The Roman Republic The Roman Republic and Empireand Empire

RepublicRepublic

A Republic is a system of A Republic is a system of government in which a group of government in which a group of representatives are elected by representatives are elected by the people and make decisions the people and make decisions on their behalf.on their behalf.

GeographyGeography

Low mountains: Italian boot- low Low mountains: Italian boot- low mountainous region in Northeastern mountainous region in Northeastern region. region.

Offers protection from Europa.Offers protection from Europa. Mediterranean Sea offers protection Mediterranean Sea offers protection

around the peninsula and created around the peninsula and created fishing trade. fishing trade.

In central Italy, open plain with fertile In central Italy, open plain with fertile soil grew farms, orchards.soil grew farms, orchards.

RomeRome

Began as a small city-state in Italy Began as a small city-state in Italy called the Etruscans in 800 B.C.called the Etruscans in 800 B.C.

Twelve separate city-states modeled Twelve separate city-states modeled after the Greek city-states ruled by a after the Greek city-states ruled by a king and the nobles. king and the nobles.

The Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic

Romans took control of the Italian Romans took control of the Italian peninsula in 509 BC with a revolution.peninsula in 509 BC with a revolution.

Established a new form of Established a new form of government called a republicgovernment called a republic– Republic means “thing of the people”Republic means “thing of the people”– Believed it would keep any one person Believed it would keep any one person

from gaining too much power from gaining too much power

The Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic

Officials were chosen to rule on the Officials were chosen to rule on the peoples behalf. peoples behalf.

A 300 member senate was created. It A 300 member senate was created. It could grow up to 600 people over time.could grow up to 600 people over time.– All members of the senate were Patricians All members of the senate were Patricians

(members of the landholding upper class (members of the landholding upper class nobles).nobles).

– Senators served for life.Senators served for life.

The Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic

Senators elected two consuls each year.Senators elected two consuls each year.– Consuls supervised the business of Consuls supervised the business of

government and commanded Roman government and commanded Roman armies.armies.

– They were limited to a one year term.They were limited to a one year term.

During times of war the senate often During times of war the senate often elected a dictator.elected a dictator.– Dictators had complete control over the Dictators had complete control over the

government.government.– They were limited to a term of 6 months.They were limited to a term of 6 months.

Consul

Consul

Republican leadership Republican leadership structure structure

Monarchy/executiveMonarchy/executive20 Quaestors: financial officers controlled by the treasury and funded the

military2 Aediles:

officials who oversaw the city of Rome and took

care of public buildings,

structures and festivals

2 Censors: collect taxes, manage public contracts, and kept track of citizens (the

census) for public voting

8 Praetors: chief law enforcement officers

governed the provinces and filled in for consuls when they

were absent from Rome.

10 Tribunes elected by the citizens to represent them and protect them from

the patricians. Could propose legislation and veto the senate or officers, including

the consuls.

Consul

Consul

Senate: 300-600 Patricians(noble land owners)

Senators served for life: proposed and made legislation

and advised the Consuls

Assemblies: made up of plebeians (all common

citizens)

Could veto laws and suggest legislation. Voted for

representatives. Technically served for life too.

Common People Demand Common People Demand EqualityEquality

Common people were called Common people were called PlebeiansPlebeians 450 BC: Plebeians demanded Roman laws be 450 BC: Plebeians demanded Roman laws be

written down so they could know the laws. written down so they could know the laws.

The Twelve Tablets created and displayed The Twelve Tablets created and displayed in the marketplace.in the marketplace.

The tablets allowed the plebeians to The tablets allowed the plebeians to demand justice based on the written law demand justice based on the written law that could not be manipulated or that could not be manipulated or changed.changed.

Plebeians gained the right to elect officials, and Plebeians gained the right to elect officials, and later the right to serve on the senate.later the right to serve on the senate.

Carthage: General Hannibal and Carthage: General Hannibal and the Punic Wars and the beginning the Punic Wars and the beginning

of the Roman Empireof the Roman Empire Rome engaged in three wars against Carthage. Rome engaged in three wars against Carthage.

Carthage is in North Africa. Carthage is in North Africa.

The Romans won the Punic Wars, but the The Romans won the Punic Wars, but the Carthaginians did a lot of damage to Italy with Carthaginians did a lot of damage to Italy with stampeding elephants. They were no match for stampeding elephants. They were no match for advanced Roman iron weapons.advanced Roman iron weapons.

Rome also developed alliances with Spain and Rome also developed alliances with Spain and Egypt spreading the Empire throughout the entire Egypt spreading the Empire throughout the entire Mediterranean regionMediterranean region..

The Roman Empire: By 133 BC the Roman Empire occupied The Roman Empire: By 133 BC the Roman Empire occupied almost all of the Mediterranean region (including land once almost all of the Mediterranean region (including land once conquered by Alexander the Great, and the Greek city-states).conquered by Alexander the Great, and the Greek city-states).

A Growing EmpireA Growing Empire As Rome grew a new class of wealthy As Rome grew a new class of wealthy

landowners emerged.landowners emerged.

– They forced captured people to work on They forced captured people to work on their estates as slaves.their estates as slaves.

– Small farmers were hurt as they could not Small farmers were hurt as they could not produce food as cheaply as slave labor.produce food as cheaply as slave labor.

– Grain brought in from conquered lands Grain brought in from conquered lands further reduced the price of crops hurting further reduced the price of crops hurting farmers even more.farmers even more.

Plebeians RevoltPlebeians Revolt Plebeians suffered as Rome grew.Plebeians suffered as Rome grew. Rome had to maintain a large citizen army Rome had to maintain a large citizen army

in order to defend its borders and continue in order to defend its borders and continue expansion. Soldiers were paid very little, if expansion. Soldiers were paid very little, if at all and usually provided their own at all and usually provided their own weapons.weapons.

Plebeians began to demand reforms. Plebeians began to demand reforms. Senators and Consuls hired thugs to quiet Senators and Consuls hired thugs to quiet

protesters and protect their powerprotesters and protect their power This sets off a series of civil wars within This sets off a series of civil wars within

the empire.the empire.

All Hail Caesar!All Hail Caesar! Soldiers began to turn Soldiers began to turn

against Rome, showing against Rome, showing loyalty only to their loyalty only to their commanders.commanders.

This allowed the military This allowed the military commander Julius Caesar commander Julius Caesar to seize power in 51 BC.to seize power in 51 BC.

After winning a war against After winning a war against Gaul (France) he defied the Gaul (France) he defied the Senate and suppressed the Senate and suppressed the rebellions throughout Rome rebellions throughout Rome under his leadership. under his leadership.

He demanded to be made “dictator” and introduced reforms He demanded to be made “dictator” and introduced reforms that included public aid and provided jobs for the poor so they that included public aid and provided jobs for the poor so they could have citizenship rights.could have citizenship rights.

In March 44 BC the Senate betrayed him and he was In March 44 BC the Senate betrayed him and he was assassinated (stabbed to death) assassinated (stabbed to death) Et tu BruteEt tu Brute

They argued that they were afraid Caesar was too powerful They argued that they were afraid Caesar was too powerful and wanted to be king.and wanted to be king.

The Exalted One and the EmpireThe Exalted One and the Empire

Caesar’s grand-nephew Augustus was chosen Caesar’s grand-nephew Augustus was chosen as the next leader. as the next leader.

Augustus ruled from 31-14 BC. Augustus ruled from 31-14 BC. – He brought the 500 year old Republic to an end He brought the 500 year old Republic to an end

because he ruled with absolute authority (like a because he ruled with absolute authority (like a king but he never called himself that). king but he never called himself that).

– The Senate had accepted that the Empire was too The Senate had accepted that the Empire was too large to govern without a central authority.large to govern without a central authority.

– Augustus left the Senate in place as an advisory Augustus left the Senate in place as an advisory body, but he set up new reforms calle Pax Romanabody, but he set up new reforms calle Pax Romana

Pax Romana Pax Romana (Roman Peace)(Roman Peace)

Created efficient, professional, well Created efficient, professional, well trained civil servants to enforce the law.trained civil servants to enforce the law.

These men were chosen based on merit: These men were chosen based on merit: performance and talent (not class) performance and talent (not class)

Allowed conquered territories to develop Allowed conquered territories to develop “self-government” as long as they “self-government” as long as they followed Roman law and paid their taxes.followed Roman law and paid their taxes.

Peaceful Roman Empire lasted 200 years Peaceful Roman Empire lasted 200 years as one of the largest ancient empires as one of the largest ancient empires based on strong trade and fair justice.based on strong trade and fair justice.

Roman LawRoman Law The principles of Roman law are the foundation of many The principles of Roman law are the foundation of many

modern legal systems.modern legal systems. Romans were the first to develop written law or Romans were the first to develop written law or

“codified law”“codified law” that only applied to citizens that only applied to citizens They also created Civil Law known as the Justinian Code They also created Civil Law known as the Justinian Code

that was to be applied fairly throughout the empire by that was to be applied fairly throughout the empire by collecting all of the laws together into a “book”collecting all of the laws together into a “book”

Developed the “law of nations” that would apply to all Developed the “law of nations” that would apply to all citizens and foreign subjects in conquered land:citizens and foreign subjects in conquered land:– These laws were based on reason and would later influence the These laws were based on reason and would later influence the

Enlightenment (more on this later)Enlightenment (more on this later)– These rights included: These rights included:

innocent until proven guilty and could face their accuser.innocent until proven guilty and could face their accuser. The accused had the right to a fair trial based on an honest The accused had the right to a fair trial based on an honest

interpretation of the law.interpretation of the law. ..

Summary: legacy of RomeSummary: legacy of Rome

First organized Republic with no king.First organized Republic with no king.

Assembly and the structure of clear Assembly and the structure of clear checks and balances with a cabinet checks and balances with a cabinet and three branches of governmentand three branches of government

Codified and consistent law across Codified and consistent law across the Empire.the Empire.