Download The Roman Republic - Mrs. Brewington World History

The Roman Republic
Beginnings of Rome
 Greeks influence Etruscans,
 Etruscans influence early Rome, alphabet,
architecture
 Rome revolts, kicks out Etruscans
 Rome becomes a republic
Roman Republic
 Elected officials ran the state,
 Three Parts (Branches) of Government- Senate, Elected
Officials, and various popular assemblies.
 Republic = Representatives (Rome)
 Democracy = All Free-Men (Greece)
 What is the U.S?
The Senate
 300 members
 Advised elected officials, controlled finances and
foreign affairs, reviewed laws
 Did not write legislation (laws)
The Senate
Assemblies
 Centuriate Assembly - most important assembly
 Basically the Roman army in it’s political form.
 Elected magistrates (leaders), approved laws, tried
court cases, declared war
Elected Officials
 Two Consuls (leaders) elected for one year,
 Praetors: ruled when Consuls were away, execution of
justice
 Censors: conducting census, control over conduct
and morals.
 Chief executive, commander of the army
 Ran the city’s daily affairs, led the army, acted as
judges and priests.
 Appointed dictators.
The Forum
Center of city, site of most important
governmental buildings.
Popular place for shopping and gossip
Does this sound familiar to today?
The Roman Forum
Day 2:
Quick-Write
 Take a minute to brainstorm:
 1.) What characteristics add to the decline of
civilizations? Think back to Unit 1 (Mesopotamia,
Hebrews, Egyptians) and Unit 2 (Mycenae, Greece)
what were some of the reasons these civilizations
declined?
 2.) Now take some of the ideas from above and
hypothesize what characteristics might lead to the
eventual decline of the Roman Republic?
The Roman Conquest of Italy
- Why were they successful?
 All men served, age of service 17-46, had to own
some land.
 Never give up attitude,
 Allowed conquered cities to become Roman allies,
some people were allowed to become Roman
citizens.
 Conquered cities were allowed to govern, but had
to give soldiers to Rome when needed.
Military Success
 Great Diplomats, great tactics
 Could be firm and cruel when they had to be.
 Built roads to conquered cities, makes easier
communication.
Punic Wars
 Rome expanded into the Mediterranean region.
 Conflict with Carthage (Northern Africa)
 1st Punic war, Rome dominated by Carthage navy, Rome builds a
navy and wins
 2nd Punic War, Hannibal raids Italy with superior forces. (War
Elephants) Rome attacks Carthage and wins,(Scipio Africanus)
 3rd Punic War, Carthage is sacked and burned.
 Rome controlled all of the Mediterranean.
Decline of Republic
 Large territories, pressures to govern.
 Tension in social classes rise.
 Social War – Roman allies that were denied
citizenship revolt.
 Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, First Triumvirate
(rule of three men).
 Caesar becomes dictator for life
From Republic to Empire
 Caesar killed “Et tu Brute?”
 Second Triumvirate (Octavian and Marc Anthony)
fails (civil war again)
 Octavian wins and becomes first Roman Emperor.
 Anthony and Cleopatra commit suicide.
Republic to Empire in three steps
 Conquests of Italy,
 War with Carthage, conquest of The Mediterranean
 Conquests and annexation of the Hellenistic
kingdoms.
Characteristics of Decline
 Powerful individuals fighting for power (Caesar,
Octavian etc…) lead to civil wars
 Too much military in politics (Marius, Sulla, Caesar,
Octavian)
 Expansive territories and governing problems.
 Expansion of territories, (Italy, Mediterranean,
Hellenistic kingdoms)
Day 3: The Roman Empire
 Age of Augustus: stabilized Rome,
 Encouraged creativity especially literature to
enhance his fame.
 “I found Rome built of bricks, I left her clothed in
marble.”
 After Augustus Octavian dies, followed by a series of
unfit emperors. (Nero, Caligula)
The Good Emperors
 5 good emperors, mostly from the provinces
 Opened up imperial society to provincial elites
 Hadrian, built up defenses (Hadrian’s Wall 73 miles
long)
 Expanded Roman Territories,
Pax Romana (Roman Peace)
 Period of Peace
 From Augustus to end of The Good Emperors
Major Unifying Forces
 Government: United the territories and provinces
 Local rulers under the rule of Rome
 Legal System: Stable laws and legal system
 Trade and Transportation: Agriculture (main trade)
extensive road network and sea trade.
Day 4: Rise of Christianity
 Jews did not abandon their religion
 Jewish Uprising, coming of the Messiah
 Jesus of Nazareth began teaching
 Performed Miracles, persecuted and killed
The Teachings of Christianity
 It taught to seek forgiveness for their sins,
 Love others as you love yourself
 Humility, mercy and charity.
The Spread of Christianity
 Paul, a Jewish Apostle spread the word.
 Not just Jews, but to Gentiles (non-Jews)
 Did away with some Jewish customs, (Kosher)
 Made it a broader religion
The Spread of Christianity
 Persecution made Martyrs
 Martyrdom inspired others to believe.
 Persecuted at the local level, not imperial
Imperial Approval
 Emperor Constantine has a vision,
 Officially converts to Christianity
 Edict of Milan – Made Christianity legal
 Christianity grew, polytheism faded.
Interesting Practices
Day 5: Byzantine Empire
 Byzantine Empire = Eastern Roman Capital
(Constantinople)
 Split by Constantine
 Eastern Empire was successful
Justinian
 Strong willed wife (Theodora)
 Rebuilt Constantinople (Hagia Sophia)
 Codification of Roman Law (Simplified the laws)
 Attempted to restore East and West Empires.
Hagia Sophia