Chapter Six: The Roman Republic

Origins of Rome According to According to

legend, legend, founded in 753 founded in 753 BCE by BCE by Romulus & Romulus & RemusRemus

What does this founding myth say about Rome?

What were the Advantages of Rome’s Geography?

Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot for the site of our city-the 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 hear of Italy-all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great.

Livy, The Early History of Rome

The First Romans Latins, Greeks

Etruscans all settled & fought for control of Italian Peninsula

Latins built first true settlement- considered 1st Romans

Greek Influence Between 750-600

BCE Greeks established colonies along southern Italy & Sicily

Prosperous, commercial

Established strong connection to Greek culture

Greek Coinage Greeks borrowed Greeks borrowed

idea of using idea of using coins from Asia coins from Asia MinorMinor

Silver, bronze, Silver, bronze, electrumelectrum

More efficientMore efficient Scenes of gods, Scenes of gods,

goddesses, goddesses, sporting eventssporting eventsWhat images are on our coins?

Greek Monumental Buildings Temples made of marbleTemples made of marble Designed to represent Designed to represent

Mt. OlympusMt. Olympus Inspired aweInspired awe Classical Greek values of Classical Greek values of

harmony and proportionharmony and proportionParthenon

Pantheon

How did Greek architecture influence Roman architecture?

Greek Mythology Functioned as religionFunctioned as religion Conducted elaborate Conducted elaborate

rituals & sacrifices to rituals & sacrifices to ensure favorensure favor

Controlled all aspects of Controlled all aspects of life: life: founding of citiesfounding of cities healing the sickhealing the sick winning battleswinning battles

How did Greek mythology influence Roman religion?

Greek Philosophy

““love of wisdom”love of wisdom” Tutors & students held Tutors & students held

symposia-discussed symposia-discussed natural worldnatural world

Began as branch of Began as branch of sciencescience

Developed into system Developed into system of logic by Aristotleof logic by Aristotle

Major premise: All B is A.Minor premise: All C is B.Conclusion: All C is A.All Greeks are mortal.Socrates is Greek.Socrates is mortal.Or,Major premise: All birds flyMinor premise: Hawks are birds.Conclusion: Hawks fly.

Greek Pottery Valued for beauty & Valued for beauty &

usefulnessusefulness Black figures on red Black figures on red

backgroundsbackgrounds Red figures on black Red figures on black

backgroundsbackgrounds Greater detail in the Greater detail in the

figuresfigures

Greek Science Studied stars, music, Studied stars, music,

mathmath Pythagoras believed Pythagoras believed

numbers & formulas numbers & formulas controlled universecontrolled universe

Pythagorean Theorem Pythagorean Theorem measured trianglesmeasured triangles

Musical notes have Musical notes have progressionprogression

Greek Theater Developed from Developed from

religious ritesreligious rites Honored the godsHonored the gods Asked for successful Asked for successful

harvestharvest Evolved into Evolved into

festivals of song & festivals of song & dance each springdance each spring

Dramas were Dramas were outdoors in center outdoors in center of cityof city

Actors wore masks, Actors wore masks, music, costume music, costume changes & scenery changes & scenery

Greek Writing Written in all capital Written in all capital

lettersletters Laws & treaties Laws & treaties

carved into plaques carved into plaques made of stone or made of stone or bronzebronze

Posted in public Posted in public squaressquares

Personal writing was Personal writing was on papyruson papyrus

Etruscan ArchitecturePiers=pillar like bases Voussoirs=wedge-shaped stones

Keystone

Used for gates,

Bridges, drains.

How did Etruscan engineering influence Rome?

Etruscan Engineering Long trench cut Long trench cut

underground underground vertical shafts dug vertical shafts dug

downward to downward to meet it meet it

irrigated land by irrigated land by diverting water diverting water from a streamfrom a stream

Used to drain Used to drain water from very water from very wet soil, wet soil,

carried water to carried water to citiescities

How did Etruscan engineering influence Roman life?

Etruscan GovernmentEtruscan Government MonarchyMonarchy Bundle of sticks w/ ax Bundle of sticks w/ ax Emblem of royal powerEmblem of royal power Bundle of Sticks = UnityBundle of Sticks = Unity Ax = execute lawbreakers Ax = execute lawbreakers

or anyone who or anyone who threatened Roman Peacethreatened Roman Peace

Fasces

Etruscan Metalworking

Used copper, lead, Used copper, lead, iron, tin, silver, iron, tin, silver, gold, bronzegold, bronze

Tools, drinking Tools, drinking vesselsvessels

Urns, statuesUrns, statues helmetshelmets

Etruscan Sculpture RealisticRealistic Did not glorify Did not glorify

human subjectshuman subjects Life size stone Life size stone

figures created for figures created for tombs of wealthytombs of wealthy

Etruscan Social Organization Etruria made up of Etruria made up of

city-states, ruled by city-states, ruled by kingking

Wealthy lived on Wealthy lived on large estateslarge estates

Farmed, owned Farmed, owned minesmines

Men/women fairly Men/women fairly equal equal

LiterateLiterate Dressed in togasDressed in togas Ate together at Ate together at

banquetsbanquets

Etruscan Sporting Events

Developed from Developed from funeral practices & funeral practices & hunting large animalshunting large animals

Gladiator combat Gladiator combat came from funeral came from funeral ritualsrituals

Chariot racing began Chariot racing began at Olympics in Greeceat Olympics in Greece

How did Etruscan sporting event influence Roman life?

The Early Republic

Around 600 BCE, Around 600 BCE, Etruscan king Etruscan king became king of Romebecame king of Rome

Villages grew Villages grew became larger citiesbecame larger cities

First temples & public First temples & public centers-the Forum-centers-the Forum-constructedconstructed

The Roman Forum: The Heart of Roman Political Life

Early Roman Republic Romans drove out Romans drove out

harsh Etruscan harsh Etruscan ruler, Tarquinius in ruler, Tarquinius in 509 BCE BCE

Set up republic Set up republic form of governmentform of government

No one person No one person could become too could become too powerfulpowerful

What is a Republic? Government in Government in

which power rests which power rests with citizens who with citizens who vote for leadersvote for leaders

In Rome, citizenship In Rome, citizenship with voting rights with voting rights was granted only to was granted only to free-born male free-born male citizenscitizens

How did Rome’s government compare to Greece?

The Senate: Who were Patricians? Landowners, oldest & Landowners, oldest &

richest familiesrichest families Inherited power & Inherited power &

social statussocial status Held public officeHeld public office Performed religious Performed religious

ritualsrituals 300 members300 members Served life termsServed life terms Claimed ancestry gave Claimed ancestry gave

them authority to make them authority to make lawslaws

Who were Plebeians? Poorer citizensPoorer citizens Paid taxes & Paid taxes &

served in armyserved in army Lived in Lived in

apartmentsapartments Could not Could not

marry marry patricianspatricians

Could not hold Could not hold officeoffice

If in debt, If in debt, could be sold could be sold into slaveryinto slavery

Who were Consuls? Two consuls-Chosen each Two consuls-Chosen each

year year Headed the RepublicHeaded the Republic Worked w/ SenateWorked w/ Senate Administrators/Military Administrators/Military

leadersleaders Each could veto acts of Each could veto acts of

otherother Both had to agree before Both had to agree before

law was passedlaw was passed In charge of treasuryIn charge of treasury Commanders in chief of Commanders in chief of

army when at wararmy when at war Elected by PatriciansElected by Patricians

Did Rome have a dictator? chosen during chosen during

crisiscrisis complete controlcomplete control ruled for 6 mosruled for 6 mos Cincinnatus most Cincinnatus most

admired dictatoradmired dictator George Washington George Washington

called “Cincinnatus called “Cincinnatus of the West”of the West”

Cincinnatus

Washington

How did Plebeians Gain Rights? Went on strikeWent on strike Tribunes elected to Tribunes elected to

represent represent PlebeiansPlebeians

Veto power: Veto power: blocked laws blocked laws harmful to harmful to Plebeian classPlebeian class

Forced Patricians Forced Patricians to respect lower to respect lower classclass

The Senate 300 chosen for life300 chosen for life Handled daily Handled daily

running of running of governmentgovernment

Advised consulsAdvised consuls Discussed foreign Discussed foreign

relationsrelations Proposed lawsProposed laws Approved public Approved public

contracts for contracts for building roads & building roads & templestemples

Other Government Officials?Other Government Officials? Judges, Tribunes, Judges, Tribunes,

AssembliesAssemblies Tribunes protected Tribunes protected

rights of plebeiansrights of plebeians All citizens All citizens

belonged to belonged to assemblyassembly

Assembly made Assembly made war & peacewar & peace

Women PatriciansMen who owned large amounts of

land

PlebeiansPeasant farmers and

craftsmen

Slaves

Assembly:The two groups met here and voted for the following groups

Two Consuls:They governed the

city. Elected for one year only.

Both had to agree with each other to make a decision

Magistrates:Their job was to look

after the money of Rome. They were

also judges.

Tribunes: They protected the

interests of ordinary people against unfair

treatment

Senate:Magistrates retired to the Senate. They advised Consuls. They had the

most control & influence on the Roman Republic

Citizens

Roman Law: The Twelve Tables In 450 BCE, plebeians forced In 450 BCE, plebeians forced

Patricians to write laws in stone & Patricians to write laws in stone & place in Forumplace in Forum

Protection of law applied to all-Protection of law applied to all-plebeians & patriciansplebeians & patricians

Innocent until proven guiltyInnocent until proven guilty Accused allowed to face accusers & Accused allowed to face accusers &

defend themselvesdefend themselves Judges interpret law-make fair Judges interpret law-make fair

decisionsdecisions People have rights that no People have rights that no

government can take away government can take away Foundation for all future Roman Foundation for all future Roman

Laws & basis of all Western Law & Laws & basis of all Western Law & US Civil RightsUS Civil Rights

Roman Law Laws from the Twelve TablesLaws from the Twelve Tables Females shall remain in guardianship even when they Females shall remain in guardianship even when they

have attained their majority (except Vestal Virgins). have attained their majority (except Vestal Virgins). A spendthrift is forbidden to exercise administration A spendthrift is forbidden to exercise administration

over his own goods. over his own goods. It is permitted to gather fruit falling down on another It is permitted to gather fruit falling down on another

man's farm. man's farm. If any person has sung or composed against another If any person has sung or composed against another

person a song such as was causing slander or insult person a song such as was causing slander or insult to another, he shall be clubbed to death. to another, he shall be clubbed to death.

Quickly kill ... a dreadfully deformed child.Quickly kill ... a dreadfully deformed child.

The Roman Army:

Highly valuedHighly valued All landowning citizens All landowning citizens

required to serverequired to serve Organized into legions Organized into legions

(infantry)(infantry) Cavalry supported Cavalry supported

themthem

Roman Army: Legions well-trained, well fed, well-trained, well fed,

state-of the artstate-of the art citizen-soldierscitizen-soldiers Legion- 3,000-5,000 Legion- 3,000-5,000

foot soldiersfoot soldiers Loyal, courageous, Loyal, courageous,

fearlessfearless Technology/weapons-Technology/weapons-

the corbissthe corbiss 270 BCE Rome 270 BCE Rome

dominated peninsuladominated peninsula

•SPQR acronym (The Senate & People of Rome)

Rome Spreads Its Power

By 265, controlled By 265, controlled Italian PeninsulaItalian Peninsula

Defeated Etruscans Defeated Etruscans & Greeks& Greeks

Tolerant toward Tolerant toward conquered peoplesconquered peoples

Imposed different Imposed different laws & treatment laws & treatment for different parts for different parts of conquered of conquered territoryterritory

Some full Some full citizenshipcitizenship

Others partial-no Others partial-no voting rightsvoting rights

Others became Others became allies of Romeallies of Rome

Tolerant policies Tolerant policies helped Rome helped Rome expandexpand

Expansion in Italy: Conquered Lands

Treated people fairlyTreated people fairly Conquered peoples forced to:Conquered peoples forced to:

Honor the SenateHonor the Senate Pay taxesPay taxes Supply soldiers for Rome’s legionsSupply soldiers for Rome’s legions

Expansion in Italy: Conquered Lands

Rome’s promise to conquered Rome’s promise to conquered peoples:peoples: Keep customsKeep customs Keep form of moneyKeep form of money Keep local governmentKeep local government

Expansion in Italy: Conquered Peoples

Respected local cultureRespected local culture Granted full citizenship to some Granted full citizenship to some

peoplespeoples Usually gained the full support of Usually gained the full support of

conquered peopleconquered people Not the JewsNot the Jews

Expansion in Italy: Protection & Unification

Roman legions placed in conquered Roman legions placed in conquered landslands

Needed to make troop movement Needed to make troop movement easilyeasily

Soldiers/slaves built roadsSoldiers/slaves built roads Increased trade Increased trade Spread Roman cultureSpread Roman culture Latin incorporatedLatin incorporated

Rome’s Commercial Success Central location Central location

gave easy gave easy access to access to regions around regions around MediterraneanMediterranean

Traded wine, Traded wine, olive oil for food, olive oil for food, raw materials, raw materials, manufactured manufactured goodsgoods

Winning an Empire: Rivalry w/ Carthage

City-state on coast of N. on coast of N. Africa settled by Africa settled by PhoeniciansPhoenicians

Modern day TunisModern day Tunis Dominated trade in Dominated trade in

MediterraneanMediterranean Jealous of Rome’s Jealous of Rome’s

expansionexpansion Worried Rome would Worried Rome would

become better tradersbecome better traders

Wars with Carthage: Punic Wars264-146 BCE

Series of wars Series of wars Punic = Latin for Punic = Latin for

punicuspunicus (Phoenician) (Phoenician) Carthaginian GeneralCarthaginian General

Hamilcar BarcaHamilcar Barca Great leader & Great leader &

general of 1general of 1stst Punic WarPunic War

Sworn enemy of Sworn enemy of RomeRome

Wars with Carthage: Punic Wars264-146 BCE

Hannibal BarcaHannibal Barca Son of HamilcarSon of Hamilcar Brilliant military Brilliant military

leader leader Took oath at age 9 Took oath at age 9

to destroy Rometo destroy Rome Became leader & Became leader &

general of Carthage general of Carthage after Hamilcar’s after Hamilcar’s deathdeath

Wars with Carthage: 1st Punic War(264-241 BCE)

Fought over control of SicilyFought over control of Sicily Carthage great naval powerCarthage great naval power Rome had no navy but built a fleet Rome had no navy but built a fleet Rome won Sicily, Corsica, SardiniaRome won Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia Carthage humiliated-forced to surrender its entire treasuryCarthage humiliated-forced to surrender its entire treasury forced to agree to keep ships out of Roman watersforced to agree to keep ships out of Roman waters

2nd Punic War(218 – 201 BCE)(218 – 201 BCE)

Hannibal wanted revengeHannibal wanted revenge From Spain, marched army From Spain, marched army

w/ elephants through w/ elephants through Pyrenees, across France, Pyrenees, across France, over Alps into Northern Italyover Alps into Northern Italy

Tremendous losses but Tremendous losses but gained new recruits from gained new recruits from tribes he encountered that tribes he encountered that feared Romefeared Rome

Surprised Rome, conquered Surprised Rome, conquered most of Northern peninsulamost of Northern peninsula

Could not conquer Rome Could not conquer Rome itselfitself

2nd Punic War(218 – 201 BCE)

Hannibal’s armies kill 20% of Hannibal’s armies kill 20% of Rome’s population-cannot Rome’s population-cannot defeat Romedefeat Rome

Scipio launches a brilliant Scipio launches a brilliant counterattack on Carthagecounterattack on Carthage

Hannibal forced to return to Hannibal forced to return to Carthage to defendCarthage to defend

Carthage defeated at battle Carthage defeated at battle of Zamaof Zama

2nd Punic War(218 – 201 BCE)

Peace treaty ends the 2Peace treaty ends the 2ndnd Punic War Punic War Carthage gives up all land claims on Carthage gives up all land claims on

Sicily, Sardinia, and CorsicaSicily, Sardinia, and Corsica Massive tribute (penalty taxes) paidMassive tribute (penalty taxes) paid Rome recognized as master of the Rome recognized as master of the

Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Third Punic War Rome invented excuse Rome invented excuse

to attack Carthage to attack Carthage again though it was again though it was weakweak

Rome sent soldiers-Rome sent soldiers-siege for two yearssiege for two years

Eventually Rome won & Eventually Rome won & “salted the earth” so “salted the earth” so Carthage could never Carthage could never rival Rome againrival Rome again

After that, Rome turned After that, Rome turned east & defeated east & defeated MacedoniaMacedonia

Summary: Roman ExpansionSummary: Roman Expansion

Three StagesThree Stages Conquest of ItalyConquest of Italy Conflict with Carthage & expansion into western Conflict with Carthage & expansion into western

Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea Domination of Hellenistic kingdoms in the eastern Domination of Hellenistic kingdoms in the eastern

MediterraneanMediterranean

From Republic to Empire As Rome grew, its

republican form of government grew increasingly unstable

Eventually the republic gave way to an imperial a dictatorship that continued to spread Roman influence