Roman Republic

Chapter 4

Beginnings Geography

Not a hindrance as in Greece

Land good for farming

No rugged mountains to separate people

Beginnings Early Inhabitants

Came from across Alps

Settled in N. Italy

Called “Latins”

Eventually moved southward

Settled western coast of Italy

Portions of Italy colonized by: Phoenicians

Greeks

Etruscans

Beginnings Etruscans

Came to Italy 900-800 BC

Probably from Asia Minor by sea

Became competitors with Greece in trade

Probably introduced Greek culture to Romans

Etruscans

Beginnings Founding of Rome

Beginnings Founding of Rome

Villages established near Tibet River and West Coast of Italy

7 villages allied (League of 7 Hills)

Beginning of city of Rome

Developed myths about beginnings

Twins, Romulus and Remus founded Rome 753 B.C.

Thrown out by evil uncle, found by wolve and raised them

- Digging for the city wall of Rome

- Peasants exchanging produce at border separating their lands

Early Society & Government

Basic Unit of society = FAMILY Self sufficient and self ruled

Father authority figure

Religion, discipline, power of life and death

Pride in family heritage

Loyalty Submit to Authority

Patriotism Self Control

Hard Working

Early Society & Government

Tribe

Clan

Family

Family

Clan

Family

Family

Early Society & Government

Patricians• Wealthy

landowners• Nobility based

on birth• Held high

positions in society

Plebeians• Majority of

people• Common

people• Inferior class• Tradesmen,

craftsmen, farmers

Early Society & Government

Early government = Monarchy Monarch chosen by people

Imperium – absolute authority to govern

Monarch would advise with senate

View of Early Roman Senate

Early Roman Republic 509 B.C. overthrew monarchy and

established republic

Consuls

Senate

Assemblies

Consul ONLY Patricians

Elected for 1 year terms

Took care of: Every day government affairs

Commanded army

Supreme judges

Senate Most powerful body in government

Served the interest of ALL people

300 elite people appointed for life by consuls

Took care of: Finances

Pass laws

Foreign affairs

See any

similarities?

Assemblies People could express their views

Voted legislation submitted by consul

Took care of: Declare war

Elected high ranking officials

Power to Veto

Struggles within Republic

Patricians controlled government Plebeians had no voice in government

For 200 years struggled for representation

Constant warfare with neighbors made Patricians dependent upon plebeians for army force Plebeians demanded more say in gov’t or else no more

army participation

Plebeians get their own assembly and gov’t. officials Voted resolutions plebiscites (apply only to plebeians)

Tribune – elected official who protected plebeian rights (rights of common people)

Law of 12 Tables Plebeians demanded written law

Laws written on 12 tablets and hung in Roman Forum What other civilization wrote laws on tablet?

What other civilization publicly displayed law throughout land?

Law applied equally to ALL

Boys memorized law as school work

“The women shall not tear their faces nor wail on account of the funeral.”

“Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians.”

“A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed.”

“A child born after ten months since the father's death will not be admitted into a legal inheritance.”

“Let them keep the road in order. If they have not paved it, a man may drive his team where he likes.”

“If one is slain while committing theft by night, he is rightly slain.”

Changes in Society Plebeians’ social status gradually improved

Began to gain government positions

Some became senators

Intermarriage allowed

Tribal Assembly created 287 B.C.

Pass laws that apply to ALL people

Division between patricians and plebeians began to disappear and a new division appeared: Rich vs. Poor

Wealthy patricians and wealthy plebeians allied together and took control over government

The Mediterranean – Roman Sea

From 509 B.C. to 133 B.C. Rome grew from a small city to biggest empire in ancient world How?

First Rome became master of Italy War with neighbors

Defeated Etruscans in North

Turned towards south to fight Greeks

Seek help from Pyrrhus and his war elephants

Victory over romans but with GREAT losses

Says another such victory will cause his ruin!

By 265 BC- Rome controls all Italian Peninsula Treated all conquered people with dignity and respect

Mercy and fair

Some even granted Roman citizenship

Rome dominates Western Mediterranean

Rome dominates Western Mediterranean

First Punic War (264 B.C. – 241 B.C.) Fight over island of Sicily

Only way to win is to beat Carthage navy supremacy Built their own boats

New fighting tactics

Instead of ramming into boats

Drop plank onto enemy boat

Soldiers run over and take over

241 B.C. Carthage war weary, signs peace

treatyRome wins Sicily

Carthage has to pay war loss

Rome dominates Western Mediterranean

Second Punic War (218 B.C. – 201 B.C.) Carthage recovers from first war and spreads into

Spain

Attacks roman ally city, Sagantum

Start war

Hannibal Carthaginian Commander

Strong character and leaders

Military tactics were genius

Once dropped barrels of snakes on enemy ship

Wanted to invade Italy and capture Rome

Crossed into Italy through Alps

Never gave up fighting against Romans

Lived to be 64 years old

Died from poison in his ring

Hannibal crossing the Alps in the Second Punic War

Battle of Cannae Carthage losses- 6,000

Rome losses – 60,000

It took Rome a whole generation to recover from this loss.

Scipio Young Roman commander

Defeated Carthaginian forces in Spain

Moved on to attack Carthage, N. Africa

Hannibal called home to defend Carthage

Scipio and Romans won victory before he got home

Battle of Zama (202 B.C.)

Carthage had to give up all territory outside of N. Africa

Reduce fleet to 10 vessels

Pay Rome war damages

3rd Punic War 149 B.C. – 146 B.C.

Romans fearful and jealous of Carthage prosperity

Carthage breaks one provision of peace treaty

Rome demands they move city ten miles inland This would have hurt their trade and commerce

Carthage refuses

Fighting begins, 3 year siege

Rome takes city and destroys it

Sells inhabitants into slavery

Land becomes new roman province = Africa

Rome Dominates Eastern Mediterranean

Power struggle in Eastern Mediterranean Macedonia

Syria

Egypt

Rome provinces remain free as long as they did not rebel Pay tribute to Rome (money or grain)

Rome offered them protection and order

Conquers

Macedonia

Conquers

Syria AlliesEgypt

Time for a parade!