The Roman Republic Chapter Ten

1. Describe some of Italy’s physical features In the north are the Alps mountains Apennines mountains Volcanoes Tiber River

2. Describe Italy’s climate Warm, dry summers Mild, rainy winters

3. How did Rome’s location affect its early history? Built cities on hilltops for defense Rivers for plenty of water A good climate (weather) for growing plenty of crops, lots of food equals lots of people

4. Who was Aeneas and what did he do? He was a great Trojan hero, when the Greeks destroyed Troy he left and went to Italy There he found the “Latins” and formed an alliance with them He married the Latin kings daughter and their descendants were rulers of Italy

5. Describe the legend of Romulus and Remus They were twin brothers thrown in to the Tiber River at birth and rescued by a wolf and took care of them After they grew up they decided to build a city in the spot where the wolf found them While planning the city Remus made fun of Romulus, so Romulus killed Remus and named the city after himself (Rome)

6. Describe Rome’s early kings Seven early kings three were Etruscans (people north of Rome), they built temples and sewers and taught the Romans the alphabet and numbers The last early king killed a lot of people and made everyone mad so they overthrew him and created a new government

7. Define republic People elect leaders to govern them Rome became this in 509 BC The officials were elected every year, they were wealthy and powerful men 8. Define dictators Rulers with almost absolute power Rome chose to be ruled by dictators after being in many wars, but they were only in power for 6 months at a time

9. Who was Cincinnatus? One of Rome’s most famous dictators who came in to power in 458 BC He helped Rome defeat its enemies but had no desire to keep power and resigned early Cincinnati, Ohio is named after him

10. Who were the plebeians? Common people in Rome, most of the population Peasants, craftspeople, traders They wanted more say in how Rome was run Gained right to participate in government Became wealthy (some were just as rich as the patricians)

11. Who were the patricians? Rome’s nobles They ran Rome, they were the only ones who could be elected to office, so they held all the power Small group of people After 218 BC not allowed to participate in trade or commerce

12. Who were the magistrates and consuls? Magistrates were officials, they were elected every year to be judges or managed finances or organize games and festivals The two most powerful magistrates were called consuls, they were elected every year to run the city and lead the army

13. Describe the Roman Senate A council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city’s leaders Held office for life Had 300 members, mostly patricians Some wealthy plebeians could be senators Magistrates became senators after their one year term was up The senate was more powerful than the magistrates

14. What were the jobs of the assemblies and Tribunes? Represented the common people, approved or rejected laws, declared war, elected magistrates Roman citizens could take part in assemblies all their adult lives, tribunes served one year Could veto the decisions of consuls and other magistrates

15. Define veto Prohibit or “I forbid” Tribunes could VETO actions by other officials 16. What language did Romans speak? Latin

17. What were the Romans civic duty? To participate in government Doing what they could to make sure the city prospered Attend assembly meetings and to vote in elections To hold public office to help run the city

18. What are checks and balances? Methods to balance power Keeps any one part of a government from becoming stronger or more influential than the others The United States government has checks and balances between the judicial (courts), legislative (congress), and executive (president) branches

19. Describe the Roman Forum Rome’s public meeting place Where the Law of the Twelve Tables was kept Site of important government buildings and temples People also met here to shop, chat and gossip Like the Greek agora and like Washington D.C. in the United States

20. Define legions Groups of up to 6,000 soldiers Each legion was divided in to centuries (groups of 100 soldiers) This organization allowed the army to be very flexible, helped Rome defeat most of its enemies

21. How was Rome’s farming and trade successful? Rome made small farms in to larger farms, ran by slaves and grew one or two crops To make trade easier they made coins out of copper, silver and other metals and traded all over the Mediterranean

22. What were the Punic Wars? A series of fierce wars between Rome and Carthage (a city in northern Africa) Three wars between the years 264 and 146 BC One battle fought on the island of Sicily, Rome won this battle and took over Sicily Hannibal (brilliant leader of Carthage) tried to lead a battle against Rome, but Rome invaded Carthage and ended up taking control over Northern Africa

23. What were some places Rome had taken over by the 100’s AD? Sicily, Corsica, Spain, North Africa Gaul (now France) Greece Parts of Asia Minor Macedonia

24. Who were Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus? Brothers that served as tribunes Tiberius wanted to give farms to poor Romans, but the wealthy citizens were mad about it and rioted and killed him Gaius wanted to give food to the poor Romans and that also angered rich Romans and he was killed for his beliefs These killings led Romans to believe they could use violence to get rid of leaders they didn’t like

25. Who were Marius and Sulla? Marius was a consul who encouraged poor, unemployed Romans to join the army (before this only people who owned land could join the army). He was a good general and his troops were loyal to him Sulla was a consul who came in to conflict with Marius and caused a civil war in Rome. Sulla defeats Marius and named himself dictator and punished his enemies

26. Who was Spartacus? He was a former gladiator who led thousands of slaves in a revolt for freedom. They defeated the Roman army and took over much of southern Italy Killed in battle and his followers were executed