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Ancient Rome: the Republic
The Rise of the Republic
• The legend says that Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by the
twins Romulus and Remus. Romulus became the first king.
• The city of Rome founded at a strategically important position
at the river Tiber, this was the natural crossing point between
northern and southern Italy.
• The Roman language, Latin, belongs to the Indo-European
languages.
• A certain existence of Rome can be dated to 575 B.C. Official
buildings and temples were now gradually built.
• Initially Rome was ruled by the Etruscan kings, the Romans
adopted the Etruscan alphabet (which later disappeared),
symbols of political authority and vital knowledge regarding
architecture and engineering.
• A republican constitution of Rome was adopted in 509 B.C.,
but the establishment of Roman hegemony on the Italian
peninsula was a long process.
• The Romans were masters in diplomacy and making
alliances. Alliances with other Latin towns, their military
victories and their willingness to extend citizenship
brought the Italian peninsula under Roman control.
• An alternative to Roman citizenship was civitas sine
suffragio, status as a Roman citizen but without the right
to vote or hold Roman offices. These people paid Roman
taxes and were subjects for military service, but handled
their own local affairs.
• About 300 B.C. the Romans controlled the entire Italian
peninsula.
• Do you remember: How was power divided in the Republic?
The Republican State
• The Senate: Advised the council and other magistrates.
Controlled by the Patricians. Could not pass legislation.
• Consul (2): Elected for a one year term. Commanded the army,
administered state business.
• Quaestor: Appointed by the consuls to assist them. Later an
elective office open also to plebeians.
• Praetor: Dealt with administration of justice.
• Censor (2): Handled registration of citizens, determined who
could sit in the Senate and dealt with public morals.
• Dictator: Could rule in times of four, chosen by the Senate for 6
months.
• Concilium plebis: The plebeian assembly.
• The Tribunes: Elected by the plebeians to represent their
interests.
• Magistrates were the common name for elected offices.
Roman Law
• Roman law is one of the most lasting achievements that
has influenced the Western World. The first written
Roman law should have been the “Law of the Twelve
Tables”, only fragments left. In short the laws were
divided in:
• ius civile; civil law, consisted of statutes customs and
regulations for Roman citizens.
• ius gentium; law of the peoples, regulated the relations
with other peoples.
• ius naturale; natural law, made up of rules that govern
human behavior, applied to all societies.
Patricians, Plebeians and the
Struggle of the Orders
• Patricians; wealthy landowners, provided
military leadership in war, aristocracy.
• Plebeians; common people of Rome.
Free citizens, but originally with few
political and social advantages. Were not
allowed to marry patricians.
• Power struggle between the two groups referred to as
the Struggle of the Orders, ended in 287 B.C. with the
lex Hortensia which made all Roman citizens equal.
Expansion; The Punic Wars 264 – 146 B.C.
• As Rome expanded and started to play a more active
role in trade on the Mediterranean, they came in conflict
with other states.
• The Greeks were first defeated (notice Pyrrhus here!),
but were given an important role in the Roman state.
Sicily the first Roman province.
• The southern and western Mediterranean was
dominated by commercial empire of Carthage. A power
struggle between Rome and Carthage was inevitable and
resulted in the first Punic war 264 B.C
• The first war was followed by the second Punic war.
Famous from this war is the invasion of Hannibal, who
first won three major victories before he finally was
defeated by the general Scipio Africanus.
• In the third and last war, Rome finally destroyed
Carthage. Rome now completely dominated the
Mediterranean world
Images of Carthage
To next week:
• How did the expansion of Rome contribute to growing social unrest
and the decline of the republic?
• Which conditions in the Roman state/society produced the rise of
Julius Caesar?
• What methods did Caesar use to obtain power?
• The Roman family was controlled by the paterfamilias. What did that
mean and are there present cultures where the same structure
exists today?