The Roman RepublicChapter 10

Rome Italy• Italy is a peninsula in Southern Europe• It looks like a high-heeled boot sticking out into the Mediterranean

Physical Features of Italy• Two Main Mt. Ranges: 1. Alps – in the North, the highest mountains2. Apennines – runs the length of the Italian peninsula

The Hills of Italy• Some of Italy’s mountains, like Vesuvius, are volcanic• Most of Italy is covered in mountains or hills• Cities were built on top of these hills for defense• Rome was built on 7 hills near the Tiber River

The Climate of Italy• Most of Italy has warm dry summers and mild rainy winters• The Climate is good to grow a variety of food – grains, fruits, olives• Plentiful food was a key factor in Rome’s early growth

Rome’s Legendary Origins• No written records exist of Rome’s earliest days• Ruins date back to 800 BC• Legends: 1. Aeneas: story told in the book The Aeneid by the poet Virgil around 20 BC.

Aeneas fled from Troy with his followers, forming an alliance with people in Italy called The Latins. Aeneas rose to prominence in Italy and strengthened his clan militarily.

Legends Continued2. Romulus & Remus: Twin brothers, descendants of Aeneas. Put in a basket to drown

– rescued by a wolf. Finally raised by a shepherd. They planned a city to mark the spot of rescue. Romulus killed Remus in an argument. Named the city after himself.

• According to legend. Romulus became King of Rome in 753 BC.• Roman records list seven Kings of Rome• Last three kings were Etruscan – people north of Rome• Etruscans may have been a more advanced people – influenced by Greeks• 509BC – Evil King overthrown by nobles – Republic was created

From The Aeneid (pg. Aeneid)

•What details in this passage would make Roman Readers proud of their past?

•Aeneas formed an alliance with the Latins. How does the author, Virgil, portray the Latins?

Rome’s Early Republic

• 509 BC – The Romans created a Republic• Romans elected officials each year to rule the city• No one was to become too powerful – except – the officials all came

from a select few wealthy men.

Challenges from Outside• Rome warred with neighboring people on & off for many years• During very difficult wars – they elected temporary dictators to win

the war• One famous dictator was Cincinnatus (458 BC)• He was a farmer – who quickly led the Romans to destroy the enemy

then he went back to farming.• Admired for his lack of ambition for power

Challenges within Rome• Only the Patricians (wealthy nobles) could be elected to office• The Plebeians ( peasants, craftsmen, traders) wanted a change and

elected their own council.• What will the Patricians do? • They created offices in gov’t only held by plebeians in order to protect

plebeians rights• A tripartite government was created

Government of Rome

Law of the Twelve Tables• Rome’s first written law code 450BC was produced on 12 bronze

tablets. • They were displayed in the Forum for all to see• They became a symbol of Roman Law & rights as citizens.

Growth of Territory & Trade

• Roman territory grew mostly in response to other people attacking them. • One reason for success is the formation of the Army in Legions and

Centuries.

Farming

• In the beginning of Rome, most Romans were farmers• As Rome grew – people moved into the city as wealthy Romans

bought their farms and built large farms in the countryside run by slaves. VILLA

TRADE• Roman trade also expanded as merchants brought food and goods

into Rome from other lands. • Roman coins began to be made.

The Punic Wars• The Punic Wars were a series of wars fought between Rome &

Carthage – in North Africa• (CAUSE)218 BC – Hannibal leads his armies against Rome but is

defeated• (CAUSE)140s BC – Rome attacks Carthage, burns it, killed most of the

people and sells the rest into slavery• Romans took control of

• Northern Africa•Most of the WesternMediterranean region• Greece and parts of Asia

Crises Strike the Republic• As the Roman territory grew – the rich again feared a revolt between the rich and

poor• Gracchus brothers – Tiberius & Gaius, both Tribunes and both reformers• Tiberius wanted to create farms for the poor on land that the wealthy had

illegally taken over. There were riots and Tiberius was killed. • Gaius tried the same thing a few years later – and he was killed• This changed politics in Rome. • Leaders were attacked if the people did not like their policies.

Crises • In 107 BC – Roman Army needed more troops• Gaius Marius encouraged poor people to join (before only property

owners could join)• Thousands of poor & unemployed joined• Marius’s troops were very loyal & grateful, making Marius very

politically powerful. • Other generals followed his lead.

Sulla• Lucius Cornelius Sulla – Consul 88 BC.• Came into conflict with Marius which led to a civil war in Rome.• Sulla’s troops won and Sulla named himself Dictator – a position

reserved for times of intense war.• He made sweeping changes politically, restoring great power to the

Senate – but making it harder to move upward in politics. • Killed anyone who opposed him• Gradually retired.

Spartacus

• Spartacus led a slave uprising. He was a former gladiator.• He raised an army and took over Southern Italy.• He was eventually killed in Battle. • 6000 slaves were crucified as an example to others.

The Roman Republic Chapter 10 Review

• In geographic terms, Italy is a _______________• Peninsula

• What US document was written to protect people’s rights, similar to the law of the Twelve Tables? • US Constitution & the Bill of Rights

• The Forum, in Ancient Rome was _________________• The center of life

• The Romans were so populated, eventually they could not make enough food and had to bring food from other parts of the Mediterranean causing ___________ to grow. • Trade Network

• Which event after 88BC had the most important effect on the Roman republic’s government?• Sulla named himself dictator

• What was the outcome of Italy’s nice climate for Rome? • Large food supply

• What do you think might have happened if the Romans had not created a Republic• They would have continued to be ruled by Kings

• Which branches of government in Rome could only serve for one year? • The Magistrates & The Assembly

• Why did other city-states continue to declare war on Rome? • Threatened by Rome’s power

• Romans realized that violence could be used as a political weapon after the death of who? • The Gracchus brothers

• Who was Hannibal? • A general from Carthage who led an attack on Rome in 218 BC.

• Who established the first laws of the Roman Republic?• The Patricians established the first laws

• What prevents one branch of government from overpowering another? • System of checks & balances

• Who came from Troy and joined with the Latins in the Italian peninsula? • Aeneas

• As time passed the Senate became powerful again and took control over the ______________ and the city’s finances. • Magistrates

• Where did Rome’s last 3 kings come from? • They were Etruscan – from North of Rome

• Rome fought Carthage in a series of wars known as the ________• Punic Wars

• What people, conquered by Rome, influenced Rome culturally? • The Greeks

• On what geographic feature was Rome built? • 7 Hills

• Why do we have only legends and not facts about Rome’s early history? • They didn’t write it down

• In order to please the Plebeians – the common people – Rome created what? • A new branch of Government just for them – the Assembly

• What did the Forum symbolize? • The nature of Roman society

• Who were the brothers that wanted to help the common people and what happened to them? • Gracchus brothers were killed for their political policies

• Government in which people elect their leaders• Republic

• Rulers with absolute power• Dictators

• Rome’s common people• Plebeians

• Rome’s powerful citizens & nobles• Patricians

• Rome’s most powerful magistrates• Consuls

• A council of wealthy Romans who advised magistrates• Senate

• Rome’s public meeting place• Forum

• Consisting of three parts• Tripartite

• A large group of soldiers – 6000 – in Rome were called a • Legion