The Roman Republic

1. The Roman Republic “All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in Rome . . .” How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?

2. The History of Rome in 2 Minutes!

3. The Founding of Rome • Let’s read about it! Woof!

4. The Site of Rome • Legend has it that Romulus built Rome on the Palentine Hill – one of the Seven Hills of Rome Fortresses & Government Romulus Rome's Elite Remus

5. Geography & Rome • People settled on seven hills along the Tiber River between 1000-900 BCE • Called Latins or Italics • Many geographical advantages: • Easy to defend • Fertile soil • Access to rivers allows for trade in the Mediterranean Sea • Other more powerful societies controlled the rest of the Italian peninsula • Example: Greeks and Etruscans

6. Ancient Roman History… • Can be broken into three “eras” • For over 200 years, Rome was a Kingdom • For about 500 years, Rome was a Republic • For about 500 years, Rome was an Empire

7. “Roman” Kingdom Really Etruscan Kingdom

8. Roman Republic

9. Roman Empire

10. The Etruscans • Early kings of Rome • Not much is known as their written works did not survive • Who were they? • Most developed Latin/Italic people • Located in northern, central Italy • Most likely descendants of modern-day Turkey and native Italian population • By 6th century BCE they were the most powerful city state (modeled after the Greek system)

11. Romans Take Control • Romans resented the all-powerful Etruscan kings who gave them no say in their government • 509 BCE the Romans revolted against LuciusTarquiniusSuperbus • Result: End of the Etruscan kings Super

12. Romans Take Control • Romans keep many Etruscan ideas: • Hierarchy of Gods (Greek in origin) • Alphabet (also Greek in origin) • Toga • I told you they “borrowed” freely from other cultures! Toga! Toga! Toga!

13. Rome…The America of the Ancient World Yum, Etruscan! A spoonful of Persian Just a smidgen of Phoenician A dollop of Egyptian A heaping portion of Greek Goin’ back for Greek seconds!

14. Romans Form a Republic • Romans never wanted a king again or any government with a single ruler • Establish a Republic…what is it? • “Republic” literally comes from a Roman term Res Publica, or “the public concern” or “public affairs” • This essentially translates to sharing all power

15. Romans Form a Republic • By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula • The Republican Government consisted of… 1. The Consuls • Two chief officials who led the government • Appointed to perform the duties that, prior to them, the king was responsible for, like military authority and ensuring civic welfare and acting as chief diplomat and religious authority. • Elected once a year; Each had equal power; could veto the other

16. Romans Form a Republic • By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula • The Republican Government consisted of… • 2. The Senate • Originally advisors to the king • Chosen by consuls • 300 upper-class patricians • Members for life • Most powerful part of the government • Deliberated on and voted on laws (consuls proposed) • The model for the US government

17. Romans Form a Republic • What were the pros of this system compared to monarchy? • What possible problems could this lead to? CONS PROS

18. Romans Form a Republic • Dictator • Roman official who had all the power of a king, but could only hold office for 6 months • Used only in dire emergencies • Praetors • Junior consuls who helped develop first rules for Roman judicial system (courts)

19. The People of Rome • Patricians – Members of wealthy families; only people eligible for the Senate • Plebeians – everyone else in ancient Rome (except the patricians) from well-to-do tradesmen all the way down to the very poor

20. Patricians & Plebs • Similarities : • Both paterfamilias • Both could own slaves • Citizens of Rome were adult freemen from both classes - plebs and patricians. • Women, children, and slaves were not citizens • Differences: • Did not mix socially • Illegal for plebs and patricians to marry • Lifestyles were very different • Patricians very wealthy and lived an opulent lifestyle, plebs did not

21. Problems With the System? • The Senate (power) was only open to patrician families • Plebeians resented the Senate who: • Took riches from war • Created prosperous farms run by slaves • Left many plebian famers unemployed • Reaction: Plebeians refuse to serve in the military in protest!

22. Concessions to the Plebeians • Twelve Tables – 450 BCE; a board of 10 men were entrusted to draw up a basic legal tradition and publish them on wood (later bronze) to be placed in the forum • Creation of the Assembly – an elected body that had 10Tribunesto discuss and decide issues on behalf of Plebeians • Plebs could marry into Patrician families • Eventually Senators could be Plebs (but very uncommon)

23. The Assembly Evolves • Eventually the Assembly was given the power to elect the two consuls every year… • So…what would be the impact?!?

24. Dictator in times of extreme need (6 months) Appoints Appointed by Consul Advises Consuls Elected by Assembly Senate Assembly

25. The Roman Military • Roman army had 30 Legions • Each Legion had about 5,500 men • Each Legion was divided into 10 units called Cohorts • The First Cohort consisted of approximately 800 men • Had “specialists” such as blacksmiths or engineers • The other 9 Cohorts consisted of approximately 480 men • Each Cohort was divided into 6 Centuries of about 80 men • Each Century was commanded by a Centurion • The First Cohort only had 5 centuries