Transcript Chapter 6: Rome

The Romans Create a Republic
1.
Located on the Italian Peninsula,
which sticks out into the
Mediterranean Sea
2. Natural barriers for protection:
Alps to the north
3. Rome itself was built on the Tiber
River, which flows into the
Mediterranean Sea
4.
Soil around Rome = Fertile
5. Lay of the land around Rome: city
built on seven hills
6. Rome sits at the midpoint of the
Mediterranean Sea which allowed for
protections as well as sea-borne
trade and commerce
1.
Latins – farmers, shepherds who
settled along the Tiber River, a
region called Latium
2. Etruscans- from Northern Italy –
metalworkers and engineers,
Romans adopted their alphabet and
arch
3. Greeks – established colonies in
Southern Italy and Sicily. Romans
adopted their polytheistic religion.
According
to legend….
Romulus and Remus were
children (descendants from a
Trojan prince and the gods)
abandoned on the Tiber River
and raised by she-wolves. They
founded Rome.
1.
Etruscan kings ruled and expanded
Rome- agriculture, temples
2.
Last king of Rome was a tyrant –
Tarquin the Proud who was
overthrown by aristocrats
3.
Established a Republic –
definition: form of government in
which power rests with citizens who
vote for their leaders (freeborn
males only in Rome)
List
similarities between Rome
and Athens about how their
government evolved to reach
democracy/republic
1. Patricians – aristocratic
landowners who controlled
most of the power
Inherited
power and social
status, allowed to make laws
2. Plebians- common farmers,
artisans, merchants who made
up a majority of the population
 citizens
with the right to vote,
but could not hold government
position
Tribunes
– elected
representatives for Plebians
that served in the Senate
3. Foreigners- could be citizens
4. Slaves- no power, NOT based on
race –prisoners of war
1.
Consuls - two officials who
commanded army and directed
government
- limited power: term length –
one year, power to veto each
other
2.
Senate - aristocratic branch
of government, 300 men from
the upper class
- term length – life membership,
which provided continuity and
stability
-powers – influence over foreign
affairs and domestic policy
3.
Assemblies – more democratic side of
the government, two types
- Centuriate Assembly – all citizensoldiers for life
- powers – 1. Selected consuls
2. made laws
- Tribal Assembly – made up of plebeians
- powers – 1. Elected Tribunes
2. made laws for commoners
4.
Dictator – served only in times
of crisis for six months
- chosen by consuls and elected by
the Senate
- powers – had absolute power to
make laws and command the
army
- EX: Cincinnatus
DICTATOR
2 CONSULS
SENATE
ASSEMBLIES
CENTURIATE
Citizen-soldiers
TRIBAL
Plebeians
1.
Right to vote
2. Pay taxes
3. Serve in the military
First
written code of Rome,
serves as basis of Roman law –
Twelve Tables