The Roman Republic

Today’s Goal• Describe the origins,

development, and characteristics of the Roman Republic

LIVY, The Early History of Rome

“Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot for the site of our city – the [salubrious] hills, the river to bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from foreign fleets, our situation in the very heart of Italy – all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great."

Geography & Location• Central peninsula

of Mediterranean Sea– Island of Sicily

• Fertile land!• Tiber River

Legendary Origins• Romulus & Remus

Legendary Origins• Told in Virgil’s Aeneid– Links the founding of Rome to the Trojan

warrior Aeneas who flees from a burning Troy

Historical Origins of Rome• Latins – Palatine Hill

• Greeks–Mythology–Writing

• Etruscans–Metalwork– Sculpture– Road building– Arch

Examples of Etruscan art

Note the Greek alphabet

Romans borrowedEtruscan buildingtechniques.

The Last Monarch• King Tarquinius Superbus =

Tarquin the Proud• Tyrant driven from

power• res republica

(“public affairs”) Republic

Conflict of the Orders

• Senatus Populusque Romanus = “Senate and the Roman People”

• Patricians- Wealthy landowners- Most power

• Plebeians- Commoners- Most of population

Conflict of the Orders

• Tribunes = elected to protect rights of plebeians

• Twelve Tables written law code

• Citizenship = all adult male landowners

Twelve Tables (excerpts)• If a thief was a freeman, he was flogged & handed to

person from whom he stole to repay the damage• If a thief were a slave, flogged then thrown to his

death off the Tarpeian Rock (cliff)• No burials or cremations within city walls• Maintenance of roads was responsibility of property

owner• Marriage between plebeians and patricians no longer

forbidden• Permitted to remove branch from neighbor’s tree if

overhung into one’s property• Theft of crops was death penalty by clubbing• For slander there was death penalty by clubbing• Levels of punishment varied by status of person• Laws distinguished between intentional and

accidental killing• Father had right to kill his deformed child

Roman Forum

Public meeting place and the heart of Roman political life

Two Consuls

Commanded Army

Limited power

Veto each other

1 year term

(once/10 years)

Gov’t of Roman

Republic

Gov’t of Roman

Republic

Senate (Curiae)

– 300

members

Foreign,

financial

policies

Elected for life

Advises consuls

Patricians &

plebeians

Gov’t of Roman

RepublicCenturia

te Assembl

y – both

patricians &

plebeians Citizen-soldiers elected for life

Selects consuls, makes laws

Gov’t of Roman

Republic

Tribal Assem

bly Elects tribune

s, makes laws

Citizens

elected yearly

Gov’t of Roman

RepublicDictator – Elected in times of crisis

Absolute

power to

make laws

Command Army Chosen

by consuls

for 6 mo. term

Magistrates• 8 praetors – judges • 2 censors – census of citizens,

tax assessments• 4 aediles - supervised public

places, public games, and the grain supply

Appian Way

Rome’s Balanced Government

Consuls = a monarchy +Assemblies = a democracy +Senate = an aristocracy = Rome’s balanced government

Roman Army• All land-owning citizens required to

serve • Legions = large military units of ~6,000

infantry- Supported by cavalry (equites)

• Centuries = smaller units of 100 infantry – 60 centuries make up a legion

Typical Formation of Legions

Family Life in the Roman Republic

• Pater familias – led religious ceremonies, total life and death authority

• Women had no legal protection• Children obeyed authority• Slaves were treated well

Life in Roman Republic• The Roman villa– Countryside– Hypocaust (“heat from below”)– Atriums, garden– Al fresco dining

• The uncomfortable toga.• Easy to make – no sewing – no

buttonholes• Large wool blanket 18 X 7 ft.• Symbol of Roman citizenship• Young boy wore a white toga with

a purple band around the border• Age 16 a boy and his family would

go to the forum where he would register as a full citizen and wear a white toga

• The toga was worn at the theater, in court, for religious ceremonies, and on any formal occasion

• At death, his body is wrapped in a toga, marking him as a Roman citizen

Rome Gains Control of Italy

• Romans defeat Etruscans & Latins• Samnite Wars – gained central Italy• Romans vs. Greeks

- Pyrrhus (king of Epirus) – “Pyrrhic victory”- Rome defeats Greeks

Treatment of Conquered Territory

• Nearby Latins = full citizens of Rome• Farther territories = rights of citizenship except

the vote• Allies of Rome = freedom to go about their

business, BUT supplied troops, could not make treaties

Punic Wars - Rome v. Carthage, 264-146 BC

• 1st Punic War – Rome beats Carthage, gains Sicily• 2nd Punic War – Hannibal of Carthage marches

through Spain, Alps to attack Rome – Would Roman allies

defect? NO• 3rd Punic War – Roman

general Scipio – Hannibal defeated in

N. Africa– Carthage burned

The Corvus (Latin for “raven” or “crow”)

• Crane/plank on a Roman ship that turned naval battle into a land battle

Rome dominates Mediterranean by 70 BC

• East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & Anatolia

• West – as far as Spain• Republic dominates the . . . “known

world”