CHAPTER 8 SECTION 1 THE ROMAN REPUBLIC KEY

CHAPTER 8 SECTION 1 THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

KEY TERMS • Republic • Patrician • Plebian • Consul • Veto • Dictator

INTRODUCTION • Romulus and Remus • Children of a princess and Mars (Roman god of War) • Jealous king feared they would take power, he ordered them drowned • Gods protected infants, had a wolf rescue them, raised by shepherd • Twins grew up to rule the seven hills of Rome.

ROME’S GEOGRAPHY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT • Fertile Soil • Large Hills easy for defense • Tiber River – flows through Rome and empties into the Tyrrhenian sea • Center of a long, narrow peninsula • Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea

THE ETRUSCANS • We know very little about founders of Rome • First settlements in 900 B. C. • 600 B. C. Etruscans held power

THE ETRUSCANS (CONT. . ) The Etruscans • Ruled as Kings • Tarquinius Superbus • Overthrown by Romans in 509 B. C. • Harsh ruler • No more etruscan rulers • Some historians debate this. • Many roman gods originally etruscan gods • Roman Toga, alphabet adopted from the Etruscans

PEOPLES OF ANCIENT ITALY

ROMANS FORM A REPUBLIC • Romans don’t trust Kings • 264 B. C. Romans gained control of entire Italian Peninsula • Created a Republic • Citizens have the right to vote, select their own leaders

THE ROMAN SENATE • Senate is most powerful form of government • Voted on laws • 300 upper-class Patricians • Plebians could NOT hold office or be senators

THE ROMAN CONSULS • 2 Consuls led the Country similar to the President • Enforced the law • Elected by the people • Senate advised Consuls on foreign affairs, laws, and finances. • Only ruled for 1 year

THE ROMANS CONSULS (CONT…) • Plebians Could NOT be Consuls before 367 B. C. • Consuls did what the Senate wanted. • Power divided equally • Veto = “I forbid” • IF one veto’ed THEN nothing would be done.

OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICIALS • Just in case Consuls didn’t act, Romans allowed for Dictators to handle emergency situations • Praetors: • Important officials • Served as judges • Trials for money, business, contracts

PATRICIANS VS. PLEBEIANS Patricians • Leaders • Fight to control government • Wealthy from conquest • Had land/slaves Plebeians • Wanted respect and fair treatment • Didn’t trust gov. • Many were jobless • Refused to fight in army

PATRICIANS VS PLEBEIANS (CONT…) • Plebeians get their demand • Twelve Tables • Written code of Laws • Equality for all citizens • Hung in marketplace for all to see • This is only a small victory

MASTER OF THE MEDITERRANEAN • Roman armies are expanding • Invaded Carthage (N. Africa) • Drove Carthaginians from Spain, destroyed Carthage in 146 B. C. • Conquered Greece and Gaul (France).

MASTERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

THE DECLINE OF THE REPUBLIC 120 B. C. • Some Plebeian Leaders tried to break up large land give it to Plebeians, Patricians fought back • 75 years Roman armies take control, Consuls are not respected • Civil War

RISE OF JULIUS CAESAR 58 to 51 B. C. • Caesar leads army that conquered Gaul • Won the respect of his soldiers • In 49 B. C. Caesar violated military assignment • War between Caesar and Pompey

RISE OF JULIUS CAESAR (CONT…) • Caesar becomes dictator in 48 B. C. • Dictator can only serve in Rome for six months • Caesar gets rid of the republic , he replaces the Senate.

DEATH OF A DICTATOR • Civil war lasted for 4 years • 45 B. C. Caesar becomes only Consul • 44 B. C. Caesar becomes dictator for life • Rome has a King? People hate Kings…

DEATH OF A DICTATOR (CONT…) March 15 th, 44 B. C. • Caesar plans to go to Senate meeting • Senators kill him • He had gone too far and too fast gained power.

FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE • More Civil war followed Caesar’s death • Caesar’s son Octavian becomes the first Emperor of Rome. • Augustus = “Highly respected” • Lasted 500 years

FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE • From city-state to holding vast territory • Largest gov. in the World • The people no longer make choices, the Emperor does.