Download Rome republic and government

Rome- the Republic
Agenda
• Rome – Geography – early
years.
• Republic
The Roman Republic

Roman history has
two parts
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Republic- 509 BCE44 BCE
Empire- 31 BCE - 476
CE
Geography

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Middle of
MediterraneanCentral location
helped them be strong
Good farmland- no big
geographic barriers –
easy to unify
Rome in middle of
Italy- built on 7 hills
along the Tiber river
“The eternal city”
Brain Break
Pick up your stuff and move to
a new seat.
The Importance of Rome
Massive territory- connected and unified
the cultures of the ancient world
 Preserved knowledge- shared ideas
between cultures
 Adaptors not innovators borrowed best
ideas from everyone
 Intrinsic values: Organization, Discipline,
Practicality

Founding Rome
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Legend of Romulus and Remus
Legend of Aeneid
Several ancient civilizations in Italy.
Latins- built a city on the Tiber around 700 BCE
Early Influences
Latins conquered by the Etruscans – a
kingdom with an absolute monarch.
 Etruscans had a lot on contact with Greek
colonies in southern Italy- borrowed ideas
from them
 509 bc rebellion against King Tarquin- a
group of citizens overthrew the
government and founded a REPUBLIC
(Roman history starts here)

A New Kind of Government

Republic- A government of elected leaders
chosen by the people. (only male citizens
could vote) Not a democracy- the people
don’t make decisions. The government
makes the laws, but the people choose the
government. (supposed to be chosen for
merit)
How did it work?

Separation of powers- different groups
have different jobs. Idea is that this will
keep one group from being too powerful.

Checks and balances each groups has
ways to limit others power.

Romans value structure and order (more
than freedom)
Senate (legislative branch)
Largest & most powerful group- made the
laws, controlled the army, and handled all
foreign policy.
 Elected by citizens, #of senators varied
with population

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Dictator- In a time of crisis senate could
vote to give all of it’s power to one person
for up to 6 months so decisions could be
made quickly
Consuls (executive branch)

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Two Senators elected
every year to be
leaders of the senate.
(idea came from two
Spartan kings) One
stayed in Rome, one
went with the army
(when necessary)
Could Veto each
other- but not
overrule a majority
vote in the senate.
Praetors (judicial branch)

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In times of war they
were generals, in
times of peace, they
were judges.
Interpreted the laws
of the senate- decide
circumstancespunishments etc…
Censors

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Registered citizens
according to wealth
(kept tax records)
Count every 10 years
of wealth- Census
Oversaw moral
conduct- could fine
people for bad
behavior
Social Classes

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Rome had two types of citizens
Plebeians- Lower class (don’t own land) 70%
Patricians Upper class- (landowners) 30%
Originally the laws were different for the two
groups. But there were a series of rebellions in
the 400s bc- The Conflict of the Orders where
plebeians demanded equal rights. Taught Rome
that a united society is stronger.
The Republic Grows

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Rome Always wanted expansion
New Land = New Wealth
Conquering Italy
 By the mid 200s Rome had conquered all
of Italy. Expanded Roman citizenship to all
“Italians” (big advantage over the Greeks)
One of the Rome’s best traits was their
willingness to learn from other people.
Took best ideas/skills of conquered
peoples and made them part of Roman
society.
Roman Territory
in 200 bc
The Army
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All male citizens had to serve in the
army for a certain amount of time.
(most commanders were patrician,
though plebeians could rise)
Legion- Basic unit of the military
4000-6000 soldiers divided into
groups of 100 Centurians
Auxilia- Army units of non-citizens.
Conquered territories were required
to provide troops
Very strict discipline, and strong
incentives. “Strength and Honor”
Expanding beyond Italy
Romans were proud of their government
and culture- thought it was their destiny
to be superior to other cultures
 Allowed conquered people to keep their
own Language, customs, religion etc… as
long as they obeyed Roman law. (pay
taxes, provide troops for Auxilia)
 Most societies adapt and blend into Rome
(cosmopolitan society)
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