The Roman Republic

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The Roman Republic

• 509 BCE 133 BCE

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The Early Republic

• 509 BCE overthrow Etruscan king 1st Roman
  rulers
• Never want to be ruled by a king again
• Create a REPUBLIC
• Rulers chosen by the people
• Latin word meaning thing of the people
• Not necessarily a democracy

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Classes in Roman Society
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Classes in Roman Society
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Classes in Roman Society
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Structure of Roman Government
Senate
Consuls
Chosen by Senate

• 300 members
• All Patricians
• Serve for life
• Make laws
• Judge laws

• 2 Patricians chosen by Senate
• Day to day business of Govt
• Only serve 1 term (term limits)

Ideal Example Cincinnatus
EMERGENCY DICTATOR
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Structure of Roman Government
Chosen by Plebeians
Tribunes
Could veto laws
Senate
Consuls
Chosen by Senate

• 300 members
• All Patricians
• Serve for life
• Make laws
• Judge laws

• 2 Patricians chosen by Senate
• Day to day business of Govt
• Only serve 1 term (term limits)

EMERGENCY DICTATOR
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The Changing Republic

• Plebeians begin to protest for more say in
  government
• 450 BCE convince Senate to write down laws
  post them in public place
• LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES
• Somewhat harsh
• Allows plebeians to appeal rules of judges
• Plebeians eventually get right to elect Tribunes
• Tribunes get the right to veto laws that hurt
  plebeians
• Later, even get right to be Consuls, Senators

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Lasting Legacies

• Common people get rights safeguards
• Peaceful acquisition of rights
• Checks on people in power
• Veto
• Republican form of govt
• Roman Republics legacy especially important to
  United States

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Expansion in Italy

• Early growth
• Early overthrown of Etruscan rulers
• Began to go after neighboring tribes
• By 270 BCE, occupied Italy from Rubicon River in
  north to tip of boot in southern Italy
• The Roman Army

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Treatment of Conquered Lands

• Generally treated conquered people with justice
• Conquered people had to
• acknowledge Roman leadership
• pay taxes
• supply soldiers to Roman army
• Rome let them
• keep local customs, local money, local govt
• Some (very few) get full citizenship
• Some (more) get partial citizenship
• allowed to marry Roman citizens, carry on trade
  in Rome
• Conquered people become very loyal to Rome, even
  in rough times

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How to Protect Newly Conquered Lands

• Posted soldiers around empire
• Network on all-weather roads (quick movement of
  army, trade)
• People began to adopt Latin language and Roman
  culture

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Rivalry with Carthage

• Originally a Phoenician colony
• Acts independently
• City in northern Africa
• (present day Tunisia)
• Extends empire around coasts of western Med.
• Roman expansion throughout Italy increases
  contact with Carthaginian empire

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Punic Wars (264-146 BCE)1st Punic War
In Latin, Phoenician Punicus

• Fairly short
• Rome defeats Carthage
• Takes control of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica
• Carthage infuriated by losses
• Going to want revenge

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Punic Wars (264-146 BCE)2nd Punic War

• Hannibal (Carthaginian)
• Brilliant military leader
• Wants revenge for loss in 1st Punic War
• Decides to attack from north
• Takes army into Spain, over mountains
• Losses half of army, all but one war elephant
• Surprises Roman Army
• Does very well, many successful battles

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Punic Wars (264-146 BCE)2nd Punic War (cont.)

• Rome counter-attacks
• Attacks city of Carthage
• Hannibal has to take army back to Carthage
• Battle of Zama Rome Wins
• Carthage loses all land except land around city
  in North Africa
• Must pay huge tribute

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Punic Wars (264-146 BCE)Aftermath

• Carthage recovers quickly
• Leadership of Hannibal
• Cato (famous Roman citizen) says
• Carthage must be destroyed
• Rome attacks again
• Burns city to ground
• Plows salt into earth
• People killed or made slaves
• Rome gets a province in Northern Africa

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Collapse of the Republic

• Video Roman Empire and Civilization
• Part 2 ? From Republic to Empire (20 min.)
• Complete worksheet as you go
• What kinds of problems weakened the Republic and
  made it possible for individuals to seize power?