1. ROME: 753 BC – 565 AD
REPUBLIC BC
Consuls

2. The Republic respublica, literally “a matter for the people
At beginning – tension between rich and poor because so much power rested with the rich
The poor threated to split from Rome in early 5th century
So patricians granted plebians the right to elect officials to represent them

3. Consuls Each year the citizens elected two officials, or consuls
They were in charge of the government & army
Held office for one year and had to agree with each other about what to do
Eventually, plebians were able to elect a consul of their choosing
In a time of crisis, the Romans granted one man the office of dictator who had absolute authority for six months

4. Cincinnatus Consul in 460 BC
458 BC, while plowing his field, a messenger arrived with news that Rome was under attack
Named dictator and achieved victory for Rome within 16 days
Instead of remaining dictator, he immediately returned to his home and field
Romans admired him as one who embodied classic virtues
Americans often compared George Washington to Cincinnatus
Cincinnati named after this hero
Holding: Fasces fas-ez (symbol of power) & plow (return to daily life)

5. First Punic War 264-146 BC: 3 Punic Wars Between Rome & Carthage
Punic comes from the Latin Punicus and refers to the Carthaginian’s Phoenician ancestry
Carthaginians occupied northern Africa and part of Spain
Began when Rome conquered Carthaginian controlled Messana (in Sicily), an important grain source in the Mediterranean
War erupted & continued for 20 years
Rome took over Corsica & Sardinia

6. Alps
Po River
Arno River
Adriatic Sea
Apennine Mountains
Tiber River
Corsica
Rome
Ostia
Brundisium
Sardinia
Pompeii
Italian Peninsula
Tyrrhenian Sea
Messana
Sicily
Carthage
Mediterranean Sea

7. First Punic War Carthage was a great sea power
Rome had never fought at sea and had to develop a navy
Found a Carthaginian vessel, copied it & built a fleet of ships
First war ended in 241 BC off the coast of Sicily
Rome now occupied Sicily (became their first province)
The son of a Carthaginian general (Hamilcar Barca) looked on and vowed revenge…
Possible the bust of Hannibal

8. Second Punic War Hannibal Became commander-in-chief in 221 BC
Reminded his troops of vow to take revenge on Rome and in an unexpected move they marched across the Alps
He lost many of his men and war elephants on the march
Hannibal began to conquer Rome
After 15 years, large areas of Italy had yielded to Hannibal and he had never been defeated
However, Rome was always able to raise new troops & Hannibal was never able to take the city
Holding: Fasces fas-ez (symbol of power) & plow (return to daily life)

9. Second Punic War Publius Cornelius Scipio
Elected by Roman Senate to respond to Hannibal’s threat
Attacked Carthage in order to force Hannibal to return home
Battle of Zama (in Tunisia, near Carthage): 202 BC
Great battle determined the fate of two great powers
Military strategy
Scipio defeated Hannibal and Carthage forced to hand over their elephants, all but 20 ships, and great treasure
Hannibal fled to exile and eventually committed suicide
Holding: Fasces fas-ez (symbol of power) & plow (return to daily life)

10. Third Punic War War again in 149 BC between Carthage and Rome
In 146 BC the Romans completely defeat Carthage and North Africa becomes a Roman province
Holding: Fasces fas-ez (symbol of power) & plow (return to daily life)

11. Republic To be continued…
Holding: Fasces fas-ez (symbol of power) & plow (return to daily life)