapped 700
from the neighboring Sabines.
– According to the Roman historian Livy they were
treated well and weren’t assaulted.
Reality
• people had been living in the region for a while.
• The area around Rome was defensible due to the
hills and was surrounded by a fertile plain
• The Tiber river was also navigable from the sea to
there and had a low point where it could be forded
• According to legend, Romulus founded Rome in
753 BC. Archaeology suggests it was indeed
founded in the middle of the 8th century BC.
• The early Romans
were strongly
influenced by those
around them.
• There were three
groups that the
Romans decended
from:
• Indo-Europeans
(Latins)
• The Etruscans to the
north,
• Greeks settled
mainly in Southern
Italy and on Sicily
during Greek
colonization.
Etruscans
Etruscan Civilization
• Lived in Etruria on the
northwestern coast before the
rise of the Roman civilization.
• They probably came from Asia
Minor around 800 bc. Etruscan
kings, influenced by Greek
culture, ruled Rome in the 6th
century bc when it began to
grow from a village into a city.
• Around 200 BC, the Romans,
drove the Etruscans out of the
region.
Rome’s Social Classes
Rome’s Social Classes
• There were several classifications of people in
Rome: patricians, plebeians, allies, and slaves.
• Patricians were the traditional wealthy aristocrats.
• Plebeians were the average working class.
(farmers and artisans.)
• Both patricians and plebeians were citizens.
• Allies were native people of conquered territories.
They had a limited form of citizenship
• Slaves had no rights at all. They were purely
property.
Roman Society
• Women were much more involved in everyday life
than Greek women although still subject to the
authority of their father or husband. They could:
–
–
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Attend state functions.
Own land.
Could work outside.
Manage their own business.
• Usually only the wealthy benefited from education.
– Goal was to teach students reading, writing and counting.
– Daughters went to primary with boys, but instead of
continuing stayed at home to run the household.
How does Rome’s social order
compare to Greece?
Entertainment
• Violence was a part of life because they were
constantly at war.
• Entertainment included:
– Chariot Races
– Gladiatorial Games. (Gladiators)
• Both these focused on war.
• Winner of these two sports were seen to be heroes
and idolized.
– Public Bath Houses
– The wealthy held beautiful banquets.
Entertainment
• Find information on the first three forms of
entertainment.
– Who was involved?
Chariot Races
Gladiatorial Games
Roman Bath House
Aqueducts – used to transport
water from mountains to the
people.
Rome, Government
(In the beginning)
• Originally a monarchy.
• (According to ancient sources, there were only seven kings in
243 years, which gives an average reign of 35 years – far
longer than the norm.)
• (There were probably more kings, but contemporary records no
longer exist.)
• The King was apparently elected (proposed by
the Senate and voted on by the Assembly) and
the line wasn’t entirely hereditary.
• King held most of the power.
• There was the Senate and the Curiate Assembly,
but they had little power.
The Kings
• The kings were of varying quality, but most decent.
• They gradually expanded Rome’s power and territory.
• One king, Tarquinius Priscus, put in the first sewer system,
drained a swamp, and built the Circus Maximus.
• The last king was Tarquinius Superbus.
(Tarquin the Proud) He was a jerk.
– He was Priscus’s son, but wasn’t elected to the
throne.
• He eventually had the elected king, Servius, assassinated
with the help of his wife, Servius’s own daughter. After he
was dead, she drove over his body with a chariot.
– He also repealed popular reforms and was rather
violent.
• The Senate finally succeeded in expelling him in
510 BC.
Rome becomes a Republic
• After getting rid of Tarquin the Proud,
the Senate decided it had had enough
of kings
• The Roman Republic was created in
509 BC.
• (Some speculation this was a backdate so that
republican Rome predated Cleisthenes’
Athens. That way, Rome [which had a
cultural inferiority complex towards Greece]
could claim it was the first democracy.)
Republic
• What is a Republic?
– A form of democracy. A country that is not led
by a hereditary monarch. The people of that
country (or at least a part of that people) have
impact on its government.
• US – yes
• Canada - no
Roman Republic
• The patricians initially formed a kind of a
republican oligarchy. (What is this?)
• The plebeians didn’t like this and threatened to
secede from Rome on several occasions.
• The position of tribune was established.
– Tribunes were to protect plebian rights. (If they
thought a pleb was being oppressed, they could say,
“Veto,” which means, “I forbid it.”)
– Problem was the tribunes were selected by the
patrician oligarchy.
– A new law was created making it a requirement that 1
of the 2 consuls be a tribune.
• They were also given their own assembly.
• They could now hold public office.
The Consuls
• Instead of a king, they had two consuls
• Similar to the two Spartan kings.
– by having two men in charge instead of one, you resist
tyranny.
• Each consul had to consult the other before acting
and one could veto the other.
– Were patricians elected to one year terms.
– Supreme commanders of the military
• Took care of daily affairs and kept other officials in
line. Also presided over the Senate.
• Would join the Senate at the expiration of their
term, so it was in their interests to cultivate good
relations with that body.
Time of War
• Later, proconsuls were created – consuls
whose terms could be extended due to
military matters, such as leadership
continuity during a war.
• A dictator could be appointed to a six
month term.
• Had supreme power.
The Senate
•
•
•
•
A body of 300 patricians from the wealthiest families.
Served for life.
Advised consuls, approved projects, did foreign policy.
Was the main power in Rome.
The Twelve Tables
Roman Law
• The first codification of Roman law.
• Made around 450 BC in response to plebians’
complaints that the patricians were forming and
interpreting laws to their own benefit.
• They were written down on 12 bronze tablets
that were posted in the Roman forum.
• More a listing of rights than formal laws.
• For something so important, we oddly don’t
know what the exact text was, but we can piece
a lot of it together from fragments.
A sampling from the Twelve
Tables
• If someone is called to go to court, he is to go. If he
doesn't go, a witness should be called. Only then should
he be captured. If he shirks or flees, he should be
captured. If illness or old age is an impediment, let him
be given a carriage. If he doesn't want it, it should not be
covered.
• An obviously deformed child must be put to death.
• If a father sells his son into slavery three times, the son
shall be free of his father.
• If a person dies intestate without heirs, the nearest male
kinsman shall inherit. If there is no near male kinsmen,
his clansmen shall inherit.
• If one has maimed another and does not buy his peace,
let there be retaliation in kind.
• Someone who breaks another's bone by hand or
club must pay 300 sesterces; for a slave, 150; if
he has done simple harm against another, 25.
• No dead man may be cremated nor buried in the
City.
• Marriages between plebeians and patricians are
forbidden.
• Men in the army may not wed until training is
complete.
• Someone who has brought a false claim shall be
brought before three judges, and shall pay a
double penalty.
Legionnaires
• Roman Soldier
• A Roman soldier was a
Legionnaire. He was a
member of a legion, which
consisted of about 5000
infantry.
• Legionnaires were
disciplined, rigorously
trained, and well armed.
• Metal armor covered the
torso. Helmets, also of metal,
could protect the head, face,
and neck without blocking
vision or hearing.
Punic Wars
• In 390 BC Rome was sacked by the Gauls.
• In response, Rome gradually expanded its power
over Italy and conquered its neighbors. By 265 BC,
it controls Italy and has a significant trade empire in
the Mediterranean.
• Its growing power naturally puts it in conflict with
Carthage, the dominant Mediterranean city at the
time. When interests among power conflict, war
happens.
• Rome and Carthage fought three different wars,
called the Punic Wars because
– (The Latin term for a Carthaginian was Punici.)
They weren’t all that far apart.
Then
Merchant harbor
Warship harbor
Now
The warship island.
A warship slip
• It ain’t just ancient. Compare…
German U-Boat
pens from World
War II
First Punic War
• 264-241 BC
• While war between Rome and Carthage
was probably inevitable, the spark was a
power struggle in Sicily.
– It was under the control of Carthage.
• Started because Rome violated a treaty
with Carthage and invaded Sicily.
Carthage’s areas of influence before the First Punic War.
• Fighting was initially restricted to Sicily, but
Rome then took the fight to Carthage.
• The Romans built a huge naval force of
warships and troop transports and began
attacking Carthage’s North African cities
and countryside.
– This force was eventually defeated by a
Spartan mercenary general. That and
Carthage regained control over Sicily. But the
key was the naval battles.
Carthage was master of the seas
• Rome adapted nicely.
– They copied some Carthaginian designs and
also introduced the corvus.
– The corvus was a rotating bridge with spikes
on the end. The Romans would maneuver
close to an enemy ship, drop the bridge into
the deck of the enemy, locking the two ships
together.
• Roman marines would then cross over the bridge
and get to fighting.
• It did cause some problems, though, since it made
the ship more unstable.
• Despite the naval copying and innovation,
and because of some bad luck from the
weather, Roman fleets were destroyed
and Carthage took the upper hand.
– The Carthaginians thought the war over.
Rome took advantage, rebuilt its fleets and
annihilated Carthage’s fleet.
• Both sides were ready for the war to be
over. (Over 50,000 Romans had died and a great
deal of money spent.)
• Rome, dictated heavy terms of peace to
Carthage... (Which led to 2nd Punic War)
– Carthage had to give Sicily and most other of
its Mediterranean islands to Rome.
– Roman prisoners were to be returned while
Carthaginians prisoners had to be ransomed.
– Carthage had to pay Rome an exorbitant sum
of money.
Aftermath
– Rome was ruler of the seas.
– Carthage was humiliated.
– The victor’s peace imposed upon Carthage
hindered its recovery and fueled resentment,
which led to the Second Punic War.
Second Punic War
• 218-202 BC
• Carthage was angry over its treatment by
Rome after the First Punic War.
• Also, to pay off the reparations, it had to
get the money from somewhere, so it
expanded its power in Spain.
• The Carthaginian general
Hamilcar Barca began the
conquering of Spain and
then it fell to his son
Hannibal.
• Hannibal especially hated
the Romans.
• He attacked a Roman ally
in Spain as well as
irritated Rome by other
moves so Rome declared
war on Carthage.
Carthage under Hannibal
• Hannibal gradually advanced towards Italy,
subduing people along the way by force or
diplomacy.
• He had around 50,000 infantry and 9,000
cavalry and some war elephants.
• He crossed his force over the Alps… in winter.
This was an amazing feat and caught the
Romans flat-footed.
– They had expected to fight Hannibal in Spain and had
even sent forces there.
– A chunk of his forces died along the way, though.
• Suddenly, the enemy was in Rome’s back
yard.
• Hannibal got the support of rebellious locals
and was good at avoiding battles. When he
did fight, he defeated the Romans.
– He was a military genius and the generals sent
against him weren’t.
The Battle of Trebia is an example.
Rome’s Greatest Defeat
• The worst defeat, though, was the Battle
of Cannae on 8/2/216 BC
– Nearly 87,000 Romans engaged around
55,000 of Hannibal’s troops. Rome had never
before fielded such an army.
– Hannibal, being a military genius, developed a
cunning plan.
The initial set up
• Hannibal put his weaker troops in his center and his good troops
on the flanks.
• When the Romans attacked, they gradually drove back Hannibal’s
center. This was intentional on Hannibal’s part.
• Once the Romans drove in, the superior troops on the flanks
closed in while the cavalry swung around and attacked the Roman
rear. The Roman force was completely enveloped and they were
slaughtered. Their massed forces also made it impossible to
maneuver and the slaughter was made worse by panic (as usual).
Results of the Battle
• About 60,000 of the original 87,000 Roman troops
were killed, including a consul and 80 senators.
Nearly 600 legionaries were killed per minute.
– Another 10,000 were taken prisoner. That means only
about 17,000 made out of Cannae alive and free. About
80% of Rome’s overall military was gone.
– It’s one of the greatest tactical defeats in history as well as
one of the greatest losses of life in a single battle.
• After Cannae, the Romans were terrified and
didn’t know what to do. Furthermore, many of
Rome’s regional allies decided to side with
Hannibal and Carthage.
• Hannibal opted not to attack Rome directly,
thinking he wouldn’t be able to take the fortified
city.
• He offered reasonable peace terms to Rome.
Rome, even though it was on the ropes, refused
Hannibal’s offer in true Roman style.
• Remember Athens did the same in the Pelop. Wars.
• Rome created a new army, enlisting a good
chunk of the male population.
• Instead of engaging Hannibal in big battles, they
merely harassed him in Italy and denied him the
supplies he needed. (Why avoid big battles?
Whenever he could get the Romans to attack, he always
beat them.)
• Meanwhile, Rome took the war to Carthage.
– They attacked Carthaginian forces in Spain,
Carthage’s main source of wealth, which prompted
Carthage to send reinforcements and supplies there
instead of to Hannibal.
– They also attacked Carthage’s allies in Sicily
and Macedon.
– While Hannibal was the better of any Roman
commander, he’s gradually worn down by the
Romans attacking his support system and
supply lines.
– Carthage is continually weakening.
• On the brink of destruction, Carthage sues
for peace.
– Rome again imposes a victor’s peace:
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•
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Spain becomes Rome’s.
Carthage has to pay a lot in reparations.
Its navy can only have 10 ships to fight pirates.
It couldn’t raise an army without Rome’s blessing.
Carthage, once proud and powerful, is essentially
reduced to a Roman client state.
Third Punic War
149-146 BC
• Some Romans openly agitated for war.
– The great statesmen Cato (Portia’s father)
would end his Senate speeches with “Carthago
delenda est,” or “Carthage must be destroyed.”
• While Carthage had been stripped of most
of its power, its continued existence made
many Romans uneasy.
– They had, after all, fought two wars with
Carthage and the barbarians had been at the
gates of Rome itself.
• Carthage was also raising an army in order to
deal with border disputes. (Was supposed to be
defensive, but it was still a no-no under the terms of the
treaty.)
– Carthage was in a border dispute with its neighbor
Numidia, the Roman Senate kept finding in Numidia’s
favor.
• Rome also insisted on Carthage continuing to
pay its annual tribute even though the
reparations had, by 151 BC, all been paid back
under the terms that ended the Second Punic
War.
• Rome beats Carthage and the Carthaginians
sue for peace. Rome keeps giving more
conditions until it finally says the population will
have to move inland and Carthage will be
burned.
– The Carthaginians resist, the Romans storm the city,
and Carthage falls.
– The city is burned to the ground.
– Those who didn’t die in the siege or the city’s capture
are sold into slavery… about 50,000 people.
– Carthage becomes a Roman province.
• Rome officially takes over the western
Mediterranean as well as North Africa.