The Gov’t of Rome: Rome was divided into two groups or orders: Patricians: great landowners, very wealthy, were Rome’s ruling class. Plebeians: small landowners, artisans, merchants, small farmers, most of the population.
The Gov’t of Rome cont. Both patricians and plebeians could vote, but only patricians could hold gov’t office. Consuls (2): elected every year, ran the gov’t, in charge of the military. Praetors: in charge of civil law as it applied to citizens, also judged non-citizens.
The Gov’t of Rome cont: The Senate: 300 patricians who served for life. By 3 rd cent. BC it had the force of law. Centuriate Assembly: Elected chief officials and passed laws. Organized by class, wealthiest was the majority.
The Gov’t of Rome cont: Council of Plebes: created in 471 BC. Only plebes served, slowly gained power. By 271 BC the Council had the right to pass laws.
Roman Law: Twelve Tables 450 BC: First code of laws for Rome, based on a simple farming society. Law of Nations: Based on natural or universal law = standards of justice applied to all people. Write down 2 examples from 153.
Conquests of Rome: Main rival was Carthage who wanted to control Med. Trade. 264 BC Rome and Carthage went to war: called the First Punic War.
First Punic War: BC. Romans fought Carthage over the island of Sicily. War fought mostly in naval battles. Carthage defeated in 241 BC and was forced to give up Sicily.
The Second Punic War BC. Rome and Carthage fought again, this time over Spain. Carthage was led by Hannibal who vowed to destroy Rome. Hannibal went through Spain, crossed the Alps, and invaded Italy.
The Second Punic War BC. Cont. Battle of Cannae: 216 BC, Hannibal wiped out the Roman army. Problem: Hannibal did not have the men or supplies to defeat Roman cities. Rome then counter attacked and invaded Carthage – this forced Hannibal to retreat back to Carthage.
The Second Punic War, BC. Cont. Battle of Zama, 202 BC: Rome defeated Carthage. Carthage lost control of Spain to Rome. Hannibal fled into exile.
The Third Punic War 50 years later. 146 BC Rome destroyed Carthage, all citizens became slaves. Carthage became a Roman province they called Africa.
Punic Wars – Final Score: Rome: 3 Carthage: 0