The Roman Republic

1. The Roman Republic Chapter 4 “All Roads Lead to Rome.”

2. Beginning of Roman Civilization

4. “Mare Nostrum” • Italian Peninsula • Apennine Mountains – not so rugged • Mediterranean Sea

5. Early Inhabitants • Latins – south of the Tiber River near western coast. • Phoenicians, Greeks, Etruscans

6. The Founding of Rome • City of Rome – Tiber River • “League of the Seven Hills” – Latins • Legend of Romulus and Remus

7. Legend of Romulus & Remus • 753 B.C. • Twins • Heirs, usurped • Raised by a she-wolf • Shepherd • Later established the city • Fight over boundaries • Romulus kills Remus. 500—480 BC. In the Capitoline Museums, Rome, Italy

8. Early Society & Government • Basic unit of early roman society was the family. • Father was the authority. • Clan – family groups • Tribe – clan groups

9. Early Society & Government • Two Social Classes • Patricians – aristocratic class, highest positions, wealthy landowners, noble families • Plebians – common people, traders, farmers, craftsmen:

10. Early Society & Government • Early government – Monarchy, imperium • Fasces – bundle of rods with an axe, symbol of power • Kings were probably elected by the people. • Senate – a popular assembly representing the people (advised the king)

11. What is this?

12. The Early Roman Republic

13. Establishment • Etruscans invaded the Latins circa 650 B.C. • Rome grew; influence increased. • Roman nobles overthrew Etruscan monarch • Roman Republic established in 509 B.C.

14. Establishment • Three Branches: consuls, Senate, assemblies

15. Two Consuls • Supervised everyday government • Commanded army • Supreme judges • One year terms • Reserved for patricians in early republic

16. Senate • Most important and most powerful body • An aristocratic body that guarded the powers and privileges of the patrician class • 300 members, appointed for life by consuls

17. Assemblies • Wealth, birth, and place of residence determined membership and voting procedures in the assemblies • Assembly of Centuries – chief assembly of the early republic • Voted on legislation • Declared war • Elected high-ranking government officials • Note: Senate had veto power over decisions of the assemblies.

18. Struggle Within the Republic • Patricians • Held consulships • Dominated Senate & assemblies • Made most laws • Controlled courts • Plebians • Few social privileges • Virtually no voice in government • Excluded from holding public office • Marriage with patricians was prohibited. • Could be sold into slavery for debts

19. Struggle Within the Republic • 200 years of struggle for equality • External wars led to plebian power (needed in the army) • Council of Plebians – plebiscites • Office of Tribune – veto power • Plebians forced patricians to put laws in writing. • Law of Twelve Tables posted in the Roman Forum. • Gained rights • Tribal Assemble 287 B.C. pass binding laws

21. Law of Twelve Tables

22. The Mediterranean – A Roman Sea Rome: Master of Italy

23. Master of Italy Pyrrhus • Romans attacked Greek colonies on the Italian peninsula. • Pyrrhus led the Greeks with elephants to defeat the Romans twice. • Second time – great losses. • Pyrrhic victory – victory whose costs outweigh the advantage of winning • Then Rome conquered all of southern Italy.

24. Master of Italy • Rome then controlled all the Italian peninsula. • She treated conquered people with mercy and fairness, unlike most conquerors who use force and oppression. • As long as the people didn’t rebel and cause trouble, they were allowed to live in peace. • Sometimes Rome granted citizenship to conquered people. (vote, hold office) • Allowed local independence • Demanded troops from conquered people to fight more wars of conquest.

25. Rome Master of the Western Mediterranean

26. Rome versus Carthage: The Punic Wars • 264-146 B.C. Punic Wars. • Carthage had been a colony of the Phoenicians and was inhabited by Phoenician descendants. • The Latin word for Phoenicians was Punici. • Punici = > Punic Wars

27. Rome versus Carthage: The Punic Wars • Carthage • Seamanship • Hire soldiers • Romans • Strong land army • Roman soldiers fighting for home and family • Ultimately achieve victory even if at first defeated Greek historian Polybius with some pro-Roman bias

28. The First Punic War (264-241 BC)

29. The Second Punic War (218-201 BC)

30. The Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.)

31. Rome Master of the Eastern Mediterranean Chapter 4

32. After the 2nd Punic War, Rome began to expand its empire to the east conquering • Macedonia • Syria • Egypt And thus dominated the entire Mediterranean world.

33. Roman Administration • Rome organized her conquered holdings into provinces administered by governors appointed by the Roman Senate. • The provinces were left alone somewhat if they did not rebel. • They had to send taxes as tribute to Rome.

34. Rome Decline into Dictatorship

35. Internal Problems • The citizen farmers bore the military burden of Rome and had to serve as soldiers. • When they returned home, their farms needed much effort to be ready to farm again. • Many lost their land because they could not pay the taxes on it. • They became landless & unemployed and sought work in the cities.

36. Internal Problems • They were unable to find jobs because some of the people they conquered were brought in to serve as slaves. • The former farmer-soldiers became dissatisfied and restless. • The war devastated the warriors economically. • However, the aristocratic senators and patricians profited from the farmers’ loss.

37. Corruption • Some governors in the provinces used their authority for personal gain. • They hired publicans to collect taxes. The rulers would get part and the publicans would get to keep whatever else they were able to coerce out of people. • The people despised the publicans.

38. See inset on Publicans page 89.

39. Failure of Reform • Two men emerged seeking reform. • They were grandsons of Scipio, the brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. • Tiberius said of the farmer/soldiers, “They fight and die to support others in wealth and luxury, and though they are styled masters of the world, they have not a single clod of earth that is their own.”

40. Failure of Reform • The Gracchi worked to have public lands given to the poor to cultivate for food. • They also tried to have the government sell grain to the poor at reduced prices. • They were both killed by senators: one directly, the other in a staged “riot.”

41. Civil War • The Senate abandoned peaceful attempts to solve the discord within Rome and resorted to violence to maintain their power.

42. The First Civil War • Roman Senate vs. The Tribal Assembly • Sulla vs. Marius (appx. 88 B.C.) • Sulla and the Senate won this round. • Sulla had himself declared dictator.

43. The Second Civil War • Crassus – commander in Sulla’s army & very rich. • Pompey – another of Sulla’s commanders who gained the support of the powerful Senate. • Julius Caesar – general, politician, very popular with the common people. • Formed a triumvirate (rule of three).

44. The Second Civil War • Julius Caesar • Governor of Gaul (modern France) • Led a powerful & loyal army • Military campaigns through Gaul & Britain • Sent written reports of his accomplishments to Rome (Commentaries on the Gallic Wars).

45. The Second Civil War • Crassus was killed in battle in Asia. • Pompey sought to take control with the support of the Senate which ordered Caesar to return to Rome and disband his army. • Caesar returned to Rome, crossed the Rubicon River, and by marching his army to Rome declared war on Pompey and the Roman Senate.

46. The phrase “crossing the Rubicon” means making a fateful decision from which there is no turning back.

47. The Second Civil War • Pompey and many senators fled to Greece and then to Egypt where he was killed. • Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life.

48. Caesarean Reforms • Curbed corruption in the provincial governments. • Established colonies for the landless army vets. • Granted citizenship to many non-Italians living in Rome’s new colonies. • Initiated public works projects. • Established the Julian calendar.

49. Assassination • Evidence suggests that Caesar planned to make himself king. • Romans prided themselves on their republic and would not tolerate a king. • Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15) 44 B.C. • Et tu Brute?

50. The Third Civil War • Mark Antony and Octavian joined forces to avenge Caesar’s death. • First, they divided the empire: Octavian ruled the west; Mark Antony the east. • They soon turned on each other and fought a decisive naval battle at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. with Octavian the victor.