Chapter 5 Notes: The Roman Republic (Western Civilization – Jackson J Spielvogel 8th Edition)
I.
The Emergence Of Rome
A.
Geography of the Italian Peninsula
1.
2.
3.
4.
B.
C.
D.
Mts – did not isolate
Fertile farm land
Italian peninsula – important crossroads for trade
Rome – access to sea while still safe from pirates
Greeks – established trading center, alphabet, sculpture, architecture, literature
Etruscans – transformed villages to burans cities – created city of Rome
Early Rome
1.
2.
3.
Legend of Romulus and Remus; pastoral people spoke Latin
More Etruscan influence - Building of the roads; dress – toga & cloak
2 theories for End of Monarchy
a)
story of King’s son raping LucretiaRoman nobles drove out king for revenge; establish
republic
b)
Roman nobles trying to maintain power
II.
The Roman Republic
A.
Roman State
1.
Political Institutions – based on imperium, “right to command”
a)
b)
2 consuls- lead government and army, 1 year term
Praetor – in charge of civil law and execution of justice
c)
Dictator – unlimited power to run the state, but emergency only
d)
Quaestors – help with financial affairs
e)
Aediles – supervise public games and (FDA – grain supply)
f)
Senate – 300 men; serve for life, legislative body, advise magistrates
g)
Centuriate assembly – army functioning in political role, richest citizens who elect the
chief magistrate and pass laws
2.
Social Organization
a)
Paterfamilias – based on family clans with father at head; power passed father to son
b)
Names show social class. Men have 2 or 3 names, girls only first name, male version of
father
c)
Patricians – aristocratic governing class: wealthy landowners descended from original
senators
d)
Plebians – poor, middle class or wealthy but not related to senators; less rights than
patricians
3.
Struggle of Orders
a)
Tribunes of the plebs – 2 new officials – power to protect plebians from patrician
b)
Council of the plebs – assembly for plebians only ; gave political leverage
c)
12 Tables of Law – written procedures of laws; led to unrest when plebians realized they
had less rights
d)
Licinian -Sextian laws – made allowance for a plebian to be one of the consuls; later both
consuls could be plebian but at least one must be
e)
Hortensian law – landmark in Roman constitutional history: all plebiscita, laws plebs
created, had force of law, binding on entire community (vs before where patricians did not have to
follow) and did not require senate approval
B.
Roman Conquest of Italy
1.
Livy – historian modeled writing after Greeks, more legend than fact, stories taught
values and virtues: tenacity, duty, courage, discipline; reinforce Roman patriotism
2.
Latin states revolt – Romans deal with it by immediately crushing rebellion, controlled
majority of Italy by 264 BC
3.
Roman Confederation – system to govern Italy
a)
Gave full citizenship OR
b)
Made allies – free to maintain own rule in exchange for providing soldiers for Roman
c)
Roman success: consistent policies, superb diplomats, crush rebellions, good soldierspersistent; practical strategy, impressive military and communications – road system to rule
colonies efficiently, effectively