Governing Rome
Chapter 11.2
Tennessee Social Studies
• 6.59 On a historical map, identify ancient
Rome and trace the extent of the Roman
Empire to 500 AD
• 6.62 Describe the government of the
Roman Republic and its contribution to the
development of democratic principles,
including but not limited to rule of law
•
Roman social class
Patricians
Plebeians
•Ruling class
•Wealthy landowners
•Farmers, artisans, and
merchants
•Often lacked rights
•Could not hold public office
Both had to pay taxes and serve in the army
Government of the Republic
•
•
Roman Republic was organized into 3
branches:
1. Made laws
2. Ran daily affairs of government
3. Judges
Checks and balances
• Consuls headed the
government, also served
as army leaders
• Consul could serve 1 year
• Could veto each other
• Praetors interpreted the
law and served as judges,
also led army
• Senate was the legislature
– Group of 300 men
– Served for life
– Advised the consuls
• Assembly of Centuries elected consuls and praetors
Conflict Between Classes
• Plebeians became frustrated because they
no power in government.
– 494 BC plebs went on strike, refused to fight
in army, and left Rome
– Patricians knew they could not survive without
the plebs.
– Let the plebs have representation – The
Council of the Plebs
– Plebs elected tribunes
More power for the Plebs
•
•
•
•
Tribunes could veto
Plebs were allowed to become consuls
Plebs could even marry patricians
287 BC Council of Plebs could pass laws
Cincinnatus and Civic Duty
• Romans created the office of dictator
– The dictator would rule during crisis and then
regular power would resume
– Cincinnatus had been a consul.
– 458 BC the Senate appointed him as dictator
to handle the threat of an enemy army.
– For 2 weeks Cincinnatus led the army,
defeated the enemy, and then went back to
farming.
Civic Duty
• Civic duty (idea that citizens have a
responsibility to help their country)
– George Washington was inspired by
Cincinnatus.
Rome’s System of Law
• Rome’s laws were not written down in the
beginning
• Plebeians wanted the laws written down
for all to see.
• 451 BC - Twelve Tables
– Carved on bronze tablets and placed in the
Forum
– Foundation for law, all free citizens had the
right to be treated equally
Roman Justice
• Roman law influenced many other civilizations including
the United States
– Assume a person is innocent until proven guilty
– Rule of law – everyone treated the same, guiding
principle of our legal system
The Punic Wars
• Carthage, located along the north African
coast, became powerful through trade.
• Originally been a Phoenician trading
colony
• Became Rome’s bitter enemy
• 264 BC a series of war between the two
began that would last over a century
First Punic War
•
•
•
•
Carthage had colonies on the island of Sicily. Rome decided it
wanted the island for itself.
Carthage had a strong navy.
Rome quickly built a navy of its own.
- improved the ships by adding moveable bridge allowing them
to board Carthage’s ships
After more than 2 decades of fighting, Rome defeated
Carthage and took control of Sicily
Second Punic War
• Carthage needed more land and resources after losing
Sicily to Rome.
• Carthage decided to take over Spain.
• Rome encouraged Spain to fight back.
• In response, Carthage sent Hannibal to attack Rome in
218 BC.
• Hannibal had a large army of 46,000 men and 37
elephants.
• Carthage used the elephants to cross the Alps.
• Bitter cold and mountain tribes killed most of the men
and elephants.
• 216 BC Hannibal was able to defeat the Romans at the
Battle of Cannae.
Second and Third Punic War
• Rome continued to fight back.
• 206 BC the Roman general Scipio took Spain
and attacked the city of Carthage.
• Hannibal was forced to return home to protect
his people.
• 202 BC, Rome once again is victorious at the
Battle of Zama.
• Carthage had to pay a huge fine and give up its
navy.
• Carthage remained a threat, so finally in 146 BC
Rome destroyed it.