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Rome (Republic) Study Guide
People
Romulus and Remus – according to one legend – twins who found Rome
Aeneas – hero of literature said to have been founder of Rome
Cincinnatus – called to be dictator, won battle, gave up title of dictator after 16
days
Hannibal – crosses Alps with elephants and defeats Rome in 2nd Punic War; later
commits suicide rather than returning to Rome
Julius Caesar – see notes in later section
Octavian –defeats Antony and changes his name to Augustus when he becomes
emperor
Antony – part of 1st triumvirate (with Caesar), defeated by Octavian after Caesar
dies
Cicero – Rome’s greatest public speaker; called for representative government
and was against dictators
Augustus – name Octavian chose after he became emperor
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus – brothers who were killed because they wanted to
give land to the poor
Places
Sicily – an island that is part of Italy; fought over in the 1st Punic War (football)
Tiber River – Rome was located 15 miles up it
Carthage – Punic War rival of Rome located in Northern Africa
Rubicon – river Caesar crossed to start a civil war; now means making a decision
that you cannot take back
Vocabulary
aqueduct – a human-made channel for carrying water long distances
republic – a government in which citizens elect the leaders
legion – Roman fighting groups made up of 6,000 soldiers that could be
divided into even smaller units
patrician – wealthy landowners, nobles
plebian – artisans, shopkeepers, and owners of small farms
consul – seen notes below
veto – reject (consuls could veto each other’s decisions)
praetor – interpreted law and acted as judges
dictator – ruled on a temporary basis during an emergency
latifundia – large farming estates worked by slaves
triumvirate – a political alliance of 3 people
Aeneid – legend of Trojan hero said to have begun Rome; written by Virgil
Twelve Tables – Rome’s first written laws
Pax Romana – 200 years of peace that began with the rule of Augustus
Section 1: Rome’s Beginnings
The Origins of Rome
Italy peninsula shaped like a boot.
Big area for producing wine and olive oil
What geographical advantages does the Italian landscape have over the Greek
landscape?
The mountains are much less rugged
EQ #1 How did geography play an important role in the rise of Roman
civilization?
Alps (mountains) provided defense
Apennines (mountains) much less rugged and has plains (provided less
isolation than Greece and more food)
Tiber River (provided fresh water, transportation, and safety because Rome
is located 15 miles from sea)
Hills (defense)
Why Was Rome So Strong?
Romans were excellent soldiers:
Every male citizen who owned land had to serve
Discipline was harsh – deserters were punished by death
Discipline molded them into fighters who did not give up easily
They were also practical problems solvers (changed away from phalanx to
legion which were easier to fight with)
EQ #2 How did the treatment of conquered people effect the building of Rome?
Roman Confederation: system of rule where Romans gave:
full citizenship to some conquered people (allowed to vote and serve in
government)
other people were allies – they were free to run local government, but had
to pay taxes and provide soldiers for the army
The result? The Republic grows stronger and more unified
Section 2: The Roman Republic
Rome’s Government
Even in early Rome both plebeians and patricians were Roman citizens and had
the right to vote. They also had the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the
army.
Describe the Roman government and compare it to American government.
Both are republics.
Consuls (2): (Executive Branch) – run government; head army, chosen
every year, can veto each other
Praetors (Judicial Branch) – judges, interpret laws
Senators (300): (Legislative Branch) – power began as just advising then
grew to making laws, hold debates, and approve building programs; served
for life!
EQ #1 How did the right to vote effect the struggle between wealthy
landowners (patricians) and regular citizens (plebeians)?
The plebeians went on strike and refused to serve in the army. As a result, they
gained political and social power.
How did Roman law influence American law?
The Twelve Tables set standards of justice we still accept today: 1) a
person is seen as innocent until proven guilty 2) people accused of crimes can
defend themselves in front of a judge 3) A judge has to carefully look at
evidence before making a decision 4) “rule of law” (the law applies to everyone
equally and all people should be treated the same way by the legal system.
EQ #2 How did Rome take control of the entire Mediterranean region?
After 3 Punic Wars they defeated Carthage and its empire. In addition, they
defeated Greece, Macedonia, and gained provinces in Asia Minor
Section 3: The Fall of the Republic
EQ # 1 How did slavery hurt farmers, increase poverty and corruption, and bring
in the army?
Trouble in the Republic: Why?
1. Rich (few) vs poor (many); farmers become poor because they had been
away fighting Rome’s wars or their farms had been damaged during
Hannibal’s invasion
2. rise of latifundia
3. farmers who sold their land and moved to the city to find work found slaves
had taken the jobs there, too
What did the leaders do to win their votes?
Bread and circuses (money and entertainment)
What happened next?
The rich take more land and power until the army steps in (Marius).
What does he do?
He pays soldiers (money and land) to serve in his army so their loyalty goes
to him instead of the republic
Julius Caesar
Part of triumvirate, becomes hero lower classes, Senate orders him to give
up his army and come home.
“Crossing the Rubicon” – see definitions
EQ #2. What reforms did he introduce and what effect did they have?
1. Filled Senate with new members who were loyal to him
2. Granted citizenship to people living in Rome’s territories
3. Started new colonies to provide land to Rome’s poor
4. Created work for jobless people
5. Ordered landowners who used slave labor to hire more free workers
The effect of the reforms? He becomes a hero to the poor.
What happened to him at the end?
He was killed in the Roman Senate by many Senators (so no single person
could be blamed). Famous quote is “Et tu Brute?” And you, Brutus
What else is cool about him?
Our modern 12 month calendar is a reform that was created by him (with a
minor change later)
EQ #3 What caused the Roman Republic to fall and the Roman Empire to rise?
1. Big struggle between rich and poor (rich continue to get more and poor
continue to get poorer)
2. Powerful people who want to change the system are killed (Gracchus
brothers)
3. Army enters politics (Marius, Sulla, Julius Caesar)
4. Roman Republic weakened by civil war (between the generals of the 2nd
triumvirate) becomes an empire under Octavian (who changes his name
to Augustus)