the roman republic. today’s goal describe the origins, development, and characteristics of the...
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The Roman Republic
Today’s Goal• Describe the origins,
development, and characteristics of the Roman Republic
LIVY, The Early History of Rome
“Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot for the site of our city – the [salubrious] hills, the river to bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from foreign fleets, our situation in the very heart of Italy – all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great."
Geography & Location• Central peninsula
of Mediterranean Sea– Island of Sicily
• Fertile land!• Tiber River
Legendary Origins• Romulus & Remus
Legendary Origins• Told in Virgil’s Aeneid– Links the founding of Rome to the Trojan
warrior Aeneas who flees from a burning Troy
Historical Origins of Rome• Latins – Palatine Hill
• Greeks–Mythology–Writing
• Etruscans–Metalwork– Sculpture– Road building– Arch
Examples of Etruscan art
Note the Greek alphabet
Romans borrowedEtruscan buildingtechniques.
The Last Monarch• King Tarquinius Superbus =
Tarquin the Proud• Tyrant driven from
power• res republica
(“public affairs”) Republic
Conflict of the Orders
• Senatus Populusque Romanus = “Senate and the Roman People”
• Patricians- Wealthy landowners- Most power
• Plebeians- Commoners- Most of population
Conflict of the Orders
• Tribunes = elected to protect rights of plebeians
• Twelve Tables written law code
• Citizenship = all adult male landowners
Twelve Tables (excerpts)• If a thief was a freeman, he was flogged & handed to
person from whom he stole to repay the damage• If a thief were a slave, flogged then thrown to his
death off the Tarpeian Rock (cliff)• No burials or cremations within city walls• Maintenance of roads was responsibility of property
owner• Marriage between plebeians and patricians no longer
forbidden• Permitted to remove branch from neighbor’s tree if
overhung into one’s property• Theft of crops was death penalty by clubbing• For slander there was death penalty by clubbing• Levels of punishment varied by status of person• Laws distinguished between intentional and
accidental killing• Father had right to kill his deformed child
Roman Forum
Public meeting place and the heart of Roman political life
Two Consuls
Commanded Army
Limited power
Veto each other
1 year term
(once/10 years)
Gov’t of Roman
Republic
Gov’t of Roman
Republic
Senate (Curiae)
– 300
members
Foreign,
financial
policies
Elected for life
Advises consuls
Patricians &
plebeians
Gov’t of Roman
RepublicCenturia
te Assembl
y – both
patricians &
plebeians Citizen-soldiers elected for life
Selects consuls, makes laws
Gov’t of Roman
Republic
Tribal Assem
bly Elects tribune
s, makes laws
Citizens
elected yearly
Gov’t of Roman
RepublicDictator – Elected in times of crisis
Absolute
power to
make laws
Command Army Chosen
by consuls
for 6 mo. term
Magistrates• 8 praetors – judges • 2 censors – census of citizens,
tax assessments• 4 aediles - supervised public
places, public games, and the grain supply
Appian Way
Rome’s Balanced Government
Consuls = a monarchy +Assemblies = a democracy +Senate = an aristocracy = Rome’s balanced government
Roman Army• All land-owning citizens required to
serve • Legions = large military units of ~6,000
infantry- Supported by cavalry (equites)
• Centuries = smaller units of 100 infantry – 60 centuries make up a legion
Typical Formation of Legions
Family Life in the Roman Republic
• Pater familias – led religious ceremonies, total life and death authority
• Women had no legal protection• Children obeyed authority• Slaves were treated well
Life in Roman Republic• The Roman villa– Countryside– Hypocaust (“heat from below”)– Atriums, garden– Al fresco dining
• The uncomfortable toga.• Easy to make – no sewing – no
buttonholes• Large wool blanket 18 X 7 ft.• Symbol of Roman citizenship• Young boy wore a white toga with
a purple band around the border• Age 16 a boy and his family would
go to the forum where he would register as a full citizen and wear a white toga
• The toga was worn at the theater, in court, for religious ceremonies, and on any formal occasion
• At death, his body is wrapped in a toga, marking him as a Roman citizen
Rome Gains Control of Italy
• Romans defeat Etruscans & Latins• Samnite Wars – gained central Italy• Romans vs. Greeks
- Pyrrhus (king of Epirus) – “Pyrrhic victory”- Rome defeats Greeks
Treatment of Conquered Territory
• Nearby Latins = full citizens of Rome• Farther territories = rights of citizenship except
the vote• Allies of Rome = freedom to go about their
business, BUT supplied troops, could not make treaties
Punic Wars - Rome v. Carthage, 264-146 BC
• 1st Punic War – Rome beats Carthage, gains Sicily• 2nd Punic War – Hannibal of Carthage marches
through Spain, Alps to attack Rome – Would Roman allies
defect? NO• 3rd Punic War – Roman
general Scipio – Hannibal defeated in
N. Africa– Carthage burned
The Corvus (Latin for “raven” or “crow”)
• Crane/plank on a Roman ship that turned naval battle into a land battle
Rome dominates Mediterranean by 70 BC
• East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & Anatolia
• West – as far as Spain• Republic dominates the . . . “known
world”
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