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THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
RVCS World History
THE FOUNDING OF ROME
o The Etruscans—They came to Italy around the 9th century B.C. (800s)
and established one of Italy’s earliest civilizations. In time, the Etruscans
would compete with Greece over trading.
o [video] http://news.discovery.com/history/videos/archaeology-ancient-etruscanhouse-discovered.htm
o “League of the Seven Hills”—During the 8th century B.C., seven
villages near the Tiber River formed a league, which was the basis for
the city of Rome.
o Romulus & Remus—According to Roman legend, these twin brothers
were placed in a basket to be drowned in the Tiber River. However, a
wolf saved the boys and cared for them until a shepherd took them in.
A fight broke out between the twins, with Romulus killing Remus to
become the city of Rome’s king.
o [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jToagTve4hs
PATRICIANS & PLEBEIANS
o Patricians—This class of people was composed of wealthy landholders and noble
families (a class of privilege).
o Plebeians—These were the “common people,” such as farmers, traders, and
craftsmen.
o [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WloGfLtQCKI
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REPUBLIC (509 B.C.)
o Republic (3 Main Branches)—This new form of government overthrew the monarchy.
o 1- Consuls—These two representatives supervised the everyday affairs of government, commanded the
Roman army, and served as the supreme judges of the land. Actions required both consuls to agree with one
another.
o 2- Senate—This group of 300 members went from serving in advisement to being quite powerful, such as
having control over the government’s finances and passing laws.
o 3- Assemblies—Throughout the Republic, there were assemblies that essentially worked alongside (but
sometimes opposed to) the Senate.
o The Tribune—With conflicts between the patricians and plebeians, a new office called the
“tribune” was made. The Council of Plebeians had the power to elect 10 men to become
tribunes.
o “Veto” Power—This power allowed tribunes to forbid actions from the Senate.
FIRST PUNIC WAR (264-241 B.C.)
o [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxbWtzCOxv8
o “Punic”—This term comes from the nickname for “Phoenicians” (since Carthage was a
Phoenician settlement). They were called the “Ponics,” but eventually the term
morphed into “Punic.”
o Background—While Rome continued to take over more territory within the Italian
peninsula, they had fears that the city of Carthage, the strongest city-state in the
Mediterranean world, would threaten their expansion on the island of Sicily.
o Copycats—Rome used the design of a captured Carthaginian warship to construct
their own boats.
o Winner—Rome won round 1 (the 1st of 3 Punic Wars)
SECOND PUNIC WAR (218-201 B.C.)
o Carthage Fights Back—After recovering from the First Punic War, Carthage attacked a
Roman ally town in Spain. In return, Rome sent one army to Spain and one to Carthage.
o Hannibal—He was the brilliant military commander for Carthage that attempted to invade
the Italian peninsula (to “liberate” conquered peoples of Rome) and then take Rome itself.
o Battle of Cannae—Even though Hannibal’s Carthaginians were outnumbered 2-to-1, through
skilled tactics he utterly vanquished the defending Romans in this small town, southeast of
Rome.
o [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_7dtbp-0nQ
o Scipio—This tremendously underrated Roman commander defeated forces in Spain, and then
continued on to defeat Hannibal who had returned to Carthage for defense. Carthage lost the
war, and was forced to give up all territories outside of North Africa, reduce their fleet to just
ten vessels, and pay Rome a large sum of money.
THIRD PUNIC WAR (149-146 B.C.)
o Cato—This famous Roman senator rallied Rome to take action against Carthage,
which was recovering surprisingly well from the Second Punic War.
o Ultimatum—Rome demanded that Carthage move their city ten miles inland (which
would have been basically impossible). The Carthaginians responded by starting
another war with Rome, but they were much too weakened by this time to be a true
threat.
o Aftermath—After a three year siege, the Romans captured Carthage and
completely destroyed it. They even plowed up the land, sowed the ground with salt,
and sold the surviving inhabitants into slavery.
o [video, m 2:42; 6:50] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1-913gAAvI
PROBLEMS WITHIN THE REPUBLIC
o Publicans—These men were appointed by the Roman Senate to collect taxes from
each Roman province. Publicans charged citizens the fixed rate of Rome, but then
however much extra for themselves to keep as payment.
o Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus—These brothers were the grandchildren of Scipio, and
were responsible for bringing in reforms to Roman government and society.
o Tiberius attempted to pass laws that provided public lands to the poor and to limit the amount of land
one could own. In response, angry and powerful senators killed Tiberius and about 300 of his
followers.
o Gaius sought to avenge his brother’s death by carrying his principles in government. He too lost his life
by violent action when a riotous mob, planned by his senatorial enemies, came to him. (though some
accounts say he committed suicide to keep from falling into the hands of the senatorial forces)
ST
1
CIVIL WAR
o Marius—Following the deaths of the Gracchi brothers, the common people looked
to a man named Marius as their leader, a former military hero.
o Sulla—When fighting broke out in Asia Minor around 88 B.C., the Senate appointed
a man named Sulla as general—Sulla also happened to be sympathetic to the recent
Senate drama. Meanwhile, the Tribal Assembly rejected the Senate’s choice and
appointed Marius instead.
o The Outcome—A civil war broke out due to the conflicts between the Tribal
Assembly and Senate, but Sulla and the Senate wound up as the victors.
ND
2
CIVIL WAR (THE PEOPLE)
o Crassus & Pompey—These two commanders who had served in Sulla’s army
competed for fame and power after Sulla’s death.
o Julius Caesar—He was the nephew of Marius, and was widely popular with the
common people (who originally were supported by the Tribal Assembly).
o Triumvirate—This literally meant “rule of three men”: Crassus, Pompey, and Julius
Caesar.
ND
2
CIVIL WAR (THE EVENTS)
o Gaul—Julius Caesar was appointed governor of Gaul (modern France), where he trained a
well-disciplined and loyal army.
o Crossing the Rubicon—Julius Caesar and his army crossed the Rubicon River (northern Italy)
to fight Pompey and the Senate (Crassus died in the meantime). Nowadays, the phrase
“Crossing the Rubicon” refers to making a major decision that crosses a point of no return.
o [video] http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/mark-antony/videos/ask-history-what-does-it-meanto-cross-the-rubicon
o Julius Caesar Wins—Pompey’s army was no match for Julius Caesar’s. Pompey then fled for
Egypt, where he was later killed.
o Assassination—Despite Julius Caesar’s popularity, he also had bitter enemies. On the “Ides”
(15th) of March, 44 B.C., a group of conspirators assassinated Julius Caesar in the Senate
chamber. Hence, we have the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March.” (thanks, Shakespeare)
WHY DID YOU KILL HIM, BRUTUS?
o Family Drama—Brutus’s mother, Servilia, was a mistress to Julius Caesar
o Political Drama—Brutus seemed to have hated how greatly the Romans adored
Julius Caesar, and hated his dictatorial rule
RD
3
CIVIL WAR
o Mark Antony—He was a friend to Julius Caesar that ruled the eastern part of the republic.
o Octavian—He was Julius Caesar’s nephew and only male relative that was given the western
part of the republic. (sister was Octavia)
o Cleopatra—She was the queen of Egypt that, while not married to Mark Antony, bore him
three children.
o War—Due to the family conflicts and fight for power, Mark Antony and Octavian went to
war. After losing, both Octavian and Cleopatra committed suicide. That left Mark Antony as
sole ruler over the Roman Empire.
o [Cleopatra Video] http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/julius-caesar/videos/cleopatra
o Roman Empire—Historians usually refer to the Battle of Actium (31 B.C.) to the Fall of Rome
(A.D. 476) as the era of the Roman Empire.
WEST
EAST
Octavian
Marc Antony
Octavia (wife of
Marc Antony;
sister to
Octavian)
Cleopatra (mistress
of Marc Antony)
JULIUS CAESAR DVD
M 8:13
(0-16:32; 2:42:00-2:55:23)