Warm Up

• List as many things you think you know about Rome!

Ancient Rome

The Roman Republic

Key Terms

• Republic• Patrician• Plebian• Tribune• Consul• Senate• Dictator• Legion

Origins of Rome

• Legend say Rome was founded in 753 B.C.

• Founded by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars

• Abandoned on Tiber River as babies and raised by a wolf

• Story of Romulus and Remus

Geography of Rome

• Center of Italian peninsula along the Tiber River

• On seven rolling hills• In between Alps to

the north and Mediterranean Sea to the south

The Early Republic• Early settlers included Latins,

Greeks, and Etruscans• An Etruscan became king of

Rome around 600 B.C.• Rome went from a collection of

hilltop villages to a large city covering almost 500 square miles

• Temples and public centers, like the Forum, were heart of Roman politics

The Early Republic• Romans forced harsh

king out of power in 509 B.C.

• Declared they would never have king again

• Formed a republic, or government where power rests with citizens who have right to vote for their leaders

Patricians and Plebeians

Patricians• Wealthy landowners• Held most of the power• Power was inherited • Ancestry gave them

authority to make laws for Rome

Plebeians• Common farmers, artisans,

and merchants• Represented majority of

population• Formed own assembly of

elected representatives called tribunes

• Not allowed to hold the higher political positions

Twelve Tables

• Written code of laws• 10 Plebeians wrote down

the laws and carved them on 12 tablets and hung them in the Forum

• Established idea that all citizens had a right to the protection of the law

• Reading Activity

Twelve Tables Questions

* How did Roman law safeguard the rights of individuals? * Which laws restricted the freedoms of individuals? * How did Roman law maintain order and provide security for the entire society? * How does this list of laws compare to those of our society today? * Which laws seem unfair or tyrannical? Explain why. * Why do you think many praised the Twelve Tables and preferred to live under this Roman legal code instead of under the laws of their native governments?

The Roman Republic• Incorporated pieces of the

different Greek forms of government

• Consuls- two officials who commanded army and directed the gov’t

• Senate- aristocratic branch of Rome; influence over foreign and domestic policy

• Tribunes• Dictator- leader with

absolute power; appointed in an emergency by Romans for 6 months

The Roman Army

• Rome valued a strong military

• All landowning citizens were required to serve

• Certain political offices required at least 10 years of military service

The Roman Army• Soldiers organized into large

military units called legions• Legions had about 5,000 heavily

armed foot soldiers (infantry)• Group of cavalry supported

each legion• Divided in smaller groups of 80

soldiers, or a century• Military was key factor in

Rome’s rise to greatness

Rome’s Power Spreads

• Roman power spread as the legions battled for control of Italian peninsula

• By 265 B.C. Romans controlled Italy

• Treated conquered territory differently, and with leniency

Governing Conquered Lands

• Nearest to Rome (Latins)= Full Citizens

• In territories farther from Rome had citizenship w/out right to vote

• Allies of Rome had 2 conditions

– Must supply soldiers for army– Can not make Allies with

anyone else but Rome

Rome’s Commercial Network

• Location, Location, Location

• Land and Sea• Traded olive oil and wine

for foods, raw materials and manufactured goods

• Other powerful traders interfered with the access to the Mediterranean

• Rise of Carthage in North Africa challenged Rome’s power

First Punic Wars

• Rome vs. Carthage over control of trade in the Mediterranean

• Events– Control of Sicily &

western Mediterranean– Lasted 23 years– Rome won

Second Punic Wars• Hannibal• 50,000 infantry & 9000

cavalry• 60 elephants• Goal= Capture Rome• Path across Spain

through the Alps• For 10 years his army

taunted the Romans• Elephants in War

Third Punic Wars• Hannibal had been in Italy

for all those years, but Romans held out

• Roman general (Scipio) had a plan– GET HANNIBAL OUT OF

ITALY– Attack Carthage – Rome burned the city and

sold 50,000 residents into slavery

– made it a Roman territory= control