Transcript ROMAN GOVERNMENT (The Republic)

Senate Building
The Republic becomes more
Democratic
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5th-3rd Centuries BC
plebeians gain considerable political power
codification of the Twelve Tables
Plebeians threaten to walk out of the city
patricians and plebeians willingly
compromised for the good of the Republic
Rome gains control of Italy
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In a series of wars Rome conquered the Italian
peninsula
Pyhrric War
Conquered Italy because of powerful armies,
ability to move troops, and wise treatment of
conquered peoples.
Pyhrrus
Carthage
Rome Conquers the
Mediterranean
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Carthage
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Rome’s chief rival: modern day Tunisia
Originally a Phoenician (Punic) colony
Carthaginians attacked Roman trading vessels
Roman merchants demanded protection
First Punic War (264-246 BC)
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Fought on Sicily
Rome annexed Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia
Rome used citizen soldiers, Carthage used
mercenaries
Which type of soldier tends to be more loyal?
Hannibal VS. Scipio
Second Punic War (218-201 BC)
Second Punic War (218-201 BC)
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Carthaginian General Hannibal leads an army
from Spain across the Alps and into Italy:
Stopped north of Rome
Roman fleet headed for Carthage; Hannibal
called back to defend the homeland
Battle of Zama-Roman General Scipio
defeated Hannibal near Carthage
Rome annexed Carthage’s Spanish provinces
Cato, The Elder
Third Punic War (149-146)
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Cato, A Roman senator, ended all of his
speeches with “Carthage must be destroyed”
In 146 BC Roman forces burned and destroyed
Carthage and annexed the territory.
By 30 BC Rome managed to conquer the
entire Mediterranean region including
Macedonia, Greece, and Egypt
Rome After the Punic Wars
(Early Republic)
Patricians
(Aristocrats)
Plebeians
•Farmers
•Merchants
•Artisans
Freedmen
Slaves
•City Slaves
•Household Slaves
ROMAN GOVERNMENT (The Republic)
Legislative Branch
Assembly of
Centuries
Senate
Assembly of
Tribes
•300 members
•Declared War & Peace
•Most powerful branch
•Elected Magistrates
•Controlled public funds
•Made Political Appointments
•Made up by Plebeians
•Elected 10 Tribunes who
had veto power over
Senate & magistrates
Executive Branch (Magistrates)
2
Consuls
2
Censors
•Elected to 1 year terms
•Commanded Military
•Presided over Senate
•Ran Daily Government
•Could Veto each other
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Dictator
•Elected only during
crisis
•Absolute Power
•Served 6 month terms
•Conducted Census
•Assessed Taxes
•Supervised Morals
Judicial Branch
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetors created Roman law through court decisions
ROMAN GOVERNMENT (The Republic)
Legislative Branch
Senate
Assembly of
Tribes
•300 members
•Most powerful branch
•Controlled public funds
•Made Political
Appointments
Assembly of
Centuries
•Made up by
Plebeians
•Elected 10
Tribunes who had
veto power over
Senate and
Magistrates
•Declared War & Peace
•Elected Magistrates
ROMAN GOVERNMENT (The Republic)
Executive Branch (Magistrates)
2
Consuls
2
Censors
Dictator
•Elected to 1 year terms •Conducted Census
•Commanded Military •Assessed Taxes
•Presided over Senate
•Supervised Morals
•Ran Daily Government
•Could Veto each other
•Elected only
during crisis
•Absolute Power
•Served 6 month
terms
Judicial Branch
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetor
Praetors created Roman law through court decisions
Roman Expansion
(133 BC - 27 BC)
Conquered territories became known
as Provinces
Provinces were ruled by governors
known as Proconsuls who were
appointed by the Senate and had
great power
Tax collectors known as Publicans
collected heavy taxes from provinces.
They collected more than required
and kept the excess. This corrupt
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Collapse of the Small Farmer
Small farmers were the backbone of
Roman military
After wars of expansion they
returned to desolated farms
Unable to afford repairs, they were
forced to sell to large landowners
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Disparities of Wealth
Nobles grew wealthier by expanding
their estates
They lived lives of luxury and ease
 The poor became poorer
Hard work, discipline, and
patriotism, began to disappear
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Growth of Slavery
Many conquered enemies became
slaves
Nobles began using them on their
estates rather than paying workers
Unemployment grew among citizens
because of slavery
Slaves outnumbered citizens
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Migration to the Cities
Small farmers who sold land were
forced to move to cities in search of
work
Cities suffered severe
unemployment and overcrowding.
Slums developed.
Roman government had to set up a
welfare program to support the poor
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Corruption in the Provinces
Roman officials appointed to govern
the provinces were corrupted by the
lure of quick wealth
Bribery and Tax Farming became
common
Discontentment grew in the
provinces
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Changes in Roman Military
With the disappearance of the small
farmer, the nature of the army began
to change
Individual commanders began
building their own armies and paid
mercenaries
Soldiers were promised a share of the
booty and land in return for service
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Attempts at Reform
Two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius
Gracchus were elected as Tribunes and
attempted reforms to help the poor
Tiberius was assassinated by several
senators in 133 BC
Gaius continued to work on reforms
and attempted to limit power of the
Senate. He was killed in a riot
Rome fell into disarray. Civil War
Marius vs. Sulla
Roman Expansion
Problems of Expansion
Civil War - Marius vs. Sulla
In 105 BC, a commander named Marius
saved Rome from barbarian invasions. He
was elected consul five straight years and
continued to build a large army
In 88 BC, a rival named Sulla went to war
against Marius in and around Rome
Thousands of Romans died
In 82 BC, Sulla defeated Marius and became
a dictator. He retired in 79 BC
Slave revolts led by Spartacus broke out