Roman Origins and Early Political Structures

6th Grade UBD - Unit 7 - Roman Origins and Early Political Structures Roman Origins and Early Political Structures

Preview • Rome’s Early Influences- The ancient Greek and Etruscan cultures greatly influenced the early city of Rome. • The Roman Republic- The Roman Republic was a government in which the people elected their leaders. • The Punic Wars- Between 264 and 146 BCE, Rome fought three wars against the powerful city of Carthage. They are known as the Punic Wars.

Reach Into Your Background • In your own words identify and explain what laws are. Then analyze why people have laws written down and how laws affect your life. (5 minutes)

Partner Activity • Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Ideas- Rome’s Early Influences • According to the Roman legends, descendants of the Trojan hero Aeneas founded Rome. • Rome was ruled by Etruscan kings, who had overthrown the Latin kings. • The Romans may have adopted the Etruscan alphabet. They also may have taken on Etruscan and Greek gods. Their political philosophy came from Greece. • The cultures that influenced Rome in its early history helped create Roman political philosophy and society. These have, in turn, affected many modern cultures.

The More You Know • The official language of the ancient Romans was Latin. • Latin is the basis for a number of different languages, including Italian, French, and Spanish.

The Aeneid Video- The Aeneid

Key Term The Aeneid- A poem, written by Virgil, that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, in search of a new home, which he found in Rome.

The Roots of Roman Civilization • Much information about the Romans comes from Roman historians and poets. Virgil, a Roman writer, describes the story of Rome’s creation in his epic poem, The Aeneid.

The Roots of Roman Civilization • The Aeneid, which follows Trojan War hero Aeneas as he leaves Troy and settles in central Italy. • According to Virgil, one of Aeneas’s descendants, Romulus, built the city of Rome.

The Aeneid Reading Handout- The Aeneid

The Etruscans Video- The Etruscans

Key Term The Etruscans- The Etruscans lived on the Italian peninsula. Although Rome flourished under the Etruscans, the Romans rebelled and overthrew the Etruscans in 509 BCE.

The Roots of Roman Civilization • Greek culture, politics, religion, and philosophy influenced the Romans, as did the Etruscans who had already settled in Italy.

The Etruscans • The Etruscans were responsible for many of Rome’s large temples and the Roman Forum. • They also gave the Romans their alphabet, numerals, fashion, and art.

The Etruscans • Both the Greeks and the Etruscans influenced Roman religion, and it was dissatisfaction with the Etruscan king Tarquinius Superbus that prompted the Romans to establish a new form of government.

Key Ideas- The Roman Republic • Roman citizens had certain rights and responsibilities. • Patricians had most of the power at first. However, over time, plebeians fought for and won a major role in their government. • Rome’s government was made up of three parts. Each had the ability to limit the power of the other parts. • Romans created a written code of laws to be sure that people were treated fairly.

Key Term Republic- A form of government in which people elect their leaders.

Key Term The Roman Republic- A period of the ancient Roman civilization when the government operated as a republic and began to expand, conquering nearby Etruscan states until Rome ruled all of central Italy.

Creating A Republic Video- Creating A Republic

The Roman Republic • After Tarquinius Superbus was removed from power, the Roman people needed a new form of government. • In about 509 BCE, Romans established a republic.

The Roman Republic • A republic, which is a form of government in which people elect their leaders. • Although the new government gave the Roman people more power than they had had under Tarquinius, it was not truly democratic.

The Roman Republic • Three social classes made up Roman society. • These classes were the patricians, the plebeians, and the slaves.

The Roman Republic • Of the three social classes present in Rome at the time—wealthy patricians, common plebeians, and slaves—only patricians could hold office.

The Roman Republic • The plebeians were allowed to vote in elections, but they were not allowed full participation in government. • This angered the plebeians, and they threatened to create a new city with its own government.

The Roman Republic • Eventually, the plebeians were able to vote and hold office as magistrates, senators, or members of the assembly. • These three branches divided power and responsibility.

The Roman Republic • Additionally, the Senate had the power to appoint a dictator to lead the republic for a period of six months during times of war and crisis.

Key Term Dictator- One ruler with total control over the government.

The Roman Republic • The new structure shared similarities with the government of ancient Athens, which had a Council of 500 and an assembly, but a key difference was that Athens was a direct democracy while Rome was a representative government.

Principles of Democracy • The new Roman government served as a model for many later governments, including the government of the United States. • No one person or group could hold all the power, and government responsibilities were divided among several branches.

Principles of Democracy • The U.S. government is separated into three branches. • Each branch has its own powers. These are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Principles of Democracy • Rome’s government did not have exactly the same structure as the United States has today. • Rome divided the responsibility of governing among three different groups. These were the magistrates and consuls, the senate, and the assembly.

Code of Laws • The Romans also started the democratic tradition of recording written laws. In 451 and 450 BCE, Rome’s first written laws were produced on 12 bronze tablets.

Code of Laws • Known as the Law of the Twelve Tables, the laws were displayed in the Roman Forum for all to see. • Written laws remain an important foundation of the governments in many countries today.

Learning from the Past Video- Learning from the Past

The Republic Then and Now Reading Handout- The Republic Then and Now

Key Ideas- The Punic Wars • In the first Punic War, Rome built up its navy and gained the island of Sicily. It also gained power in the Mediterranean Sea. • In the second Punic War, the brilliant Carthaginian leader Hannibal almost captured Rome. In the last Punic War, Rome defeated and destroyed Carthage. • Through the Punic Wars, Rome gained power over the Mediterranean and a large amount of territory in North Africa and southern Europe. This growth of power began the spread of the Roman Empire.

Key Term Punic Wars- Rome and Carthage fought a series of three wars in 264–146 BCE. They were battling for control of the Mediterranean Sea. At the time, Carthage was also called the Punic Empire.

The Punic Wars • The Punic Wars began the spread of Roman influence. Because Rome wanted to control Mediterranean shipping lanes owned by Carthage, three wars, collectively known as the Punic Wars, began.

The Punic Wars • In the first war, Rome gained control of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. • In the second war, Rome gained control of modern-day Spain and several of the Mediterranean islands.

The Punic Wars • The final war lasted for two years and resulted in Rome’s taking control of Carthage and all its former territory in Northern Africa. • Rome then owned most of the land adjacent to the Mediterranean sea.

Independent Activity • What has been the “muddiest” point so far in this lesson? That is, what topic remains the least clear to you? (4 minutes)

Partner Activity • Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Roman Origins and Early Political Structures