Download Roman Republic

First1. Does
Ten
this empire
look familiar?
2. How does it
compare to the
one Alexander the
Great created?
3. How could Rome’s
geographic
location help it to
prosper?
Hook
• What building is this? What was it used for?
Work Session
• Roman Republic Notes
• 12 Tables Worksheet
The Roman Republic
What can we learn about Rome based on
these sources?
“All roads lead to
Rome.”
“Rome was not built in
a day.”
“When in Rome . . .”
How did Rome win
such a place in
modern popular
culture?
Italy’s geography
• Peninsula: Pros and cons?
• Juts south from
Europe far into
Mediterranean Sea
• Lies almost halfway
between eastern,
western
boundaries of the
Mediterranean sea
• Protected by
mountains, sea
• Rich soil, mild
climate
How was
Italy
• Legend
(Myth):founded?
Romulus and Remus,
twin brothers raised by
she-wolf; founded city
753 BC
• Reality: Members of
Indo-European tribe,
Latins, reached Italy
1000s BC; built Rome
• City prospered partly
from location on Tiber
River
• Valuable trade routes,
easy access to sea
Video Break!
• Life of a Roman Teenager
Roman Government
• Rome was first a
REPUBLIC before it was
an EMPIRE.
• A republic is a form of
government in which
power rests with citizens
who have the right to
vote for their leaders. In
Rome, citizenship with
voting rights was granted
only to free-born male
citizens.
Patricians
• wealthy landowners
who held most of the
power
• inherited their power
and social status.
Plebeians
• common farmers,
artisans, and
merchants
• made up the majority
of the population.
• citizens of Rome with
the right to vote.
• barred by law from
holding most
important government
positions
Roman Government Continued
• Consuls
• 2 officials who ruled together (Executive Branch)
• Commanded the army and directed the government
• Senate
• Aristocratic (nobles)
• Legislative and administrative functions in the republic
• Patricians
• Tribune
• Rome’s leaders allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect
representatives called tribunes.
• Tribunes protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician
officials.
• Dictator
• ONLY in times of crisis, the republic could appoint a dictator
• a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army
Activity
• Generate a list of 3 similarities and 2 differences between
Rome’s government and the modern American
government.
The 12
Tables
• In 451
B.C., a group of ten
officials began writing down
Rome’s laws.
• The laws were carved on
twelve bronze tablets, or
tables, and hung in the
Forum.
• The Twelve Tables (Rome’s first
written law code) established the
idea that all free citizens had a
right to the protection of the law.
Twelve Tables Activity
• Worksheet
Last Ten
• 3 – aspects of Roman gov’t
• 2 – vocabulary terms I learned today
• 1 – vocabulary word I need more clarification with
• Timeline Homework