Transcript Powerpoint 1

The Roman Republic
& the Punic Wars
Hypothetical reconstruction of Roman Forum in Imperial times.
Watercolor (18th century), Giuseppe Becchetti
Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy
& the Mediterranean World?
-Journal: 3 Ideas
Ancient Italy
(c. 6th century B.C.)
PEOPLE:
The Latins
-Rome: “The First Romans”
The Etruscans
-Northern Italy
-Urbanized Rome:
Building Programs (the Forum)
-Influence on Romans:
the arch, alphabet
The Greeks
-Southern Italy and Sicily
-Influence on Romans:
art, architecture, literature,
..government, engineering
GEOGRAPHY:
-Tiber River & Mediterranean Sea
-Fertile Soil & Strategic Location
Excerpt from Livy’s
The Early History of Rome
Think about…
• What danger did the Romans face?
• What did Horatius do to defend the
Romans?
• What qualities does Horatius demonstrate
in this passage?
• What is the moral of Livy’s account? What
can we infer about Roman values based
on this?
Beliefs & Values:
Military Valor
Government:
Republic
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
• 509 B.C., Romans rejected Etruscan king
(monarchy) and established a republic.
– Power rests with the citizens who have the right to
vote for their leaders.
– In Rome, citizenship with voting rights was granted
only to free-born male citizens.
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
STRUGGLE FOR POWER: CLASS CONFLICT
• Patricians- wealthy landowners who held
most of the power: inherited power and
social status
• Plebeians- (Plebs) common farmers,
artisans and merchants who made up the
majority of the population: can vote, but
can’t rule
–Tribunes- elected representatives who
protect plebeians’ political rights.
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
A “Balanced” Government
• Rome elects two consuls– one to lead army,
one to direct government
• Senate- chosen from patricians (Roman upper
class), make foreign and domestic policy
• Popular assemblies elect tribunes, make laws
for plebeians (commoners)
• Dictators- leaders appointed briefly in times of
crisis (appt. by consuls and senate)
republic:
Power & AuthorityTHE ROMAN REPUBLIC
Led by
Legallyruled
ruled by by
Legally
Led by
was a
Leaders elected by
Leaders elected by
Consuls:
*
Twelve Tables:
*
Citizens:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Advise by
selected by
advised by
Selected by
Advised by
advised by
Senate:
*aristocrats:
Centuriate Assembly:
*citizen-soldiers:
Tribal Assembly:
*tribunes:
*patricians:
*
*plebeians:
*
*
*
The Roman Republic (509 B.C. – 27 B.C.)
THE TWELVE TABLES
• 451 B.C., officials carve Roman laws on
twelve tablets and hung in Forum.
• Laws confirm right of all free citizens to
protection of the law
• Become the basis for later Roman law
The Twelve Tables:
Primary Source Review
• What can we infer about Roman values
based on the laws cited in the Twelve
Tables?
• How do the Twelve Tables compare to
modern laws in the United States?
Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy
& the Mediterranean World?
Military Organization:
The Roman Army
The Roman Army
• All citizens were required
to serve
• Army was powerful:
– Organization & fighting skill
• Legion- military unit of
5,000 infantry (foot
soldiers) supported by
cavalry (horseback)
Rome Spreads its Power
• Romans defeat
Etruscans in north
and Greek citystates in south
• Treatment of
Conquered:
– Forge alliances
– Offer citizenship
• By 265 B.C., Rome
controls Italian
peninsula
Rome’s Commercial Network
• Rome establishes a large trading network
• Access to Mediterranean Sea provides
many trade routes
• Carthage, powerful city-state in North
Africa, soon rivals Rome
Military Organization:
The Punic Wars
Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
• Three Wars between
Rome and Carthage
• 1st Punic War- Rome
gains control of Sicily &
western Mediterranean
Sea.
The destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.
New York Public Library Picture Collection
Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
• 2nd Punic WarCarthaginian General
Hannibal’s “surprise”
attack through Spain &
France
The destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.
New York Public Library Picture Collection
– 60,000 soldiers and 60
elephants
– Romans experience severe
losses, but eventually ward
off attacks & invade North
Africa
Hannibal's troops crossing the Rhone River on their way to attack northern Italy.
Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.)
• 3rd Punic War- Rome
seizes Carthage
– Scipio- Roman Strategist
– Conquered people sold into
slavery
The destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.
New York Public Library Picture Collection
Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy
& the Mediterranean World? (Give a few reasons and explain)
Do you think the Roman Republic owed its success more to its
form of government, or its army? Why?
How does Rome’s rise to power relate to modern efforts to gain
power and authority?
Forthcoming…
• How did the struggle for power between
patricians and plebeians affect the Roman
Republic?
• How does leadership impact the power
and authority of a nation/republic/empire?
– Julius Caesar
– Augustus
– The Good & Bad Emperors
– Diocletian & Constantine