Download The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic
© CSCOPE
2009
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Early Romans
Latin- Early settlers of Rome
Etruscans- Northern Italy
Eventually take control of Rome
and build it into a great city.
Build it on 7 hills for protection.
509 BCE- Romans drive
Etruscans out.
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Roman Government
The Forum- The central
public square used for
government meetings.
Republic- a government
without a king
Not a true democracy
because of elected
representatives by the
people.
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Roman government
Patricians- wealthy
landowners that controlled
the republic.
Consuls- two individuals
that directed the daily
affairs of government and
led the army.
One-year terms
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The Senate
300 member council of
patricians that made laws
and served Rome.
Most powerful part
of The Republic.
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The Plebeians
The common people (common
farmers, artisans, merchants)
Had no say in governement
Allowed to take part in the assembly,
but had less power than the Senate.
Twelve Tables- 451 BCE
Plebeians have Roman laws written.
Gives common people some protection
against unfair patrician decisions.
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The Roman Army
Superior due to its discipline and
organization.
Used a tight battle formation
used by Greek foot soldiers.
Opponents used mob warfare.
Legion- basic army unit.
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Roman Alliances
How did Rome maintain its alliances
with former enemies?
1. Granted Roman citizenship to allies.
2. Allowed allies to keep local
government.
3. Gave protection and maintained order
in Italy.
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The Punic Wars
264-202 BCE- Series of wars
between Rome and Carthage
Carthage- North African city founded
by Phoenicians.
First Punic War
Rome- superior army
Carthage- superior navy
Rome gains Sicily- makes it a
province (territory outside of Italy)
Second Punic War
Hannibal invades Italy.
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Hannibal
Carthaginian general
Invades Italy from the north via the
Alps with elephants.
Battle of Cannae
Hannibal pulls back from Rome.
Romans believe he is retreating and follow.
Hannibal surrounds and defeats.
Scipio- Roman general attacks Carthage
Hannibal tries to return home.
Defeats Hannibal at the Battle of Zama.
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Destruction of Carthage
Romans burn it because it
represented Hannibal.
Survivors sold into slavery.
Becomes a Roman province along
with Greece and the Mediterranean.
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The Roman Republic in
Crisis
Hannibal’s invasion destroyed the
farms.
Newly conquered lands begin to
import food into Rome.
Farmer income declines.
Latifundia (large estates) created.
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The Gracchus Brothers
Tiberius Gracchus
Elected to tribune promising aid to
the farmers.
Called for taking land and
distributing it to the landless.
Limit farm size
Gaius Gracchus
Gives grain to the poor.
Opened more land to farmers.
Secured more rights for the middle
class.
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More turmoil…
Romans originally stayed united
due to their fear of Carthage
No Carthage– nothing to fear
Senate unable to provide
effective leadership.
Patricians become more concerned
w/ keeping their power and wealth.
Slave revolts !
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Spartacus
73 BCE
Proclaims war on Rome in
attempt to free the slaves.
2 years of successful revolts
Eventually killed along with 6000
followers.
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The rise of dictators
Dictator- one person w/ absolute power
Military loyalty came from loyalty to Rome.
Gaius Marius
Ensures loyalty of troops by promising loot
from conquered lands.
Lucius Sulla
Rival to Marius
Bloody wars over power
Defeats Marius and becomes dictator of Rome.
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First triumvirate
60 BCE- Three army generals unite to rule
Rome.
Pompey
Crassus
Julius Caesar
Caesar becomes consul and commands the
Roman legions in Gaul.
Conquers Gaul (France) and England.
Pompey gets support from Senate.
Orders Caesar to return home w/out the army.
Caesar invades Rome w/ army and defeats
Pompey.
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Becomes a “hero of the empire.”
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Julius Caesar
Reforms Rome
1. Reorganized government with him as
dictator.
2. Lowered taxes.
3. Makes governors responsible to him.
4. Grants citizenship to conquered peoples.
March 15, 44 BCE- Caesar assassinated
Stabbed in the Senate “Beware the Ides of
March.”
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Second triumvirate
Mark Antony
Lepidus
Octavian
Created by Mark Antony.
Falls in love w/ Cleopatra,
queen of Egypt.
Octavian crushes the
combined fleet of Antony
and Cleopatra.
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Octavian
31 BCE- creates the Roman
Empire
Allows Senate to keep some
power, but he would retain sole
rulership.
Changes name to Augustus
“honored and majestic”
Takes title of “Caesar”
“first citizen”
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The Roman Empire
Augustus gains control of the
following:
Military
Takes complete control of
Gives veterans bonuses of land.
Provinces
Supervised all the governors.
Loyalty to Rome
Granted citizenship to more conquered
peoples of Europe.
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Pax Romana
“The Roman Peace”- 27-180 AD
Period of peace and prosperity.
Julio-Claudian dynasty
No real line of succession to the
throne.
First four emperors after Augustus
that were either related to him or
his wife.
Not as good as Augustus.
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Tiberius
14-37 AD
Augustus’ stepson
Plots and violence become
common in Roman politics.
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Caligula
Cruel and insane
Rules for 4 years
Assassinated by his imperial
guard.
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Claudius
41-54 AD
Restores
order to the
Roman
Empire.
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Nero
Claudius’ stepson
Becomes Emperor at age 17.
Becomes bloodthirsty and violent.
Murders own mother for criticizing his mistress.
Rome burns in 64 AD.
Nero blames the Christians.
Army rebels against him, and he commits
suicide.
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Vespasian
The year after Nero’s death, 2
emperors are assassinated and 1
commits suicide.
Chosen by military as emperor of
Rome.
Restores discipline in the army
and the administration of the
Empire.
Puts down revolts in Judaea and
Gaul.
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Judean revolt
66 AD- Jews revolt against Rome.
Jerusalem captured and Holy Temple
is destroyed.
Masada- 1000 Jews take refuge in a
mountain fortress.
2 year siege- falls to Rome in 73 AD.
All the Jews inside commit suicide.
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Nerva
Vespasian's sons rule for
almost 10 years.
Senate chooses Nerva as the
new emperor in 96 AD.
Establishes the adoptive
system.
Adopts a son and declares him
the heir to the throne.
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Trajan
98-117 AD
Adopted son of Nerva.
Spanish-born
Wise and popular
Eases tax burden.
Empire reaches its greatest size.
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Hadrian
117-138 AD
Devoted to protecting the Empire,
rather than expanding it.
Creates Palestine out of Jewish
territory.
Encourages non-Jews to live there.
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Marcus Aurelius
Last of the adopted emperors.
“Good Emperors”
Many border wars with the
Germanic tribes.
Abandons the adoptive system
and chooses his own son as the
new emperor.
Commodus- unfit to rule
End of the Pax Romana
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The Height of the Roman
Empire
Empire stretched from Asia Minor
to the Danube and Rhine Rivers to
Great Britain.
Roman governors
Enforced Roman law and settled
provincial disputes.
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The Height of the Roman
Empire
Roman Prosperity
New roads, drained swamps, irrigation
systems for the deserts.
Roman Citizenship
By 212 AD, virtually all free people in
the Empire became Roman citizens.
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