(CHAPTER 6) ROME
GEOGRAPHY
TERRAIN OF ITALY
LOCATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
FIRST ROMANS Latin’s built Rome on top of Palatine Hill BCE: Greeks established colonies in southern Italy and Sicily. Etruscans (Northern Italy) Writing system Alphabet Architecture – use of the arch
EARLY REPUBLIC Monarchy Last king driven from Rome in 509 BCE Established Republic Citizenship/voting rights for free born males
PATRICIANS VS. PLEBEIANS Patricians Wealthy landowners Most powerful Social status inherited Plebeians Common farmers, artisans, merchants Majority of population Could not hold important government positions Eventually allowed to form an assembly and elect tribunes (representatives)
12 TABLES Written laws Posted in the forum (town center) Carved in stone on 12 tablets All free citizens under protection of the law
ROMAN GOVERNMENT DURING THE REPUBLIC Executive (carries out law) 2 consuls: elected by assembly for one year, Commanders –in-chief LegislativeSenate: 300 members, chosen from aristocracy, serve for life, control foreign affairs and economic policy, advise consuls Centuriate Assembly: all citizen-soldiers serve for life, select consuls make laws Tribal Assembly: citizens grouped according to where they live, members for life, elect tribunes, make laws JudicialPraetors: eight judges chosen for 1 year by Centuriate Assembly- two oversee civil and criminal courts (others govern the provinces) Legal Code12 tables CitizenshipAll adult male landowners