Download The Roman Republic - Mrs. Silverman: Social Studies

The Roman
Republic
Geography &
Environment
The Italian Peninsula
• Italy is a peninsula that extends
into the Mediterranean Sea
• POSITIVES:
• Rich soil & mild
climate
• Attracted colonists
The Italian Peninsula
• NEGATIVES:
• Mosquito infested swamps
resulted in epidemics of malaria
& other diseases
The Italian Peninsula
• The Alps
contributed
to geographic
isolation
• Rocky & marshy coastline lacked
good harbors
The Early
People of
Italy
Early Peoples
• The Etruscans:
• Ruled in northern
Italy from 900
BC to 500 BC
• Heavily influenced those that
followed them, especially the
ancient Romans
Early Peoples
• Influences:
• The usage
of brick
• Construction of city streets
• Creation of the FORUM
• Religious beliefs
Early Peoples
• Latins:
• First settlers
of Rome
(1000 BC)
• Greeks:
• Settled in southern Italy on the
island of Sicily
The Republic
Social
Structure
Social Groups
• PATRICIANS:
• Wealthy,
aristocratic
citizens of Rome
• Declared Rome a
republic when the Etruscans
were driven from power
Social Groups
• PLEBIANS:
• Nonaristocratic
townspeople;
landowners,
merchants & laborers
• Majority of Roman
population
Social Groups
• BOTH Patricians & Plebeians
could:
• Be citizens
• Vote
• Pay taxes
• Join the army
Social Groups
• PRIMARY DIFFERENCE:
• Patricians COULD hold public
office
• Plebeians COULD NOT hold
public office
Political
Structure
The Roman Republic
• Republic:
• A form of
government in
which power
rests with the
citizens
• Citizens have the right to select
their leaders
The Roman Republic
• Who was allowed to
vote?
• FREE-BORN
MALE
CITIZENS
The Roman Republic
• STRUCTURE OF THE ROMAN
REPUBLIC:
• Senate
• Consuls
• Dictator
The Roman Republic
• Senate:
• The “Legislative” Branch
• Group of
officials
who created
laws
The Roman Republic
• Consuls:
• The “Executive”
Branch
• Two senators
elected to rule
the government for one year at
a time
The Roman Republic
• Dictator:
• In the event of a war, the
Roman people chose a dictator
who ruled for 6 months at a
time
• Possessed complete control
Conflict
Plebeians vs. Patricians
• 499 BC
• Plebeians refused to fight in the
Roman army unless they were
given more POLITICAL POWER
• Patricians agreed to grant more
power to the Plebeian class by
establishing the TRIBUNE
Plebeians vs. Patricians
• Tribunes:
• Chosen representatives of the
plebeian class
• Could veto government decisions
• Plebeians could now hold public
office
•
•
•
•
Plebeians vs. Patricians
12 Tables:
Written law codes
Important victory for the Plebians
Carved on 12 tablets, hung in
Forum
• Established the idea that all free
citizens had a right to protection
of the law