1. The Republic: 509 - 27 B.C. Early Rome

2. Essential Question How did the government of the Roman Republic become more democratic in its decision making?

3. “What have the Romans ever done for us?” Watch this scene from the 1979 movie The Life of Brian. In the scene a rebel leader opposed to the Roman Empire asks his followers, “What have the Romans ever done for us?” Clip Time!

4. Roman Contributions Aqueducts Sanitation Roads Irrigation Education Medicine Public Order

5. Roman Empire

6. Geography Geography of Italy and Rome Peninsula – midway point of the Mediterranean Rome is located halfway b/n the Alps & Italy’s southern tip Tiber River – woven into the legend of Romulus and Remus Romulus and Remus Fewer mountains & less rugged than Greece Fertile land

7. The Earliest Settlers GroupWhere the Group Settled EtruscansNative to northern Italy GreeksColonized southern Italy and Sicily LatinsBuilt the original settlement at Rome

8. PatriciansWealthy landowners who held most of the power PlebeiansCommon farmers, artisans, & merchants who made up the majority of the population Different Groups Living in Rome

9. Have you heard the term plebe before? Plebes

10. The establishment of the Roman republic Roman republic established in 509 B.C. E What’s a republic? Is the U.S. a republic? You’ve probably said this word > 1,500 times! Republic = a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders.

11. Two different branches of government Senate Law-makers 300 members Proposed laws Lifetime term Nominated consuls Consul 2 officials One-year term During wartime, one was chosen to act as a dictator

13. Picture of the Roman Senate

14. Picture of the U.S. Senate

15. One law to rule them all – the Twelve Tables Until 451 B.C.E there were no written laws. What are disadvantages of an unwritten law code? The Twelve Tables or Tablets were created.

16. The Twelve Tables A written law code that was carved on 12 tablets. The Twelve Tables established the idea that all free citizens had a right to protection of the law.

17. The Republic Dictator: elected during a crisis to rule for 6 months. Had absolute authority.

18. Plebeians Rising Tribunes were elected to protect plebeian interests and had veto power. Veto is a Latin word meaning “I forbid it.”

19. Legacy Plebeians gained access to high offices & senate. Didn’t have to use war or revolution to gain power U.S. adopts senate, veto, & checks on power

20. Closer look at the 12 Tables Read the 12 tables Reword each in words that your little brothers or sisters could understand Then, in your journal tell me some similarities you see with Hammurabi’s Code (I have class sets if you need to refresh your memory)