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THE FOUNDATIONS OF ROME

FROM CITY TO EMPIRE (PART I)

THE FOUNDATIONS OF ROME

Preview

PART I:

� Starting Points Map: Italy and the Mediterranean

� Roman Civilization Develops

� Quick Facts: Etruscan Influences

� The Conflict of the Orders

� Quick Facts: Checks and Balances in the Roman Government

PART II:

� The Republic Expands

� Faces of History: Two Commanders of the Punic Wars

� Rome’s Boogey Man: HANNIBAL

PART I

BIRTH OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

LEARNING GOALS

By the end of this lesson students will be able to:

� explain how Rome grew from a small town on the explain how Rome grew from a small town on the explain how Rome grew from a small town on the explain how Rome grew from a small town on the

banks of an Italian river, to control the entire banks of an Italian river, to control the entire banks of an Italian river, to control the entire banks of an Italian river, to control the entire

Mediterranean regionMediterranean regionMediterranean regionMediterranean region

� describe why Rome become a republic, and explain describe why Rome become a republic, and explain describe why Rome become a republic, and explain describe why Rome become a republic, and explain

how it functionedhow it functionedhow it functionedhow it functioned

THE REGION

“All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in

Rome . . .”

How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?

• Peninsula logical place for

emergence of mighty empire

– juts south from Europe far into

Mediterranean Sea

– lies almost halfway between eastern, western boundaries

of the sea

– protected by mountains, sea

– rich soil, mild climate

Italy’s Geography

• legend: Romulus and Remus,

twin brothers raised by she-wolf;

founded city 753 BC

• members of Indo-European

tribe, Latins, reached Italy 1000s BC; built Rome

• city prospered partly from

location on Tiber River

• valuable trade routes, easy

access to sea

The Founding of Rome

ROMAN CIVILIZATION DEVELOPS

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THE ETRUSCANS

�Rome first ruled by Latin KingsRome first ruled by Latin KingsRome first ruled by Latin KingsRome first ruled by Latin Kings

� came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC

� Etruscans came from northern ItalyEtruscans came from northern ItalyEtruscans came from northern ItalyEtruscans came from northern Italy

� evidence found at cemeteries indicates Etruscans great metalworkers,

jewelers

� Etruscan culture heavily influenced by Greeks

� Etruscans had great influence on Roman societyEtruscans had great influence on Roman societyEtruscans had great influence on Roman societyEtruscans had great influence on Roman society

EXAMPLES OF ETRUSCAN INFLUENCE

Summarize

What advantages did Rome’s location give

the city?

Answer(s): protected by mountains; sea provided

protection and transportation; had rich soil,

pleasant climate; located on major trade routes;

Tiber River provided easy access to the sea

Etruscan Rule Ends

• Etruscans ruled Rome until about 509 BC

• Romans revolted, threw out last of kings, setup new type of government

• Republic—elected officials governed state – NEVER HAVE KINGS AGAIN!!!

Who were the ‘Plebeians’?

• from beginning, common people, plebeians, challenged patricians for power

• invaders threatened 494 BC; plebeians refused to fight until changes made

• patricians knew they would have no army, expanded plebeian rights

Who were the ‘Patricians’?

• aristocratic families – wealthy and powerful

• patrician families controlled all society—politics, religion, economics, military

• maintained power through patronage system

THE CONFLICT OF THE ORDERS

The Twelve Tables

• 450 BC, plebeians forced patricians to have all laws written down

• laws displayed in Roman Forum, central square, on 12 large bronze tablets

• because laws were posted, patrician judges could not make decisions based

on own opinions or secret laws

Plebeian Council

• after receiving new rights, plebeians formed own assembly, Plebeian Council, to oversee affairs and protect interests

• gained right to elect officials known as tribunes

• Tribunes’ job—protect against unjust treatment by patrician officials

• gained right to veto—ban laws that seemed harmful, unjust

RESOLVING CONFLICTS

• Senate: 300 members, advised elected officials, controlled public

finances, handled all foreign relations

• Popular assemblies: in these all

citizens voted on laws, elected officials…

• Magistrates: governed in name of

Senate and people, put laws into practice, acted as priests…

Elements of Government

• Patricians, plebeians worked out

practical constitution

• Consisted of three parts: Senate,

popular assemblies, magistrates

• Initially dominated by patricians; all state offices later open to both

patricians, plebeians

New Offices and Institutions

REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT

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ASSEMBLY OF CENTURIES

ASSEMBLY OF TRIBES

CONCILLIUM PLEBIS

COMITIA TRIBUTA

CONSULS (2)

PRAETORS (8)

CENSORS (2)

AEDILES (4)

QUAESTORS (4)

SENATE (300)

POPULAR

ASSEMBLIES

EXECUTIVE

BRANCH/

MAGISTRATES

LEGISLATIVE

BRANCH

JUDICIAL

BRANCH DICTATORDICTATORDICTATORDICTATOR

ROMAN REPUBLICAN ROMAN REPUBLICAN ROMAN REPUBLICAN ROMAN REPUBLICAN

GOVERNMENT 509GOVERNMENT 509GOVERNMENT 509GOVERNMENT 509----31 BCE31 BCE31 BCE31 BCE

Consuls

• two appointed - held imperium

(full power) for 1 year term

• chief executives, army

commanders

• could veto (forbid) each other

Praetors

• primarily judges, could act for

consuls if consuls away at war

• after terms ended, given military

commands, appointed provisional governors

Censors

• recorded wealth, residence of

population (census)

• ‘policed’ the Senate, in charge

of public morality

Quaestors

• served as assistants to consuls

• oversaw the financial

administration of the republic

THE MAGISTRATES

REPUBLICAN CHECKS AND BALANCES

Draw Conclusions

Why do you think the Romans established a

republic?

Answer(s): possible answer—They wanted a

system of laws to keep peace within their

expanding empire.

PART II

THE REPUBLIC EXPANDS

LEARNING GOALS

By the end of this lesson students will be able to:

� explain how Rome became a world powerexplain how Rome became a world powerexplain how Rome became a world powerexplain how Rome became a world power

� describe Rome came to dominate the describe Rome came to dominate the describe Rome came to dominate the describe Rome came to dominate the

MediterraneanMediterraneanMediterraneanMediterranean

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Growth

• As Rome’s government changed, the Roman population continued to grow

• Rome needed more land for expanding population

• Began to settle surplus population on land acquired by conquering neighbors

Roman Army

• Organized into units called legions (approx. 4500 - 6000 men), backbone of

which were centurions (commanders of 100 men units)

• Army highly disciplined, well-trained force, could fight in all types of terrain

Military Might

• Successful expansion not possible without powerful army

• All Roman men between ages 17 and 46 with minimum amount of property required to serve in army during times of war

ROME ORGANIZES

The Conquest of Sicily

• Once in control of Italy, Rome turned attention to Sicily, large island to south of Italian Peninsula

• In Sicily, Rome came into conflict with Carthage, powerful North African trading city

• Conflict grew into series of three wars

• Punic Wars raged for nearly 80 years

The Conquest of Italy

• 265 BC, Romans had defeated Etruscans and Greek cities in Southern Italy

• Romans imposed two strict conditions on subject people—subjects had to

provide troops for Roman army, abandon any dealings with foreign nations

• Other than those conditions, Rome rarely interfered with domestic affairs of

people it conquered

EXPANSION BEGINS

The Romans had defeated Carthage, but it did not destroy the city as

many citizens had wanted.

Violence between Rome and Carthage broke out in 264 BC. Because

the First Punic War was fought mostly at sea, Carthage’s powerful navy dominated the early fighting. Soon, however, the Romans built a navy

of their own and were able to defeat Carthage.

• Violence soon broke out again

• 218 BC, Carthaginian general

Hannibal led army across Pyrenees, Alps to invade Italy

• Hannibal ravaged Italy, defeated every army he faced

• Romans needed new strategy

Hannibal

• Romans decided to take war to Africa

• General Publius Cornelius Scipio sailed to Africa, besieged Carthage

• Forced Hannibal to sail home

• Scipio defeated Hannibal, took

Carthage, won Second Punic War

Scipio

THE PUNIC WARS

CARTAGO DELINDA ES!!!

Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories

of many Romans…of many Romans…of many Romans…of many Romans…

�149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all

� Declared war on Carthage for third timeDeclared war on Carthage for third timeDeclared war on Carthage for third timeDeclared war on Carthage for third time

� After siege of three years, Carthage fellAfter siege of three years, Carthage fellAfter siege of three years, Carthage fellAfter siege of three years, Carthage fell

� Romans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed cityRomans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed cityRomans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed cityRomans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed city

� They banned any people from living thereThey banned any people from living thereThey banned any people from living thereThey banned any people from living there

• Punic Wars raged in western republic; Rome involved in politics of

eastern Mediterranean

• Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedonia, Persia, and Egypt fought constantly; Greek city-states feared being conquered

• City-states sought alliance with Rome

• Romans, Greek allies fought, and defeated Macedonia, Persia

• Both became Roman provinces

• Eventually Romans annexed

Greece as province as well

• Romans adopted many elements of

Greek culture, particularly art

Macedonia, Persia

• Romans also borrowed ideas of religion from Greeks, adopted their

gods but changed the names

• Not all Romans happy with growing

Greek influence, thought Rome should remain purely Roman

• Influence continued for many years

Greek Culture

THE CONQUEST OF THE EAST

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Consolidation:

How did Rome come to dominate the Mediterranean world?

Answer(s): by conquering its Mediterranean

neighbors, including Carthage and Greece