RomeThe beginning and the republic…

Rome--- Where is it?

Rome, Italy

Capital city

Europe

Peninsula

Vatican & Pope

Geography-Surrounded by water on three sides (Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea), had rolling land with good soil for farming, was mountainous which provided protection from enemies, had few harbors making overseas travel and trade difficult, Alps lie to the north

Rome: From the Beginning

Romulus and Remus Twin sons of the God Mars Abandoned and raised by a she-wolf Decided to build a great city

Argument Romulus kills Remus Names city after himself, Rome Invites all to live in city --- slaves, women, men,

etc.. Romulus becomes the first King of Rome

Monarchy

Romulus & the war he caused Provides his men with wives by inviting neighboring

tribe to festival and abducting young women Sabines go to war with Rome

Following the war, Romulus shares kingship with Sabine king

King Titus Tatius

From Monarchy to Republic

In about 600 BC neighboring people called the Etruscans took control of Rome

The Etruscan King-King Tarquin the Proud was cruel and harsh.

The Romans rebelled, ending the monarchy and starting a new government that they called a Republic

Roman RepublicRoman citizens do not make all of the

decisions like in Athens. Instead, they elect representatives to make decisions. This council of representatives was called the Senate. The senate was made up of 300 Roman aristocrats (Rome’s elite) called the Patricians.

From the senate two members, called Consuls were elected to run the daily affairs of Rome. To keep anyone from staying in power too long they elected new consuls every year.

Patricians VS PlebeiansPatrician-noblemen that held

almost all of the power, they had the best education, and only they could become members of the Senate

Plebeian-Common people that had few rights and almost no say in how they were governed.

Patricians VS Plebeians Rome was divided into two unequal groups: Patricians and

Plebeians A struggle was taking place between the two groups.

Plebeians wanted rights and the patricians wanted to keep their power.

The plebeians worked to obtain and secure their rights. They organized themselves and when they disagreed with the patricians, they would leave the city and refuse to listen. Eventually, the plebeians elected their own leaders, called Tribunes.

Soon the plebeians were able to force the patricians to treat them better and allowing them a voice. The partricians realized that Rome’s economy would suffer without the plebians

The patricians allowed the plebeian to elect 10 tribunes. These tribunes could attend senate meetings and could Veto (Refuse) laws that they did not agree with.

Democracy v. Republic

Democracy Republic

Constraints on the government:

No; the majority can impose its will on the minority

Yes; the majority cannot take away certain inalienable rights

Sovereignty is held by:

the whole population (as a group)

the people (individuals)

Definition: is ruled by the omnipotent majority. In a Democracy, individuals have the power

Representatives are selected to make decisions

From a Republic to a Dictatorship

Tax money made the patricians rich while slaves made the plebeians poor (slaves took their jobs).

In 82 BC a civil war broke out. At the end, Lucius Sulla took power, turning Rome into a dictatorship.

In BC Julius Ceaser became Rome’s dicatator. He envisioned many things for Rome