Transcript Roman Republic

Warm-up
• Describe what Hellenistic culture is.
Roman Republic
Rome Map
• p. 151 and p. 156 for the maps
• Things I also want you to mark on this map:
– Greece
– Mesopotamia (just off the map, so point an arrow
in its direction)
– Mediterranean Sea
– Shade in areas controlled by Rome
• What differences do you see between the
geography of Rome and Greece?
Beginning of Rome
• Founded on area in
central Italy with 7 hills
• Originally a kingdom
• Tarquin the Proud – last
king of Rome
– Abuses his power
• After, Romans say,
“Never again will one
person rule Rome.”
• Rome forms a republic
What is a republic?
• Republic – form of government where power
is in the hands of citizens who vote on their
representatives
– Does this sound familiar?
• What’s the difference between a democracy
and a republic?
• Patricians – upper class – considered
themselves the ancestors of Rome’s founders
• Plebeians – common people in Rome
Roman System -- based on balance of interests
Monarchical
Aristocratic
Democratic
2 Consuls
+ other magistrates
Senate
Assembly of Tribes
Tribune
Directed government
and army
Controlled state
budget
Approved/rejected
laws
Acted as judges
Could pass laws
Decided on War
Could issue edicts
Tribune could veto
actions of magistrate
Acted as chief priest
Acted as final court
Basis of power:
Basis of power:
Basis of power:
possess imperium, the
right to rule
members were richest
men in Rome.
provided most of the
soldiers
Limits on power:
Limits on power:
Limits on power:
one year term
could not control
army
Could not suggest
laws
needed majority as
soldiers.
often paid as clients
by the elite
need for leadership
each could veto
Checks and Balances
• Checks and Balances - System meant to
prevent one person or group from getting too
much power
• In Rome, three groups, all have the ability to
limit the powers of the other two groups
– United States has similar system
– 3 branches of government, none have complete
power of government
U.S. Checks and Balances
Roman Army
• Legions – improvement
on phalanx
• Fight in groups – much
better organized, and
better weapons and
armor
• Use army to take over
Italy, begin to control
trade on Mediterranean
Sea
• http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=zgywD3XJaWU
Punic Wars
• Carthage a rival of Athens
from North Africa
• 264 BCE – 1st Punic War –
Rome defeats Carthage
– Fought over control of island
of Sicily
• 218 BCE – 2nd Punic War –
Rome wins again
– Led by general named
Hannibal, tried to attack
Rome by leading army
through the Alps
– Works at first, but Rome
attacks Carthage, burns it to
the ground, sells people into
slavery
Twelve Tables
• Twelve Tables - Roman
set of laws
– Similar to Code of
Hammurabi – post the
laws so that everyone
knew them
– Attempt to make fair
laws for people to
follow