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The Roman Republic:
History of Rome
• The Kingdom of Rome
• The Republic
• The Roman Empire
• Fall of Roman Empire
The Roman Republic
510 B.C.E. ~ 44 B.C.E.
Republic
A system of government in which
officials are elected by the citizens
Patricians
wealthy and powerful land owners
Plebeians
workers, farmers, artisans, and merchants
Slaves
Rome’s Republican Government :
Roman laws and justice were Rome’s greatest
contribution to western civilization
Rome’s Republican Government :
Senate
300 men who served for life.
Advised government officials and
proposed laws.
Tribunes
Consuls
veto
draw up, explain, and carry
out the laws
Protect plebeian interests
3 Branches of Government
Checks and Balances
Assemblies
Voice of the
people
The structure of Roman government, with its consuls,
Assemblies, and Senate, is similar to the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches of the United States
Article 1:
Congress,
Legislative Branch
Makes the laws
Article II:
President,
Executive Branch
Enforces the laws
Article III:
Supreme Court,
Separation of Powers:
Judicial Branch
Interprets the laws
Checks and Balances
Law
Roman laws and justice were Rome’s greatest contribution to
western civilization
• All persons are equal under the law
• A person is considered innocent until proven guilty
• The burden of proof rests with the accuser rather than
the accused
• Unfair or unreasonable laws can be set aside.
The structure of Roman government, with its consuls, Assemblies, and
Senate, is similar to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the
United States
Roman Forum
• The Twelve
Tables: written
code of laws
• Displayed in the
Forum so
everyone would
know what the
laws were.
100 B.C.E.
Spain
North Africa
Greece
Middle East
Egypt
Fall of the Roman Republic
Rich / Poor
Rich Lazy
Poor Taxed
Draft Ended
Generals recruit their own soldiers
Second Century B.C.E
Julius Caesar
Marches into Rome
Romans were tired of civil wars, political unrest, and poor economic
conditions.
Caesar
First Triumvirate
60 B.C.E.
Pompey
Crassus
44 B.C.E.
Dictator for life
March 15, 44B.C.E
Augustus
Roman Empire
27 B.C.E.
200 years of peace
Pax Romana
= Roman Peace
Rise of Christianity
Palestine
As the Christian beliefs grew in popularity, the leaders of the
Roman Empire became nervous.
Christians refused to worship the Roman emperor as a god or
join the Roman army.
Persecution of Christians
persecute
to treat a person or group harshly and
unjustly
Thousands of Christians became martyrs—
people who chose to die rather than give up their beliefs
Christianity grows and spreads
Christianity eventually became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Roman Empire
120 C.E.
Roman Government
•Established a common market for Europe
Rome
•Provided the security and protection
•Coinage system
• Legal system
The Roman Military
The Roman army was one of the finest fighting machines the world has
ever known. Beginning as a group of citizen soldiers who provided their
own arms and defended the early city of Rome in times of emergency, the
Roman army grew to become one of the largest professional fighting
forces the world had ever seen. In later years, the enormous bureaucracy
that governed and supplied the Roman army would grow to rival those of
modern days.
The legion was the largest unit in the Roman Army. Originally, a legion
consisted of from 5000 to 5500 men, but seldom was a legion ever at its
full strength. More often, a legion consisted of 4000 to 4800 combat ready
troops.
Roman Catapult
The Roman Empire Began to Decline
Roman Empire Divided
Rome
380 C.E.
Christianity is official religion
Constantinople
Byzantine Empire
Decline of morals
Foreigners
Contrast between
rich / poor
Apathy for
government
High taxes
Poor farming
Slaves taking jobs
Bad emperors
Civil wars
Common people
had no voice in
government
Empire split
Invasion from north by Huns
and by south from Vandals
Barbarian invasions
Soldiers loyal to
generals not the
state
Strong generals
ignored the
government
Decline of patriotism
Roman Contributions to Civilization
In art, literature, and philosophy, the Romans borrowed from and
copied the Greeks
The Roman Empire was responsible form transmitting aspects
Of Greek civilization to western Europe
In the area of engineering, law, and administration, the
Romans were leaders
Engineering and Architecture
roads
bridges
aqueducts
baths
Colosseum
The Roman Colosseum took ten years to build and seated approximately
50,000 people. Seating was divided into poor and wealthy. There were 80
entrances at the base of the building. The Colosseum was the largest
building of its kind, in the ancient world. It was built so tightly that its arena
could be filled with water for Mock Navel Battles. The walls were 160 ft. tall.
To commemorate its opening in 80 C.E. a hundred days of festivities were
held which saw the deaths of 9000 wild animals and 2000 gladiators.
Usually the entertainment started early in the morning and lasted all day
long. Mornings were for the animal shows. Tigers, lions, bears, elephants,
and giraffes from other parts of the empire were released in to the arena,
to fight to the death.
The afternoon entertainment gladiators would fight one another or other
animals. Most gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, or criminals.
Science and Mathematics
Ptolemy
Earth was the center of the universe and the sun
revolved around Earth
Language
The language of the Romans, Latin, is the basis of many modern languages,
including Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian. English has many
words which came from Latin, as well.
Roman
numerals