The Roman Republic: People• Indo-European people

during 1500-1000 BCE• Latins lived in Latium

(herders/farmers)• Greeks and Etruscans

settled around 800 BCE• Age of Greek Colonization

(750-550 BCE) settled in Sicily and southern Italy

People (cont’d)• Establishment of Rome came from Etruscans

• Rome – small village transformed by Etruscan building program

• Brought with them influence of Toga as official dress

• Etruscan army influenced Roman army

The Roman Republic• Early Rome (753-509 BCE) was under control

of 7 kings; 2 of last 3 were Etruscan

• 509 BCE fall of early Rome. Romans overthrew Etruscan king to establish a republic

• Republic – citizens have a right to vote and not led by a king

The Roman Republic• Rome at war for almost 200 years

• 338-288 BCE Rome crushes Latin states and those in the Apennine region

• Conquered southern and mostly all of Italy by 264 BCE

The Roman Republic: Government

• Roman Confederation – Roman rule over Italy allowing full Roman citizenship to conquered people.

• Allowed remaining communities the freedom to run their own affairs

• Had to provide Rome with soldiers

Government (Cont’d.)• Divided into 2 orders

• The Patricians – landowners, ruling class

• The Plebeians – less wealthy landowners, craftspeople, merchants, small farmers

• Men in both were voting citizens but only Patricians could hold office

Government (Cont’d.)• The consuls and praetors – chief executive

officerso Consuls – 2 elected each year; one to run

government, one to lead militaryo Praetors – enforces Roman Republic civil law

• Roman Senate – select group of 300 patricians; served for life

• Senate started out as advisors, grew to have great influential strength of the law

Government (Cont’d.)• Centuriate Assembly – additional assembly that

elected chief officials and passed laws

• Organized by classes based on wealth

• Who had the majority?

• Council of the Plebs – assembly for Plebeians established as a solution to social structure struggle

Government (Cont’d.)• Often conflict between Patricians and Plebeians

• Children of groups could not intermarry

• Plebeians sought political and social equality

• Eventually Tribune of Plebs developed to protect rights and “equalities” of Plebeians

Government: Roman Law• 12 Tables – Rome’s first code of Laws;

eventually replaced and updated

• Law of Nations – seen by Romans as natural law based on reason and established standards of Justice

• Still in effect in today’s legal systems