1. 6.3 | The Roman Confederate System
The Rise of SPQR
6.3 | The Roman Confederate System

2. The Monarchy Overthrown
Established in 753 B.C.
Lasted 243 years between 7 kings
Kings elected by the people
Issues with accuracy (sacked 390 B.C.)
Tiny population
Rape of the Sabines under Romulus
100 man senate as advisors to the king
Rome as head of Latin cities Latium
Tarquinius, tyranny, Lucretia, and the revolt of the nobility 509 B.C.

3. Res Publica Common, public property 509 – 27 B.C. Public land
Public opinion
Public association
509 – 27 B.C.

4. The Early Roman Republic
Similar to the monarchy
Two consuls who functioned as kings
Elected every two years
The Senate stayed in place
Became permanent
Tradition
Became prominent
Experience
For the patrician class

5. The Struggle of the Orders
Secessions ending in 287 B.C.
1st – The Tribune of the Plebs
2nd – The Twelve Tables
3rd – Lex Hortensia
Expansion of the Republican government
Senate is accessible by both classes

6. The Republic Expands Perpetual state of war
Annexed their neighbors, then the Latins, then various Italians tribes
The Roman state became militarized
Service was required to be Roman
The Confederation
“Citizens” and “Allies”
The scale of Roman conflict grew

7. βοήθεια! Magna Graecia was in a bit of a pickle around 300 B.C.
City-state drama and conflict with the Carthaginians
Rome conveniently gets in the middle of this and eventually moves legions into Magna Graecia
The Greeks call for help

8. A Guy Named Pyrrhus From Epirus
Your typical Greek-loving ruler out for some gain
Answers the call for help by invading Italy
The Pyrrhic Wars
280 B.C. – 272 B.C.

9. Greece Unleashed Pyrrhus comes to Italy to defend the Greeks
The Roman Confederation is waiting
Heraclea 280 BC
Asculum 279 BC
“Pyrrhic Victory”
The Confederation holds… but why?
Roman citizenship = $  $ = Rome must win

10. Off to Sicily Pyrrhus invades Sicily to assist more Greeks
Defeats the Carthaginians
Rome and Carthage ally
Rome attacks Magna Graecia
Pyrrhus returns to help (1/3 of original army)
Beneventum 275 BC
Rome annexes Magna Graecia 272 BC
Rome annexes the last Italian citiy south of the Po River 270 BC

11. Lessons Learned The Roman Republic is now on the map
The Roman Confederation is strong
It is strong because Roman citizenship is a hot commodity
Rome knows how to beat the phalanx
Rome knows how to fight against elephants
Rome knows how to rebound from a loss
The Roman military is stable (citizenship and land)
The Roman state is stable (in face of disaster)
Carthage beware… Rhegium and Sicily