Roman Republic Christianity Chapter 6 I Roman Republic
Roman Republic & Christianity Chapter 6
I. Roman Republic • Greece polis began to decline and Rome grew into a mighty empire • Romans preserve and add to Greek civilization • According to Roman legend Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus • Twin sons of the god Mars and a princess
A. Early Republic • Rome grew from a small city to a city that covered 500 square miles • Republic – Government where power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders • Free-born, property-owning males were allowed to vote
B. Patricians vs. Plebeians • Patricians – Wealthy landowners who owned most of Rome’s land • Inherited their social class, wealth and power • Plebeians – Common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up most of the population but could not make laws • Tribunes – Plebeian assemblies that protect plebeians from unfair acts by the patricians
C. Government Under the Republic • Consuls – Like kings, commanded the army and directed government • Elected to one year terms to prevent them from becoming too powerful • Senate – Aristocratic branch of government that made the laws • Elected by the voters
Roman Forum
• Dictator – Leaders who had absolute power to make laws and command the army • Appointed by the Senate during times of crisis • • Dictator’s power only lasted for 6 months
D. Rome Spreads its Power • 264 BC – Rome ruled most of Italy • Location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea made Rome an ideal place to trade • Helped spread Roman Culture
E. Punic Wars (264 -146 BC) • Carthage – Powerful African city that challenged Roman’s access to the Mediterranean Sea • Punic Wars – Three wars fought between Rome and Carthage • 1 st Punic War – Naval battle over Sicily – Rome wins
• Second Punic War – Carthage attacks Rome • Hannibal – Carthage general who led an army of 500, 000 men • March across Italy for 10 years destroying everything in his path until he was defeated • Rome wins again
Hannibal and His Armies
• 3 rd Punic War – Rome sacks the city of Carthage – Cato the Elder • Set fire to city and kill most of the adult males • Took the remaining people back to Rome and made them slaves
• Rome wins again • Major result of the Punic Wars is that Rome is able to dominate the Mediterranean Sea
- Slides: 16