The Roman Republic

1
Section 2

• The Roman Republic

2
Section Overview

• This section describes the Roman Republics
  political development and the defeat of Carthage.
• Romes republic was shaped by a struggle between
  wealthy landowners and regular citizens as it
  gradually expanded the right to vote
• Rome slowly destroyed the Carthaginian Empire and
  took control of the entire Mediterranean region.

3
Reading Strategy
Officials Legislative Bodies
Consuls Praetors Tribunes Senate Assembly of Centuries Council of Plebes
4
Romes Government

• Patricians and plebeians were the two classes of
  people in Rome.
• The patricians were wealthy landowners
• The plebeians were the merchants, farmers, and
  artisans of Rome.
• They were allowed to vote, but only Patricians
  were allowed in the senate
• P. 150, TTK

5
Romes Government

• Top government officials were called consuls
• Another important group of officials were the
  praetors
• - Their main job was to interpret the law and
  act as judges in court cases.
• The Senate was the most important lawmaking body
• - A select group of 300 patrician men who served
  for life. Over time, their power grew. By the
  200s B.C., it could propose law, hold debates on
  important issues, and approve building programs
• PAGE 150, TTK

6
Romes Government Cont

• Another important legislative body was the
  Assembly of Centuries
• Plebeians challenged the class system by going on
  strike

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Romes GovernmentPlebeians Against Patricians

• The Romans then allowed the plebeians to set up
  their own legislative group called the Council of
  the Plebes
• - Gained power to pass laws for all Romans in 287
  B.C. Now, all male citizens had equal political
  standing, at least in theory
• Office of Dictator existed in the Roman Republic
• Today, dictator, is defined as an oppressive
  ruler.
• PAGE 150, TTK

8
Who was Cincinnatus?

• Roman dictators ruled on a temporary basis during
  emergencies
• Cincinnatus, the best-known early Roman dictator,
  led an army of men to defeat a powerful enemy

9
Cincinnatus

• He was a farmer and devoted citizen of Rome
• He returned to his farm about 16 days after
  becoming dictator
• This picture shows him handing the rods of power
  back to city fathers

10
Romes Government

• The Twelve Tables were Romes first code of laws
• - Established the principle that all free
  citizens had the right to be treated equally by
  the legal system
• They were the basis of all future Roman laws
• The Law of Nations was developed to address
  issues of conquered peoples

11
Rome Expands

• Carthage, a state on the coast of North Africa,
  was a powerful enemy of Rome.
• The First Punic War began as a dispute between
  Rome and Carthage over the island of Sicily
• The war continued for 20 years before Rome won
• The Second Punic War began after Carthage
  expanded into Spain
• Page 151, PTL

12
Hannibals Route of Invasion
13
The Second Punic War

• Rome helped the people of Spain rebel
• Hannibal was a great Carthaginian general who
  fought in the Second Punic War (p. 152, PTM)
• At the Battle of Cannae, in 216 B.C., Hannibals
  forces overpowered the Romans
• (p. 151, PTL)
• The Roman general Scipio led his forces to defeat
  the Carthaginians at the Battle of Zama
• (p. 151, PTL and p. 152, PTM)

14
Rome Expands

• Rome destroyed Carthage in the Third Punic War
• Rome also took all of Greece and Macedonia and
  parts of Africa during the Punic Wars.

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SUM IT UP

• How did Rome punish Carthage at the end of the
  Third Punic War?
• They burned Carthage, took 50,000 slaves, and
  spread salt on the earth so no more crops could
  grow.
• P. 152, SIU

16
SECTION WRAP UP

• How did Romes government change?
• The republic included consuls, praetors, the
  Senate, and the Assembly of Centuries. The
  government changed to give representation to
  plebeians. They set up the Council of Plebs
  elected tribunes and won the right to veto. They
  also gained the power to pass laws for all
  Romans.
• P. 153, SWU

17
What Did You Learn in Section 2?

• Who were the top government officials in the
  Roman Republic, and what were their duties?
• Consuls were the top government officials,
  praetors, tribunes. Consuls headed armies and ran
  the state. Praetors served as judges, and
  tribunes represented the plebeians

18
Section 2 Review Cont

• Why did Rome create a navy?
• Carthage was a great sea power. To beat the
  Carthaginians, the Romans had to build a great
  naval fleet.

19
Section 2 Review

• What does mare nostrum mean, and why did the
  Romans use the term?
• It means our sea. The Romans controlled the
  Mediterranean Sea.

20
Section 2 Review

• Where was Carthage located, and why did it
  compete with Rome?
• Carthage was located on the coast of North Africa
  and was a trading rival of Rome.

21
Section 2 Review

• Summarize What other conquests did Rome carry
  out during the period of the Punic Wars
• Rome conquered Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor.

22
Section 2 Review

• Evaluate Why do you think the legacy of Roman
  law is considered so important?
• Roman law led to the principles that law protects
  citizens rights, that a person is innocent until
  proven guilty, and that a judge must look at
  evidence carefully before making a decision.