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The Roman Republic
Chapter 8, Section 2
The Early Republic

Patricians and Plebeians
Different groups struggle for power in early Roman
Republic. People were divided into TWO SOCIAL
CLASSES and both were citizens.
 Patricians—wealthy landowning class that holds
most of the power
 Plebeians—artisans, merchants and farmers; can
vote, but could not hold public office

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Tribunes—elected representatives who protect Plebeians’
rights
Patricians and Plebeians

Patrician= wealthy,
nobility, ruling class

Plebeian= common
everyday folk, shop
keepers, artisans
Government in the Early Republic
Rome elects two consuls— both Patricians- one to
lead the army and one to direct government. Served
short terms. Each could VETO the other
 Praetors- interpreted the law and act as judges
 Senate— 300 men chosen from the Patricians;
Originally gave advice to the Consuls but power grew
over time.
 Democratic assemblies called Assembly of Centuries
elect consuls and praetors; passes laws for common
people. Controlled by Patricians.
 Dictators are leaders appointed briefly in times of
crisis.

The Roman Senate
Forming the Republic
The Early Republic

The Roman Army
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Roman legion—military
unit of 5,000 infantry,
supported by cavalry.
Army is powerful and a
key factor in Rome’s rise
to greatness.
Plebeians Against Patricians
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Plebs often complained about having little power in the
Republic. They had fought alongside Patricians in the
army and had paid taxes to make Rome strong
They pushed for equal say, rights
The Plebs took action! They went on strike in 494 BC.
They refused to serve in the army and left Rome to set
up a new Republic.
Patricians gave in and allowed Plebs to set up their
representative body called the Council of Plebs.
Council of the Plebs
Council of Plebs makes Rome
More Representative

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C.O.P. elected TRIBUNES who brought Pleb
concerns to the gov’t attention
C.O.P. Tibunes won right to VETO gov’t
decisions
287 BC- C.O.P. gained the power to pass laws
for ALL Romans. Now all male citizens had
equal political rights
Still some powerful Patrician families called the
shots and women had no political voice
The Early Republic

Twelve Tables
In 451 B.C. officials carve Roman laws on twelve
tablets.
 Called the Twelve Tables, they become the basis for
later Roman law.
 Laws confirm the right of all free citizens to the
protection of the law.
 Citizenship is limited to adult male landowners.
 The Twelve Tables are hung in the Forum

Who was Cincinnatus?
Roman Law


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The Roman Rule of Law is one of the KEY IDEAS
that the Romans gave us. It is still the basis of our legal
system today.
Plebs demanded that laws be written down to ensure
fairness
Rome’s first code of written laws = The Twelve Tables,
451 BC. They were placed in the marketplace and
became basis for all future Roman Laws.
Established the principle that all free Roman citizens
were EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW.
Roman Law cont’d

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The Twelve Tables only applied to Roman citizens
As Rome expanded into new territories, they realized
they need a code of law for non-citizens.
The Law of Nations- stated principles of justice that
applied to people of everywhere
Ideas in the Law:
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Innocent until proven guilty
The accused have a right to defend themselves before a judge
Judges had to look at evidence before making a decision
Rule of Law- law applies to everyone equally, no special
prvileges
The Twelve Tables

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451 BC
WRITEN laws that
described the rights of
each person in the
Roman Republic
Displayed in public
Set idea that all are equal
before the law
Rome Spreads Its Power

Rome Conquers Italy
The Romans defeat the Etruscans in the north and
the Greek city-states in the south.
 By 265 B.C., Rome controls the entire Italian
peninsula.
 Rome treats the conquered peoples justly. This
enables Rome to grow.

Rome Spreads Its Power

Rome’s Commercial Network
Rome establishes a large trading network.
 Access to the Mediterranean Sea provides many
trade routes.
 Carthage, a powerful city-state in North Africa
controls trade in the Mediterranean and soon rivals
Rome.

Rome vs. Carthage
Rome Spreads Its Power

War with Carthage
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Rome and Carthage begin the Punic Wars—three wars
between 264 through 146 B.C.
Rome defeats Carthage and wins Sicily in the first 23-year
war.
Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, avenges this defeat in the
Second Punic War.
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He attacks Italy through Spain and France, but doesn’t take Rome.
Rome Triumphs
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Roman general Scipio defeats Hannibal in 202 B.C.
Rome destroys Carthage and enslaves its people in the Third
Punic War from 149-146 B.C.
Hannibal
crossing the
Alps in the
Second
Punic War