Chapter 7 The Roman Republic 753 BC to

Chapter 7: The Roman Republic 753 BC to 27 AD Mr. King J 110

Vocabulary founded - to build a city advanced – beyond the beginning stage senate – a governing body patricians – a person in Rome who helped govern republic – government without a king where a few people represent many representative – person who speaks/governs for others consul – Roman leader who served 1 year terms

Vocabulary term – period of time a person serves in a government office veto – to say no to a ruling/law dictator – person who rules a country by force population – all of the people of a town/country/the world laborer – person who works with their hands plebeian – common person in Rome who was not wealthy elect – to choose by voting tribune – person who protected the rights of the common people

Vocabulary political – having to do with governing territory – large area of land tax – money people pay to support the government mighty – powerful plank – long wide piece of wood senator – person who is a member of the senate barrier – something that blocks the way riot – uprising by the people

Vocabulary reform – to make something better through change triumvirate – rule by 3 people challenge – to question if something is right/wrong; invite someone to fight accurate – correct assassinate – to kill someone who is important/in government retire – to give up one’s job politician – government leader; someone who runs for office

Vocabulary emperor – person who rules an empire; a king

Geography

Geography Rome sits on the western side of Italy Sicily is an island to the south of the main peninsula; Sardinia is to the west The Adriatic Sea is located on the east coast The Mediterranean Sea is southwest of Sicily

Rome Begins: A Legend Ancient legend stated: Romulus and his brother Remus are left to die; they float in a basket Lupa, the Greek goddess Artemis in wolf form, finds the boys and nurses them Faustulus later rescues the boys; the brothers fight to rule; Romulus kills his brother; names the city Rome

Rome Begins: A Legend Romolo e Remo allattati dalla Lupa, Peter Paul Rubens, ca. 1616

Rome Begins: A Legend Capitoline Wolf: 5 th Century BC

Early Rome The Latins lived on a plain called Latium Latins could not write so they left few written records The Latins learned a great deal from the Greeks

Early Rome The Etruscans were a tribe who lived in the north near the Tiber River They had a written language and were expert sailors By 600 BC, they conquered Rome and the Latium plain

Early Rome Etruscan kings ruled the Romans The king appointed men to the senate These people were called patricians, or “fathers of the state”

Rome Becomes a Republic 509 BC the patricians rebel and defeat the Etruscans The Etruscans lose control of Rome They next set up a republic; The United States is also a republic! This form of government lasts almost 500 years

The Roman Republic Two consuls replaced the king Each managed the government for a oneyear term; each consul could veto the other’s decision Roman Senate: made of 300 patricians The senate could pass laws and help consuls rule

The Roman Republic Two Consuls

Who Ruled Rome Only patricians could vote, so Rome was not a democracy Patricians made up less than 10% of the population Patricians believed they were the ruling class

Plebeians Most Romans were not wealthy; they were farmers, merchants, laborers These people collectively were called plebeians and were citizens of Rome They paid taxes and served in the army, but could not marry out of their class Patricians could sell Plebeians into slavery if they did not pay debts

Plebeians Gain Rights 494 BC Roman Republic gave plebeians the power to elect two tribunes The tribunes protected the rights of the plebeian class; eventually ten tribunes were elected By 350 BC the senate could only pass laws that tribunes approved

Law of the 12 Tables The senate did not write down laws at first People believed rulings directly from a judge were unfair; they demanded to have laws written In 450 BC, laws were written on 12 bronze tablets and then set in the marketplace Children in school had to learn these laws

The 12 Tables

Rome Becomes Democratic 280 BC Plebeians could hold political offices Plebeians could also serve in the senate Consuls could now come from the plebeian class