The Rise of the Roman Republic 509 BC – 27 BC

Rome’s greatest achievements: Established the first Republic and the principle of separation of powers; Used law and government to unite many different regions, cultures and people.- continued Hellenistic cosmopolitanism Practical engineering projects to promote civilization: roads, bridges, aqueducts, bath houses and amphitheatres.

The Myth of Rome’s birth: Caesar Augustus asked Rome’s greatest poet, Virgil to write a poem to glorify the founding of Rome

Prince Aeneas with Queen Dido on the harbor of Carthage

Aeneas reaches Latium

Romulus and Remus- twin sons of Princess Rhea

Romulus and Remus: twin sons of Princess Rhea

The Archaeological Record 2500 BC- Paleolithic settlements 1500 BC The Bronze Age 1000 BC tombs of cremated dead with bronze tools and weapons 800 BC Distinct groups occupied the Italian peninsula- Umbrians, the Sabines, the Samnites, the Etruscans and the Latins

Three advantages 1) built on several hills 2) Towards the end of the Tiber River 3) Only 15 miles from the sea

The Etruscans BC Older, more advanced culture Drained marshes Built sewer system Constructed roads, sewers. temples & public buildings

The Republic is established, 509 BC The last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, ignored the Senate and was overthrown, the patricians (wealthy Latin landowners) created a representative government.

Two Consuls replaced the king Elected by Assembly One year position Led an army Defended the city Veto power Imperium

Assemblies debated and voted on legislation; and listened to campaign speeches

The Roman Senate: Senators came from the Patrician class Acted as an advisory body to the king/consuls Controlled the finances; money for public works Served as a Jury for treason, conspiracy, murder, & foreign relations

Early Roman society consisted of two classes: Patricians and Plebeians… Plebeian grievances included: Enslavement for debt Discrimination in the courts Intermarriage with patricians was forbidden Lack of political representation Absence of a written code of laws Granting citizenship to outsiders while denying it to indigenous plebeian farmers

The Struggle of the Orders 494 – 287 BC 494 BC – Office of the Tribune created 460 BC – Voting: residence replaced wealth 450 BC – Twelve Tables 445 BC – Lex Canuleia-marriage 367 BC – Licinian-Sextian Rogation-consuls 287 BC – Lex Hortensia- Plebeian Council

Roman Expansion 493 BC – Battle of Lake Regillus/Latin League 396 BC – Battle of Veii/Etruscans 390 C – first & only setback – Gauls seige on Rome 350 BC - Romans bounced back- rebuilt the Servian Wall and remodeled the army BC The Latin Wars/Roman Federation BC defeated Greeks/Tarentum & Epirus By 264 BC, 5 major world powers: Syria, Egypt, Macedonia, Carthage and Rome

the mythological twins, the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, on horseback. The Battle of Lake Regillus, 493 BC

Defeating the Etruscans- The Battle of Veii, 396 BC Horatius At The Bridge

390 C – first & only setback – Gauls seige on Rome

350 BC: Rome renewed itself…

The Latin Wars BC; B.C. & B.C. The Roman Federation

BC Rome fought the Greeks of Tarentum and their ally- King Pyrrhus of Epirus

By 264 BC, Rome had achieved two important successes: –It had secured social cohesion by redressing the grievances of the plebeians –It had increased its military might by conquering the peninsula.

By 264 BC, 5 major world powers: Syria, Egypt, Macedonia, Carthage and Rome

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