Download Ch. 6-1 NOTES

Ch. 6
Sec. 1
THE ROMANS CREATE A
REPUBLIC
GEOGRAPHIC SETTINGS

ITALY is on the
ITALIAN
PENINSULA
– North – Alps
– Surrounded by the
Mediterranean Sea
 West - Tyrrhenian Sea
 East – Adriatic Sea
 *The central location of the
peninsula contributed to
Roman control of the
Mediterranean region
THE BEGINNINGS OF ROME
LEGEND HAS IT
THAT TWO
BROTHERS
FOUNDED THE
CITY OF ROME
 753 B.C.
 ROMULUS & REMUS

CITY OF ROME
BUILT ON “SEVEN
HILLS” PALATINE
HILLS
 It was in the
center of the
peninsula, which
gave them a
chance to control
all of Italy

GREEK CONTRIBUTIONS
 ALPHABET
 RELIGION
–(ZEUS IS
JUPITER)
 50 EARLY
GREEK
COLONIES
EARLY REPUBLIC

Republic = *Representative
Democracy-decisions were
made primarily by
representatives who are
elected and then vote on
behalf of the people

*POWER RESTS WITH THE
CITIZENS WHO HAVE THE
RIGHT TO VOTE AND
SELECT THEIR LEADERS
Two groups struggled for power
in the new republic:

Two groups fight for power:

PATRICIANS –
ARISTOCRATIC
CLASS OF
LANDOWNERS
Two groups fight for power:

PLEBIANS – THE
COMMON
FARMERS,
ARTISANS, &
MERCHANTS
THEY WERE THE
MAJORITY
Who won the power struggle?
At first the patricians held most of the
power.
 Overtime, the plebeians got the right to
form their own assembly: Assembly of
Tribes.

Basis for Roman Law
The Twelve tables was
the basis for Roman law.
 Set of rules that said all
FREE citizens were
protected by the law.
 publically displayed
 *Roman system of justice
was considered a
milestone because it
served as a model for
many later European
legal systems.

Roman Government
Part One: Two Consuls, or officials
 Elected each year
 They led the government and the army

Roman Government
Second part, The Roman Senate
 MOST IMPORTANT OF THE THREE
 300 PATRICIANS FOR LIFE
 LAW MAKING BODY

Important vocabulary word:

*VETO- ability to over-rule or cancel vote
Roman Government
The third, and most democratic part were
the assemblies.
 Included members from all parts of
society

– citizen soldiers and plebeians

Could also make laws
Roman Principles of Law
All persons are entitled to equal
treatment under the law.
2. People are innocent until proven guilty
3. People should be punished for actions,
not thoughts
4. The burden of proof rest on the accuser,
not the accused.
Which one of these are seen in our legal
system today????
1.
*Impact on Western Civilization

*Roman’s granted equal treatment under
the law--- This is an example of civil and
natural law that impacted Western
Civilization
If there was a crisis:
Senate could name a dictator
 HAD ABSOLUTE POWER
 Made laws and commanded the
army.
 6 month term only.

THE ROMAN ARMY
EVERY ADULT
MALE CITIZEN
(had to own land)
was expected to
serve in military
 Organized into
5000 man units
called Legions
 Well trained and
heavily armed

Rome Spreads Its Power




4th century B.C. Rome
began to get larger
Within 150 years Rome
had conquered all of Italy
Rome allowed some of
the conquered people
benefits of citizenship
Rome saw growth of
trade
– Brought it in conflict with
CARTHAGE (trading city in
north Africa)
Punic Wars: Rome vs. Carthage






From 264 to 146 B.C.
Famous Carthaginian general,
Hannibal
Invaded Rome through Alps,
on elephants!
Hannibal was never able to
capture Rome
Roman General, Scipio,
defeated him in Africa
Carthage was destroyed
–
“salt was plowed into the
ground” to forever destroy the
city.
– People forced into slavery
– Carthage made Roman province
War Elephants
Mastery Check:
Which of these
forms of
government is NOT
in the United
States?
A. Representative
Democracy
B. Direct Democracy
