Download The Roman Republic

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Legend has it Rome was founded by two
brothers, Romulus and Remus around 753 B.C.
(B.C.E.)
Geography played a large part of Rome’s
success. Located in modern Italy, Rome had a
central location to conquer the Mediterranean.
In 509 B.C. Roman’s drove out the Etruscan’s
and established a Republic or government run
by the people. They hoped this type of
government would stop any one person from
gaining to much power.
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Roman Society was organized into three
groups:
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The Patricians-landholding upper classes
The Plebeians-the common people. This class was
made up of artesian, merchants, farmers, soldiers
and traders.
Slaves
The Senate was the governing body of Rome.
It was comprised of 300 members from the
Patrician class who served for life and made all
of the laws for Rome.
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The Twelve Tables
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The Plebeians first victory in the Republic. The
government had the laws of Rome written down on
twelve tables and posted in the Forum or
marketplace. This is the first known instance of
written law where all could see and protest
decisions.
Soon Plebeians gained the right to elect
Tribunes or officials to protect the rights of
Plebeians. The Tribunes could veto (reject) or
block laws they saw as harmful to Plebeians.
Slowly, Plebeians were elected to the Senate.
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The Roman Army
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By 270 B.C. The Roman army had conquered most of
the Italian peninsula and began spreading
throughout the Mediterranean.
Carthage-a City-State in Northern Africa that ruled
North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Rome
had conquered Carthage by 146 B.C.
While fighting Carthage in the West, Rome began
pushing East and confronting Hellenistic rulers of
Greece, Macedonia, and Egypt.
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Economic & Social Effects
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Control of trade, conquests and trade routes brought
enourmous wealth to Rome.
The flood of slave labor, cheap grain and large farms
hurt small Roman farmers.
Citizen-Soliders worked without pay and provided
their own weapons, yet they gained little from the
Expansion of the Empire.
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Julius Caesar- Military Commander and leader of
an army of professional citizen-soldiers.
Conquered Gaul (Modern France) and was ordered by
Senate to disband his army. He refused and went on to
sweep the Mediterranean and crushed the Roman army
sent to stop him. Caesar was able to get the Senate to
name him dictator. He was absolute ruler of Rome.
 Launched public works projects and gave away public
land to gain support among the lower classes. Granted
citizenship to people in the provinces.
 Was killed on the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BC on
the floor of the Senate where his enemies stabbed him to
death.
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Augustus Caesar-leader of Rome from 31 BC to
14 AD. Under his leadership, the Roman
Republic ended and the Roman Empire began.
Augustus created an efficient well-trained civil
service to enforce laws. He left the Senate in
place but laid the foundation for a stable, long
lasting government.
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Pax Romana- Roman Peace.
Roman rule brought peace and order to the empire.
 Military protected borders & all weather roads.
 Ideas moved freely and spread throughout the Empire
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Roman Law
Civil Law-applied only to Roman Citizens
 Law of Nations-based on the laws of nature this set of
laws applied to both citizens and foreign subjects.
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Innocent until proven guilty
Right to face your accuser & ability to offer a defense
Guilt established “clearer than daylight”
Judges allowed to interpret laws.