Transcript The Roman Republic - Wando High School

The Roman Republic
Romulus and Remus
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Roman legend
City founded in 753 BC
Twin sons of the god Mars
and a princess
They were abandoned on the
Tiber River as infants
Raised by a she-wolf
Built the city near the spot
where they had been rescued
This statue is the symbol of
Rome.
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Why do you think the myth of the twins
has endured for so long?
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It implies Rome was established by the
gods and would survive against all odds.
Geography
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Built on 7 rolling hills at
a curve on the Tiber
River
Near center of the Italian
Peninsula
Midpoint of the
“Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot
Mediterranean Sea
for the site of our city—the [salubrious] hills, the river to
bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne
Advantage: central
commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for
convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from
location and fertile soil foreign fleets, our situation in the very heart of Italy—all
these advantages make it of all places in the world the best
for a city destined to grow great.”
LIVY, The Early History of Rome
Three Groups Settle Rome
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Latins
First Romans
1000-500 BC founded
original settlement of
Rome
Farmers and herders
who lived in huts on top
of Rome’s hills
8th c. BC urn
The Greeks
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750-600 BC established 50
colonies on coasts of
southern Italy & Sicily
Taught Romans how to
grow grapes & olives
Columns
Mosaics
Roman gods, legends same
as Greeks, however w/
different names
Etruscans
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Native to northern Italy
Skilled metalworkers & engineers
Had a system of writing
Introduced the use of the arch
Etruscan dress: the toga and cloak
Also produced sculptures from terra-cotta, limestone, sandstone, and
ivory
Since modern cities sit atop many Etruscan settlements, very little
excavation has been done, and has been limited primarily to tombs.
From Etruscan King to Republic
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600 BC Etruscan kings began to rule Rome
Kings order the construction of Rome’s first
temples and public bldgs
Including the FORUM
The Forum
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Heart of political life
Used as a marketplace and meeting place for the senate;
law courts, parades, banks, shops and civic center
Forum
Today
Rome’s last king
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In 509 BC, the harsh king, Tarquin the Proud
was overthrown by the wealthy Roman
aristocrats
Romans declared they would never be ruled
by a king again
Swore to put to death anyone who plotted to
make himself king
The New Government
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Create a Republic
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Means “public affairs” in
Latin
Form of government in
which citizens elect
their leaders
(representatives)
Leader is not a monarch
Groups struggle for power
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Patricians (Will make up the senate at first)
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Plebeians
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Aristocratic landowner who held most power
Inherited power & social status
Commoners, artisans, merchants
Majority of population
Had right to vote, but barred from holding important gov’t
positions
Tribunes
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Elected representatives that protected the rights of the
plebeians from unfair acts
Part of an assembly
Roman Law
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451 BC Rome’s first code of
laws were carved on 12
tablets & hung in Forum
The “Twelve Tables”
became the basis for later
Roman law
Established the idea that
all free citizens had a right
to protection of the law
Citizenship is limited to
adult male landowners
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What was the advantage to writing down
the laws?
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Everyone who was able to read could
know what the law said.
Government under the Republic
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Consuls in place of kings
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Elected 2 officials
Served for 1 year but can’t be reelected for 10 years
Commanded army and directed
gov’t
Could always overrule or veto the
other’s decisions
Senate
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300 members chosen for life
Chosen from upper class
Legislative & administrative
functions
Makes foreign and domestic policy
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Compare with chart on p. 156
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Centuriate Assembly
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Tribal Assembly
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Citizen-soldiers are members for
life
Less powerful than Senate
Appoint consuls, make laws
Elect tribunes & make laws
(Plebeians)
Dictator
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Leader who had absolute power
to make laws & command army
Lasted for 6 months
Chosen by consuls & elected by
Senate in time of crisis
The Roman Army
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All citizens who owned land
required to serve
10 yrs. of service required in
order to hold office
Legions
 Military units of 5,000
heavily armed infantry
 Cavalry supported each
legion
 Divided into smaller groups:
80 men = century
(Centurion at right)
 Strength is in their flexibility
 Military organization &
fighting skill were the key
factors to their rise
Roman Soldier
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Soldiers were road builders as
well as fighters.
Carried short stabbing sword
(gladius), a dagger (sica), heavy and
light javelins (pila), a helmet, a shirt
of chain mail, or later, armor made
of segmented plates, and a shield
(scutum). Under it all they wore a
tunic.
When on campaign, each soldier
carried all his own equipment,
plus tools, bedding, cooking
pots, and enough food for three
days.
Rome Conquers Italy
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Romans defeat Etruscans in north and Greek
city-states in south
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By 265 BC Rome controls Italian peninsula
Conquered peoples treated justly
Latins and those close to city given full citizenship
 Farther conquered peoples enjoyed rights of
citizenship but not given right to vote
 Some became allies of Rome and only had to supply
men to the army
 Enables Rome to grow
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Rome’s Commercial Network
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Rome establishes large
trading network
Access to Mediterranean
Sea provides many trade
routes
Carthage, powerful
city-state in North
Africa, soon rivals
Rome
Punic Wars with Carthage
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“Punic” comes from the Latin word for Phoencian punicus
1st Punic War: 264-241 BCRomans send an army and navy to Sicily b/c feared
Carthage control so close to Italian Peninsula
Rome defeats Carthage and gets Sicily, Sardinia, and
Corsica
Second Punic War 218-202 BC
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Hannibal
Carthaginia general
Attacks Italy through Spain ,
France, and Alps
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Battle of Cannae
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Army of 46,000 men , horses,
and 37 elephants
Lost most of elephants
40,000 Romans lost
Hannibal spent decade
waging war on peninsula
Doesn’t take Rome
Defeat of Hannibal
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Hannibal spent decade waging war
on peninsula
Doesn’t take Rome
Scipio
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Roman general decides to invade
Carthage rather than fight him in Italy
Force Hannibal to return to defend
homeland
Hannibal is defeated at Battle of
Zama in 202 BC
He commits suicide rather than
submit to Rome
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How did Scipio use Hannibal’s love for
Carthage as a weapon?
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He forced Hannibal to choose between
defending his home and conquering Rome.
Third Punic Wars 149-146 BC
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146 BC Rome destroys
Carthage
10 Days they burn, and
demolish city buildings
50,000 men, women, and
children enslaved.
Take Carthage as a province
Roman victory gave it
domination over the western
Mediterranean.