How did the government of the Roman Republic
How did the government of the Roman Republic become more democratic in its decision making?
• Aqueducts • Sanitation • Roads • Irrigation • Education • Medicine • Public Order
• Peninsula – midway point of the Mediterranean • Rome is located halfway b/n the Alps & Italy’s southern tip • Tiber River – woven into the legend of Romulus and Remus • Fewer mountains & less rugged than Greece
Group Where They Settled Native to northern Etruscans Italy Colonized southern Greeks Italy and Sicily Built the original Latins settlement at Rome
Patricians Wealthy landowners who held most of the power Plebeians Common farmers, artisans, & merchants who made up the majority of the population
• Roman republic established in 509 B. C. E • What’s a republic? Is the U. S. a republic? • You’ve probably said this word > 1, 500 times! • Republic = a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to
• Senate • Law-makers • 300 members • Proposed laws • Lifetime term • Nominated consuls • Consul • 2 officials • One-year term • During wartime, one was chosen to act as a
• Until 451 B. C. E there were no written laws • What are the disadvantages of an unwritten law code? • The Twelve Tables or Tablets were created
l l Written law code that was carved on 12 tablets. Established the idea that all free citizens had a right to protection of the
• Dictator: elected during a crisis to rule for 6 months • Could be appointed by consul or magistrate • Had absolute authority
• Tribunes were elected to protect plebeian interests • Had veto power. • Veto is a Latin
• Plebeians gained access to high offices & senate • Didn’t have to use war or revolution to gain power • U. S. adopts senate, veto, & checks on power
• Read the 12 tables • Talk with a shoulder partner about what each means. • What similarities you see with Hammurabi’s Code? • Be prepared to discuss!
- Slides: 17