Ch 33 The Rise of the Roman Republic

1. Ch 33 The Rise of the Roman Republic • Introduction • Patricians and Plebeians Under Etruscan Rule • The Patricians Create a Republic • The Plebeians Rebel • The Plebeians Gain Political Equality • Summary

2. Introduction • Early Rome ruled by Etruscan kings from northern Italy • Romans overthrew the Etruscans around 509 BCE • Two Etruscan princes and a Roman traveled to see the oracle at Delphi • Oracle was asked who would be the next king of Rome • The oracle's response "The next man to have authority in Rome will be the man who first kisses his mother. • The Roman, Lucius Junius Brutus, pretended to trip • Brutus fell on his face and his lips touched the Earth (mother Earth) • Brutus led the revolt that drove out the Etruscan kings • Rome became a republic • Not all Romans were equal • Power in the early republic belonged to the rich • Patricians • Plebeians • poor • No say in government

3. Patricians and Plebeians Under Etruscan Rule • Etruscan ruled Rome between 616 - 509 BCE • Roman society had two classes • Patricians • Small group of wealthy landowners • Patres (Latin word) for father • Advised the Etruscan king • controlled the most valuable land • Held the important military and religious offices • Plebeians • Peasants, laborers, craftspeople, and shopkeepers • "plebs" means many • Made up 95% of Rome's population • Could not be priests or government officials • Forced to serve in the army

4. The Patricians Create a Republic • 509 BCE a group of patricians rebelled • Created a republic • in a republic, elected officials worked for the interests of the people • The people were seen as the patricians • The Senate • a groups of 300 men elected by the patricians • Served for life • Appointed other government officials • Served as judges • Consuls • Elected leaders • Shared command of the army • Advised by the Senate

5. The Plebeians Rebel • Problem • Patricians held all of the power • Only patricians could become senators or consuls • Plebeians had to obey decisions • Laws were not written down • Laws could be changed or interpreted to benefit the patricians • They had to fight in the army even though the patricians were the ones who decided whether to go to war • A small group of families held all the power in Rome • Result • Demanded more political rights • The Conflict of the Orders • Plebeians marched out of the city and camped on a nearby hill in 494 BCE • Work in the city and on farms stopped • Patricians were afraid that the army would be helpless if an enemy attacked

6. The Plebeians Gain Political Equality • Initials changes in Roman Government • Plebeians elected officials called Tribunes of the Plebs • Represented plebeians to the Senate and consuls • Gained power to veto • Number of tribunes grew from 2 to 10 • Could elect a lawmaking body, the Council of Plebs • Make laws for plebeians only

7. The Plebeians Gain Political Equality • Later changes in Roman Government • Plebeians demanded that laws be written down (451 BCE)- Twelve Tables • One of the two Roman consuls have to be a plebeian (367 BCE) • Gained the right to pass laws for all Roman citizens (287 BCE)

8. The Plebeians Gain Political Equality • Inspiration for future ages in Europe and America • Government ruled by a written constitution • Elected assemblies, citizenship, and civic duty • Model of governmental bodies that could check each other's power

9. Summary • Romans overthrew Etruscans and created a republic • The Roman Republic became more democratic over time • Rome grew from a small republic into a mighty empire