ROMAN REPUBLICThe Romans Create a

Republic

GEOGRAPHY OF ROME AND THE SURROUNDING AREA: 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

GEOGRAPHY OF ROME AND THE SURROUNDING AREA: 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

EARLY GROUPS VIDEO

THREE INFLUENTIAL GROUPS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO ROMAN CULTURE: 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.

THE BEGINNINGS OF ROME: 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.

THE EARLY REPUBLIC:

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

THE EARLY REPUBLIC:

3. Established a Republic – definition: form of government in which power rests with citizens who vote for their leaders (freeborn males only in Rome)

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!! List similarities between Rome and Greece about how their government evolved to reach democracy/republic

SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC:

1. Patricians – aristocratic landowners who controlled most of the powerInherited power and social status, allowed to make laws

SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC:

2. Plebians - common farmers, artisans, merchants who made up a majority of the populationcitizens with the right to vote, but could not hold government position

Tribunes – elected representatives for Plebeians that served in the Senate

SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC:

3. Foreigners- could be citizens

SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC:

4. Slaves- no power, NOT based on race –prisoners of war

GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLIC:

1. Consuls - two officials who commanded army and directed government- limited power: term length – one year, power to veto each other

GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLIC:

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

GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLIC: 3. Assemblies – more democratic side of the government, two types

- Centuriate Assembly – all citizen-soldiers for life- powers – 1. Selected consuls

2. made laws- Tribal Assembly – made up of plebeians- powers – 1. Elected Tribunes

2. made laws for commoners

GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLIC: 4. Dictator – served only in times of crisis for six months

- chosen by consuls and elected by the Senate

- powers – hard absolute power to make laws and command the army

- EX: Cincinnatus

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A ROMAN CITIZEN:

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