Chapter Six: The Roman Republic
Origins of Rome
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According to
legend, founded
in 753 BCE by
Romulus &
Remus
What does this founding myth say
about Rome?
What were the Advantages of Rome’s
Geography?
Not without reason did gods and men
choose this spot for the site of our citythe hills, the river to bring us produce
from the inland regions and sea-borne
commerce from abroad, the sea itself,
near enough for convenience yet not so
near as to bring danger from foreign
fleets, our situation in the very hear of
Italy-all these advantages make it of all
places in the world the best for a city
destined to grow great.
Livy, The Early History of Rome
The First Romans
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Latins, Greeks Etruscans
all settled & fought for
control of Italian
Peninsula
Latins built first true
settlement- considered 1st
Romans
Greek Influence
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Between 750-600
BCE Greeks
established colonies
along southern Italy
& Sicily
Prosperous,
commercial
Established strong
connection to Greek
culture
Greek Coinage
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What images are on our coins?
Greeks borrowed
idea of using coins
from Asia Minor
Silver, bronze,
electrum
More efficient
Scenes of gods,
goddesses, sporting
events
Greek Monumental Buildings
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Parthenon
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Temples made of marble
Designed to represent
Mt. Olympus
Inspired awe
Classical Greek values of
harmony and proportion
How did Greek architecture influence
Roman architecture?
Pantheon
Greek Mythology
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Functioned as religion
Conducted elaborate rituals
& sacrifices to ensure favor
Controlled all aspects of
life:
 founding of cities
 healing the sick
 winning battles
How did Greek mythology
influence Roman religion?
Major premise: All B is A.
Minor premise: All C is B.
Conclusion: All C is A.
All Greeks are mortal.
Socrates is Greek.
Socrates is mortal.
Or,
Major premise: All birds fly
Minor premise: Hawks are
birds.
Conclusion: Hawks fly.
Greek Philosophy
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“love of wisdom”
Tutors & students held
symposia-discussed natural
world
Began as branch of science
Developed into system of
logic by Aristotle
Greek Pottery
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Valued for beauty &
usefulness
Black figures on red
backgrounds
Red figures on black
backgrounds
Greater detail in the figures
Greek Science
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Studied stars, music,
math
Pythagoras believed
numbers & formulas
controlled universe
Pythagorean Theorem
measured triangles
Musical notes have
progression
Greek Theater
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Developed from
religious rites
Honored the gods
Asked for successful
harvest
Evolved into festivals
of song & dance each
spring
Dramas were outdoors
in center of city
Actors wore masks,
music, costume
changes & scenery
Greek Writing
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Written in all capital
letters
Laws & treaties carved
into plaques made of
stone or bronze
Posted in public squares
Personal writing was on
papyrus
Etruscan Architecture
Piers=pillar
like bases
Keystone
Voussoirs=wedge-shaped stones
Used for gates,
Bridges, drains.
How did Etruscan
engineering influence
Rome?
Etruscan Engineering
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Long trench cut
underground
vertical shafts dug
downward to meet it
irrigated land by
diverting water from
a stream
Used to drain water
from very wet soil,
carried water to
cities
How did Etruscan engineering influence Roman life?
Etruscan Government
Fasces
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Monarchy
Bundle of sticks w/ ax
Emblem of royal power
Bundle of Sticks = Unity
Ax = execute lawbreakers
or anyone who
threatened Roman Peace
Etruscan
Metalworking
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Used copper, lead,
iron, tin, silver, gold,
bronze
Tools, drinking vessels
Urns, statues
helmets
Etruscan Sculpture
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Realistic
Did not glorify
human subjects
Life size stone
figures created for
tombs of wealthy
Etruscan Social Organization
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Etruria made up of
city-states, ruled by
king
Wealthy lived on large
estates
Farmed, owned mines
Men/women fairly
equal
Literate
Dressed in togas
Ate together at
banquets
Etruscan Sporting Events
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Developed from funeral
practices & hunting large
animals
Gladiator combat came
from funeral rituals
Chariot racing began at
Olympics in Greece
How did Etruscan sporting event influence Roman life?
The Early Republic
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Around 600 BCE,
Etruscan king became
king of Rome
Villages grew became
larger cities
First temples & public
centers-the Forumconstructed
The Roman Forum: The Heart of Roman Political Life
Early Roman Republic
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Romans drove out
harsh Etruscan ruler,
Tarquinius in 509 BCE
Set up republic form
of government
No one person could
become too
powerful
What is a Republic?
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How did Rome’s government compare to Greece?
Government in which
power rests with
citizens who vote for
leaders
In Rome, citizenship
with voting rights was
granted only to freeborn male citizens
The Senate: Who were Patricians?
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Landowners, oldest &
richest families
Inherited power & social
status
Held public office
Performed religious rituals
300 members
Served life terms
Claimed ancestry gave
them authority to make
laws
Who were Plebeians?
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Poorer citizens
Paid taxes &
served in army
Lived in
apartments
Could not marry
patricians
Could not hold
office
If in debt, could
be sold into
slavery
Who were Consuls?
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Two consuls-Chosen each year
Headed the Republic
Worked w/ Senate
Administrators/Military leaders
Each could veto acts of other
Both had to agree before law
was passed
In charge of treasury
Commanders in chief of army
when at war
Elected by Patricians
Did Rome have a dictator?
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Cincinnatus
Washington
chosen during crisis
complete control
ruled for 6 mos
Cincinnatus most
admired dictator
George Washington
called “Cincinnatus of
the West”
How did Plebeians Gain Rights?
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Went on strike
Tribunes elected to
represent Plebeians
Veto power: blocked
laws harmful to
Plebeian class
Forced Patricians to
respect lower class
The Senate
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300 chosen for life
Handled daily running
of government
Advised consuls
Discussed foreign
relations
Proposed laws
Approved public
contracts for building
roads & temples
Other Government Officials?
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Judges, Tribunes,
Assemblies
Tribunes protected
rights of plebeians
All citizens belonged
to assembly
Assembly made war
& peace
Women
Patricians
Men who owned
large amounts of
land
Plebeians
Peasant farmers and
craftsmen
Slaves
Citizens
Assembly:
The two groups met here and voted for the following groups
Two Consuls:
They governed the
city. Elected for one
year only.
Both had to agree
with each other to
make a decision
Magistrates:
Their job was to look
after the money of
Rome. They were
also judges.
Tribunes:
They protected the
interests of ordinary
people against unfair
treatment
Senate:
Magistrates retired to the Senate. They advised Consuls. They had the
most control & influence on the Roman Republic
Roman Law: The Twelve Tables
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In 450 BCE, plebeians forced Patricians
to write laws in stone & place in Forum
Protection of law applied to all-plebeians
& patricians
Innocent until proven guilty
Accused allowed to face accusers &
defend themselves
Judges interpret law-make fair decisions
People have rights that no government
can take away
Foundation for all future Roman Laws &
basis of all Western Law & US Civil
Rights
Roman Law
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Laws from the Twelve Tables
Females shall remain in guardianship even when they
have attained their majority (except Vestal Virgins).
A spendthrift is forbidden to exercise administration over
his own goods.
It is permitted to gather fruit falling down on another
man's farm.
If any person has sung or composed against another
person a song such as was causing slander or insult to
another, he shall be clubbed to death.
Quickly kill ... a dreadfully deformed child.
The Roman Army:
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Highly valued
All landowning citizens
required to serve
Organized into legions
(infantry)
Cavalry supported them
Roman Army: Legions
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•SPQR acronym (The Senate &
People of Rome)
well-trained, well fed,
state-of the art
citizen-soldiers
Legion- 3,000-5,000 foot
soldiers
Loyal, courageous,
fearless
Technology/weapons-the
corbiss
270 BCE Rome dominated
peninsula
Rome Spreads Its Power
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By 265, controlled
Italian Peninsula
Defeated Etruscans &
Greeks
Tolerant toward
conquered peoples
Imposed different
laws & treatment for
different parts of
conquered territory
Some full citizenship
Others partial-no
voting rights
Others became allies
of Rome
Tolerant policies
helped Rome expand
Expansion in Italy: Conquered Lands
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Treated people fairly
Conquered peoples forced to:
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Honor the Senate
Pay taxes
Supply soldiers for Rome’s legions
Expansion in Italy: Conquered Lands
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Rome’s promise to conquered peoples:
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Keep customs
Keep form of money
Keep local government
Expansion in Italy: Conquered Peoples
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Respected local culture
Granted full citizenship to some peoples
Usually gained the full support of
conquered people
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Not the Jews
Expansion in Italy: Protection &
Unification
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Roman legions placed in conquered lands
Needed to make troop movement easily
Soldiers/slaves built roads
Increased trade
Spread Roman culture
Latin incorporated
Rome’s Commercial Success
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Central location
gave easy access
to regions around
Mediterranean
Traded wine, olive
oil for food, raw
materials,
manufactured
goods
Winning an Empire: Rivalry w/ Carthage
City-state on coast of N. Africa
settled by Phoenicians
 Modern day Tunis
 Dominated trade in
Mediterranean
 Jealous of Rome’s expansion
 Worried Rome would
become better traders
Wars with Carthage: Punic Wars
264-146 BCE
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Series of wars
Punic = Latin for
punicus (Phoenician)
Carthaginian General
 Hamilcar Barca
 Great leader &
general of 1st
Punic War
Sworn enemy of Rome
Wars with Carthage: Punic Wars
264-146 BCE
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Hannibal Barca
 Son of Hamilcar
 Brilliant military leader
 Took oath at age 9 to
destroy Rome
 Became leader &
general of Carthage
after Hamilcar’s death
Wars with Carthage: 1st Punic War
(264-241 BCE)
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Fought over control of Sicily
Carthage great naval power
Rome had no navy but built a fleet
Rome won Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia
Carthage humiliated-forced to surrender its entire treasury
forced to agree to keep ships out of Roman waters
2nd Punic War
(218 – 201 BCE)
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Hannibal wanted revenge
From Spain, marched army w/
elephants through Pyrenees,
across France, over Alps into
Northern Italy
Tremendous losses but gained
new recruits from tribes he
encountered that feared Rome
Surprised Rome, conquered
most of Northern peninsula
Could not conquer Rome itself
2nd Punic War
(218 – 201 BCE)
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Hannibal’s armies kill 20% of
Rome’s population-cannot defeat
Rome
Scipio launches a brilliant
counterattack on Carthage
Hannibal forced to return to
Carthage to defend
Carthage defeated at battle of
Zama
2nd Punic War
(218 – 201 BCE)
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Peace treaty ends the 2nd Punic War
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Carthage gives up all land claims on Sicily,
Sardinia, and Corsica
Massive tribute (penalty taxes) paid
Rome recognized as master of the
Mediterranean Sea
Third Punic War
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Rome invented excuse to
attack Carthage again
though it was weak
Rome sent soldiers-siege
for two years
Eventually Rome won &
“salted the earth” so
Carthage could never rival
Rome again
After that, Rome turned
east & defeated Macedonia
Summary: Roman Expansion
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Three Stages
 Conquest of Italy
 Conflict with Carthage & expansion into western
Mediterranean Sea
 Domination of Hellenistic kingdoms in the eastern
Mediterranean
From Republic to Empire
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As Rome grew, its
republican form of
government grew
increasingly unstable
Eventually the
republic gave way to
an imperial a
dictatorship that
continued to spread
Roman influence