T H E R O M A N R E P U B L I C

CHAPTER 8 SECTION 1

KEY TERMS

• Republic• Patrician• Plebian • Consul• Veto• Dictator

INTRODUCTION

• Romulus and Remus• Children of a princess and

Mars (Roman god of War)• Jealous king feared they

would take power, he ordered them drowned

• Gods protected infants, had a wolf rescue them, raised by shepherd

• Twins grew up to rule the seven hills of Rome.

ROME’S GEOGRAPHY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT

• Fertile Soil• Large Hills easy for

defense• Tiber River – flows

through Rome and empties into the Tyrrhenian sea

• Center of a long, narrow peninsula

• Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea

THE ETRUSCANS

• We know very little about founders of Rome• First settlements in

900 B.C. • 600 B.C. Etruscans

held power

THE ETRUSCANS (CONT..)

The Etruscans

• Ruled as Kings• Tarquinius Superbus• Overthrown by Romans in

509 B.C. • Harsh ruler• No more etruscan rulers• Some historians debate

this.

• Many roman gods originally etruscan gods

• Roman Toga, alphabet adopted from the Etruscans

PEOPLES OF ANCIENT ITALY

ROMANS FORM A REPUBLIC

• Romans don’t trust Kings • 264 B.C. Romans

gained control of entire Italian Peninsula • Created a Republic • Citizens have the right

to vote, select their own leaders

THE ROMAN SENATE

• Senate is most powerful form of government• Voted on laws • 300 upper-class

Patricians• Plebians could NOT

hold office or be senators

THE ROMAN CONSULS

• 2 Consuls led the Country similar to the President• Enforced the law• Elected by the people• Senate advised

Consuls on foreign affairs, laws, and finances. • Only ruled for 1 year

THE ROMANS CONSULS (CONT…)

• Plebians Could NOT be Consuls before 367 B.C. • Consuls did what the

Senate wanted. • Power divided equally• Veto = “I forbid”• IF one veto’ed THEN

nothing would be done.

OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICIALS

• Just in case Consuls didn’t act, Romans allowed for Dictators to handle emergency situations• Praetors: • Important officials• Served as judges• Trials for money,

business, contracts

PATRICIANS VS. PLEBEIANS

Patricians

• Leaders• Fight to control

government• Wealthy from

conquest• Had land/slaves

Plebeians

• Wanted respect and fair treatment• Didn’t trust gov.• Many were jobless• Refused to fight in

army

PATRICIANS VS PLEBEIANS (CONT…)

• Plebeians get their demand• Twelve Tables • Written code of Laws• Equality for all citizens • Hung in marketplace for

all to see• This is only a small

victory

MASTER OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

• Roman armies are expanding • Invaded Carthage (N.

Africa) • Drove Carthaginians

from Spain, destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C. • Conquered Greece

and Gaul (France).

MASTERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

THE DECLINE OF THE REPUBLIC

120 B.C.

• Some Plebeian Leaders tried to break up large land and give it to Plebeians, Patricians fought back• 75 years Roman

armies take control, Consuls are not respected• Civil War

RISE OF JULIUS CAESAR

58 to 51 B.C.

• Caesar leads army that conquered Gaul • Won the respect of his

soldiers • In 49 B.C. Caesar

violated military assignment • War between Caesar and

Pompey

RISE OF JULIUS CAESAR (CONT…)

• Caesar becomes dictator in 48 B.C. • Dictator can only

serve in Rome for six months• Caesar gets rid of the

republic , he replaces the Senate.

DEATH OF A DICTATOR

• Civil war lasted for 4 years• 45 B.C. Caesar

becomes only Consul• 44 B.C. Caesar

becomes dictator for life• Rome has a King?

People hate Kings…

DEATH OF A DICTATOR (CONT…)

March 15th, 44 B.C.

• Caesar plans to go to Senate meeting• Senators kill him • He had gone too far

and too fast gained power.

FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE

• More Civil war followed Caesar’s death• Caesar’s son Octavian

becomes the first Emperor of Rome. • Augustus = “Highly

respected”• Lasted 500 years

FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE

• From city-state to holding vast territory • Largest gov. in the

World• The people no longer

make choices, the Emperor does.