The Roman Republic “All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in Rome . . .” How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?

The History of Rome in 2 Minutes!

The Founding of Rome Let’s read about it! Woof!

Fortresses & Government The Site of Rome Legend has it that Romulus built Rome on the Palentine Hill – one of the Seven Hills of Rome Fortresses & Government Romulus Rome's Elite Remus

Geography & Rome People settled on seven hills along the Tiber River between 1000-900 BCE Called Latins or Italics Many geographical advantages: Easy to defend Fertile soil Access to rivers allows for trade in the Mediterranean Sea Other more powerful societies controlled the rest of the Italian peninsula Example: Greeks and Etruscans

Ancient Roman History… Can be broken into three “eras” For over 200 years, Rome was a Kingdom For about 500 years, Rome was a Republic For about 500 years, Rome was an Empire

Really Etruscan Kingdom “Roman” Kingdom Really Etruscan Kingdom

Roman Republic

Roman Empire

The Etruscans Early kings of Rome Not much is known as their written works did not survive Who were they? Most developed Latin/Italic people Located in northern, central Italy Most likely descendants of modern-day Turkey and native Italian population By 6th century BCE they were the most powerful city state (modeled after the Greek system)

Super Romans Take Control Romans resented the all-powerful Etruscan kings who gave them no say in their government 509 BCE the Romans revolted against Lucius Tarquinius Superbus Result: End of the Etruscan kings Super

Romans Take Control Romans keep many Etruscan ideas: Hierarchy of Gods (Greek in origin) Alphabet (also Greek in origin) Toga I told you they “borrowed” freely from other cultures! Toga! Toga! Toga!

Rome…The America of the Ancient World Yum, Etruscan! A spoonful of Persian Just a smidgen of Phoenician A dollop of Egyptian A heaping portion of Greek Goin’ back for Greek seconds!

Romans Form a Republic Romans never wanted a king again or any government with a single ruler Establish a Republic…what is it? “Republic” literally comes from a Roman term Res Publica, or “the public concern” or “public affairs” This essentially translates to sharing all power

Romans Form a Republic 1. The Consuls By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula The Republican Government consisted of… 1. The Consuls Two chief officials who led the government Appointed to perform the duties that, prior to them, the king was responsible for, like military authority and ensuring civic welfare and acting as chief diplomat and religious authority. Elected once a year; Each had equal power; could veto the other

Romans Form a Republic By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula The Republican Government consisted of… 2. The Senate Originally advisors to the king Chosen by consuls 300 upper-class patricians Members for life Most powerful part of the government Deliberated on and voted on laws (consuls proposed) The model for the US government

CONS PROS Romans Form a Republic What were the pros of this system compared to monarchy? CONS PROS What possible problems could this lead to?

Romans Form a Republic Dictator Praetors Roman official who had all the power of a king, but could only hold office for 6 months Used only in dire emergencies Praetors Junior consuls who helped develop first rules for Roman judicial system (courts)

The People of Rome Patricians – Members of wealthy families; only people eligible for the Senate Plebeians – everyone else in ancient Rome (except the patricians) from well-to-do tradesmen all the way down to the very poor

Patricians & Plebs Similarities : Differences: Both pater familias Both could own slaves Citizens of Rome were adult freemen from both classes - plebs and patricians. Women, children, and slaves were not citizens Differences: Did not mix socially Illegal for plebs and patricians to marry Lifestyles were very different Patricians very wealthy and lived an opulent lifestyle, plebs did not

Problems With the System? The Senate (power) was only open to patrician families Plebeians resented the Senate who: Took riches from war Created prosperous farms run by slaves Left many plebian famers unemployed Reaction: Plebeians refuse to serve in the military in protest!

Concessions to the Plebeians Twelve Tables – 450 BCE; a board of 10 men were entrusted to draw up a basic legal tradition and publish them on wood (later bronze) to be placed in the forum Creation of the Assembly – an elected body that had 10 Tribunes to discuss and decide issues on behalf of Plebeians Plebs could marry into Patrician families Eventually Senators could be Plebs (but very uncommon)

The Assembly Evolves Eventually the Assembly was given the power to elect the two consuls every year… So…what would be the impact?!?

Consuls – executive branch Praetors – looked after legal cases Censors – guided public morals Curulian Aediles – supervised markets, festivals and temples Quaestors – public finance Tribunes –represented the rights of the people (2-10) Dictator in times of extreme need (6 months) Appoints Appointed by Consul Advises Consuls Elected by Assembly Senate Assembly

The Roman Military Roman army had 30 Legions Each Legion had about 5,500 men Each Legion was divided into 10 units called Cohorts The First Cohort consisted of approximately 800 men Had “specialists” such as blacksmiths or engineers The other 9 Cohorts consisted of approximately 480 men Each Cohort was divided into 6 Centuries of about 80 men Each Century was commanded by a Centurion The First Cohort only had 5 centuries

The First Cohort The centurion of the first cohort's first century was the primus pilus , or "first spear," and was the highest ranking centurion in the entire legion

Military Attire