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• Res publicaRes publica in Ancient Rome in Ancient Rome meant:– Public property (thing)– citizens elect leaders to run

their government – Public affairs

• state organization system• politics

The Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic

The Senate and The Senate and People of RomePeople of Rome

Nobles who owned large amounts of land

Lower class farmers and craftsmenThe 2 classes met

in the ASSEMBLY to vote for the following:

They governed the city. Served for one year only. Had to agree with each other. Led army in wars.

Officials appointed to be judges. Looked after money and served as CENSORS

Picked by Plebs. They were to protect the poor and could VETO laws.

Patricians only who served for life. Magistrates joined when they retired from service. They made the decisions in Rome including declaring WAR, making PEACE, and picking governors of provinces

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Roman SocietyRoman Society• Patricians- wealthy landowners

that controlled the republic.• The word "patrician" is derived from the

Latin word patricius (plural patricii), which comes from patrēs, the plural of pater ("father").

• Pater was the term applied to the original members of the Roman Senate.

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The PlebeiansThe Plebeians• The common people.• Had no say in govt.• Allowed to take part in

the assembly, but had less power than the Senate.

• Over time they demanded more say in the government

Twelve Tables- 451 BCETwelve Tables- 451 BCE 12 laws written on bronze tablets Hung in the Forum so all Romans could see themThis gave plebeians greater power allowing

them to become priests & members of the Senate, but not to marry patricians

The laws passed by the patrician senate applied to everyone. However, the laws passed by the plebian assembly applied only to plebeians.

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• Superior due to its discipline and organization.Superior due to its discipline and organization.• Used a tight battle formation originally developed by Used a tight battle formation originally developed by

Greeks.Greeks.– Opponents used mob warfare.Opponents used mob warfare.

• Legion- basic army unit of 4,000 to 6,000 menLegion- basic army unit of 4,000 to 6,000 men

The Roman ArmyThe Roman Army

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• How did Rome maintain its alliances with former enemies?

1. Granted Roman citizenship to allies.

2. Allowed allies to keep local govt.

3. Gave protection and maintained order in Italy.

Roman AlliancesRoman Alliances

██ Roman republic 510BC-40BC██ Roman Empire 20AD-360AD

██ Western Roman Empire 405AD-480AD██ Eastern Roman Empire 405AD-480AD

The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars264-202 BCE- Series of wars between Rome and Carthage for control of the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Carthage- N. African city founded by Phoenicians, which the Romans call Punici = Punic Wars.

The Roman World GrowsThe Roman World Grows “Who is so thoughtless and lazy that he does not want to know in what way and with what kind of government the Romans, in less than 53 years, conquered nearly the entire inhabited world and brought it under their rule – an achievement previously unheard of?”

• Polybius, Greek historian, watched as Rome became a world power

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The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars• First Punic War War is fought over Sicily as the

Greek city-states Syracuse and Messina ask for Roman and Carthaginian help in their war

Rome- superior army Carthage- superior navy Rome needs to build 3 fleets to

win the war, they develop the corvus to fight at sea

Rome gains Sicily- makes a province (territory outside of Italy).

The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars• Second Punic War Hannibal, a Carthaginian

general invades Italy from Spain using elephants. He crosses the Alps Mountains with the elephants!

At the battle of Cannae, Hannibal completely destroys 16 legions

Hannibal spends 17 years in Italy marching up and down the country, but the Romans won’t leave the city to fight

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The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars The Romans decide to attack Carthaginian lands while Hannibal is in Italy

Scipio launches an invasion into Carthage and beats Hannibal at the battle of Zama

Hannibal leaves for Greece, where the Romans track him down and conquer the Greeks, Hannibal commits suicide rather than being captured

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Cato the Elder demands Carthage be Cato the Elder demands Carthage be destroyed after every speech he destroyed after every speech he givesgives

Salted fields so nothing ever grows Salted fields so nothing ever grows therethere

Survivors sold into slavery.Survivors sold into slavery. Africa becomes a Roman provinceAfrica becomes a Roman province

The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars

• Hannibal’s invasion destroyed the farms.

• Newly conquered lands begin to import food into Rome.– Mostly from Egypt Breadbasket of

Mediterranean Sea– Farmer income declines.– Rich get richer, poor get poorer– Latifundia (large estates worked by

slaves) created. [Latin lātifundium: lātus, "spacious" + fundus, "farm, estate"]`

– specialized in agriculture destined for export

• grain• olive oil• wine. 26

The Roman Republic in CrisisThe Roman Republic in Crisis

By the mid-100s BC, Rome had no rival anywhere in the Mediterranean world. However, the responsibilities of running their vast holdings stretched the Roman political system to its limits.

• Revolution began in political, social institutions

• Tensions grew between classes of Roman society

• Gracchi brothers tried to resolve tension

Social Unrest• Tribune Tiberius

Gracchus noted mistreatment of soldier-farmers

• Many reduced to poverty

• Tiberius, brother Gaius tried to help soldiers

Soldier-Farmers• Gracchi tried to

redistribute public land to farmers

• Had public support, but Senate feared Gracchi trying to reduce its power

• Senate urged mobs to kill brothers

Public Land

Problems in the Late RepublicSen. Sanders on Obama plan about letting taxes last

The Military in Politics• 107 BC, social unrest reached new level

• General Gaius Marius elected consul

– Eliminated property restrictions

– Accepted anyone who wanted to join army

• Armies, private forces devoted to general

– Poor hoped to share plunder at end of war

– Ruthless generals realized loyalty of troops could be used as political tool

• Social War revealed talent of General Lucius Cornelius Sulla

• Sulla became consul, 88 BC; after consulship ended, Marius tried to prevent Sulla from taking military command

• Sulla marched on Rome, won civil war, became dictator

• Carried out program of reforms to protect power of Senate

Civil War

• Rome’s Italian allies had been trying to obtain Roman citizenship

• Senate wanted to maintain monopoly on power, refused

• 90 BC, Social War broke out

• Italian rebels were defeated, but Senate agreed to give them citizenship

The Social WarSocial and Civil Wars

Sulla (nicknamed “Felix” = lucky)

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The rise of The rise of dictatorsdictators

The soldiers of the Roman army would carry with them a considerable amount of kit. When on the march they carried over their shoulder a contraption (sometimes described as a forked stick) which would help them to carry some of their equipment. Here is a re-enactor of a legionary bearing this item over his shoulder together with his pilum.So weighed down were the soldiers by all their stuff, that they were nicknamed 'Marius' mules' (after the famous Roman general to whom the invention of the very forked stick is ascribed).

• Dictator- one person with absolute power.

• Gaius Marius– Standardized Legionnaire's pack –

“Marius’ mules”– Troops swore oath of loyalty to

commander, not Rome.– Paid by commander, not Rome

• Lucius Sulla– Rival to Marius– Bloody wars over power.– Defeats Marius and becomes dictator

of Rome.• Posted “Proscriptions” lists of

citizens whose death would be rewarded with deceased’s property.

– Marius

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• 73 BCE73 BCE

• Proclaims war on Rome in attempt to Proclaims war on Rome in attempt to free the slaves.free the slaves.

• 2 years of successful revolts2 years of successful revolts

• Eventually crucified along w/ 6000 Eventually crucified along w/ 6000 followers along Appian Way (imp. followers along Appian Way (imp. Road out of Rome).Road out of Rome).

SpartacusSpartacus

Summarize

What challenges faced Rome in the late Republic?

Answer(s): soldiers and poor not treated fairly, Gracchi brothers killed, slave revolts, social unrest, the Social War, and a civil war in which Sulla became dictator

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First triumvirateFirst triumvirate• 60 BCE- Three army generals unite to rule Rome.

1. Pompey Most well-known general2. Crassus Richest man in Rome3. Julius Caesar Junior partner, MAJOR ambition

• Caesar becomes consul and commands the Roman legions in Gaul.

– Conquers Gaul (France) and England.

• Pompey gets support from Senate.– Orders Caesar to return home w/out the army.

• Caesar returns home WITH army and defeats Pompey.

• He then goes to Egypt and meets Cleopatra. – Becomes a “hero of the Republic”– Dictator for Life

Pompey

Julius Caesar

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• Reforms Rome1. Named Pater Patriae

("Father of the Fatherland").

2. Lowered taxes.3. Makes governors

responsible to him.4. Grants citizenship to

conquered peoples.5. Stacks Senate with pals

• March 15, 44 BCE- Caesar assassinated

– Stabbed on the Senate floor by:• Brutus “et tu Brute?!?”• And his brother-in-law,

Cassius– Beware the Ides of March

• Didn’t listen to warning• Unguarded/

Unprotected/ Unarmed Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

1. Mark Antony Loved by the people, but a drunken boor– At a state dinner, while giving a

speech, puked in his toga

2. Lepidus Definitely Junior partner (smart enough to know it)

3. Octavian Adopted son of Julius Caesar

• Roman Territory divided– Antony took Egypt & East– Octavian took Italy & West– Lepidus got Africa W. of Egypt (took

it & kept mouth shut)39

Second triumvirateSecond triumvirate

• Octavian beats Antony at Naval Battle of Actium

• Antony & Cleopatra run to Egypt.

• Octavian pursues• Antony & Cleopatra

commit suicide– Antony stabs self– Cleopatra lets snake bite

her

Cleopatra & Antony

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Octavian becomes Caesar AugustusOctavian becomes Caesar Augustus• 31 BCE- creates the 31 BCE- creates the

Roman EmpireRoman Empire

• Allows Senate to keep Allows Senate to keep some power, but he would some power, but he would retain sole power to rule.retain sole power to rule.

• Changes name to Changes name to AugustusAugustus– ““honored and majestic”honored and majestic”

• Takes title of Caesar from Takes title of Caesar from his great uncle his great uncle

Octavian Takes Power• Octavian faced task of restoring

order in empire

• Had no intention of establishing dictatorship when he took power

Principate• Octavian careful to avoid title of

king or emperor

• Called himself princeps, “first citizen”

• Government called Principate

New Political Order• Octavian decided it impossible

to return Rome to republican form of government

• Created new political order, known today as the empire

New Title• 27 BC, Senate gave Octavian

title Augustus, “the revered one”

• Title a religious honor; able to wear laurel and oak leaf crown

From Octavian to Augustus

50 BCE