1. The Roman Republic

2. Geography & Environment

3. The Italian Peninsula
Italy is a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea
POSITIVES:
Rich soil & mild climate
Attracted colonists

4. The Italian Peninsula NEGATIVES:
Mosquito infested swamps resulted in epidemics of malaria & other diseases

5. The Italian Peninsula The Alps contributed to geographic isolation
Rocky & marshy coastline lacked good harbors

6. The Early People of Italy

7. Early Peoples The Etruscans:
Ruled in northern Italy from BC to 500 BC
Heavily influenced those that followed them, especially the ancient Romans

8. Early Peoples Influences: The usage of brick
Construction of city streets
Creation of the FORUM
Religious beliefs

9. Early Peoples Latins: First settlers of Rome (1000 BC) Greeks:
Settled in southern Italy on the island of Sicily

10. The Republic

11. Social Structure

12. Social Groups PATRICIANS: Wealthy, aristocratic citizens of Rome
Declared Rome a republic when the Etruscans were driven from power

13. Social Groups PLEBEIANS:
Nonaristocratic townspeople; landowners, merchants & laborers
Majority of Roman population

14. Social Groups BOTH Patricians & Plebeians could: Be citizens Vote
Pay taxes
Join the army

15. Social Groups PRIMARY DIFFERENCE: Patricians COULD hold public office
Plebeians COULD NOT hold public office

16. Political Structure

17. The Roman Republic Republic:
A form of government in which power rests with the citizens
Citizens have the right to select their leaders

18. The Roman Republic
Who was allowed to vote?
FREE-BORN MALE CITIZENS

19. The Roman Republic STRUCTURE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC: Senate Consuls
Dictator

20. The Roman Republic Senate: The “Legislative” Branch
Group of officials who created laws

21. The Roman Republic Consuls: The “Executive” Branch
Two senators elected to rule the government for one year at a time

22. The Roman Republic Dictator:
In the event of a war, the Roman people chose a dictator who ruled for 6 months at a time
Possessed complete control

23. Conflict

24. Plebeians vs. Patricians
499 BC
Plebeians refused to fight in the Roman army unless they were given more POLITICAL POWER
Patricians agreed to grant more power to the Plebeian class by establishing the TRIBUNE

25. Plebeians vs. Patricians
Tribunes:
Chosen representatives of the plebeian class
Could veto government decisions
Plebeians could now hold public office

26. Plebeians vs. Patricians
12 Tables:
Written law codes
Important victory for the Plebeians
Carved on 12 tablets, hung in Forum
Established the idea that all free citizens had a right to protection of the law