Download The Roman Republic and Empire

The Roman Republic and Empire
Chapter 1
Section 2
Focus Questions
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1. How did the government of Rome develop into an
empire?
2. What modern democratic principles originate from
ancient Rome?
Romans
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Romans established a government called a republic
(a government in which supreme power belongs to
the citizens through their right to vote)
Romans thought a republic (indirect democracy)
would keep any individual from gaining too much
power
The 300 members of the republic’s senate were all
patricians—the landholding upper class (nobles)
Senators, who served for life, made the Roman laws
Roman Warrior
Roman Government Structure
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Each year, the senators elected two
consuls from among the patricians
The consuls supervised the business of
government and commanded Rome’s
armies
In the event of war, the senate might
choose a dictator to temporarily take
complete control over the government
The law granted each Roman the power to
rule for six months
A dictator is a person who rules with total
authority and often in a cruel and brutal
manner
Roman Senate
Roman Armies
Roman Consul
Roman Government Structure
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The common people, or plebians, influenced
government to have the laws written down in
the Twelve Tables
They also gained the right to elect their own
officials, called tribunes
The tribunes could veto (preventing a bill
passed by a legislature from becoming a law)
laws passed by the senate that were harmful
to the plebians
The Twelve Tables
Roman Government
Expansion of Roman Political System
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As Rome’s political system evolved, its armies expanded
Roman power into the eastern Mediterranean region
On the north coast of Africa, the Romans also destroyed the
city-state of Carthage and established themselves as masters
of the Western Mediterranean
Expansion, however, created problems
At issue was who should hold power—the senate or popular
political leaders looking to enact reforms
Soon Rome was plunged into a civil war over this power
struggle
Map of Roman Empire
Julius Caesar
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Military commander who emerged from
the civil chaos and seized control
Although Caesar kept the senate and
other features of the republic, he forced
the senate to make him dictator
Jealous and fearful of his power,
Caesar’s enemies stabbed him to death
Caesar’s opponents believed he wanted
to make himself king
Caesar’s grand-nephew Octavian
became the new ruler
The senate gave Octavian the title
Augustus Caesar, and he became the
first emperor
Death of Julius Caesar
Pax Romana
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During the time known as the Pax Romana (Roman
Peace), the Roman empire brought peace, order,
unity, and prosperity to the lands it ruled
Trade flowed freely to and from distant lands in
Africa and Asia
Merchants carried ivory, gold, spices, silk, and other
commodities
People spread/shared ideas as they traveled
Ideas about democracy spread to places the
Romans traveled
Legal Principles From Roman Times
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Accused presumed innocent until proven
guilty
Accused had right to face the accuser
Accused could offer a defense to the charges
Guilt had to be established “clearer than
daylight” through evidence
Judges interpreted the laws and were
expected to make fair decisions
Legacy of Rome
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Greatest legacy of Rome was the establishment of justice
through the law
(A legacy is something that is left behind to future generations)
In the 400s, the emperor Justinian, in what was now the
eastern Byzantine empire, reformed the Roman law code
The Roman Law Code became known as Justinian’s Code
Later, this code influenced the Christian church and medieval
monarchs
The Christian church preserved much of the Roman culture in
its teachings
Powerpoint Questions (17 points)
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1. Define republic
2. Who were the patricians?
3. What were the responsibilities of the two
consuls elected by the senate?
4. Why would the senate elect a dictator?
5. Common people were known as ___.
Powerpoint Questions (17 points)
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6. Laws were written on tablets called the
_________.
7. Define veto.
8. What city-state did the Romans destroy that
established Rome as the master of the Western
Mediterranean?
9. Identify the military commander who emerged and
seized power amidst the chaos and civil wars
10. Who became the first emperor of the Roman
empire?
Powerpoint Questions (17 points)
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11. What does Pax Romana mean?
12. What happened during the Pax Romana?
13. What modern legal principles originate from Roman times?
(four points)
14. What did the Roman emperor Justinian accomplish during
his reign?