1. Chapter 11 The Roman Republic

2. Ancient Roman Cities
Most ancient cities in Italy were built on hilltops because they could defend their cities better.

3. Remus and Romulus are legendary brothers whose father was Aeneas, a Trojan hero. After they grew up they became angry with one another, battling until Remus was killed by Romulus. Romulus founded and named the city of Rome after himself.

4. The Early Roman Empire

5. The Early Roman Republic
The government the Romans created in 509 BC was a republic. In a republic, people elect leaders to govern them.

6. The most powerful members of the Roman republic were the patricians
The most powerful members of the Roman republic were the patricians. Patricians were powerful and wealthy land owners or nobles.

7. The government changed in the republics
The government changed in the republics. The Patricians no longer had the greatest influence because the Plebeians formed a council and elected their own officials. The Plebeians were the common people of Rome.

8. Roman Government

9. Magistrates The first part of Rome’s government:
Magistrates are officials elected every year. Some were judges. Others managed Rome’s finances and organized games and festivals.

10. To keep anyone from becoming too powerful, the Romans elected two consuls each year. These were the most powerful magistrates in Rome. They ran the city and led the army.

11. The Senate
The second part of Rome’s government was the Senate. This was a council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advise the city’s leaders. It was originally created to advise Rome’s kings. They gained control of financial affairs.
They held office for life.

12. Assemblies
The third part of Rome’s government protected and represented the common people. It had two branches. Both patricians and plebeians took part in the assemblies. Their primary job was to elect the magistrates who ran the city of Rome. Roman citizens could take part in assemblies all their adult lives.

13. Tribunes
The second branch of the assembly was the tribunes, who were elected by the plebeians and remained in office one year.
The tribunes had the power to veto any action by government officials.
“Veto” means “I forbid”, in Latin, the language of the Romans.

14. The United States Constitution was written to protect people’s rights
The United States Constitution was written to protect people’s rights. The Romans created the Roman Law of the Twelve Tables to protect the rights of their citizens.

15. Like the United States Government, the Romans had a system of checks and balances. This system was put into place so one part of the government would not become too strong.

16. The Romans loved to be out in the city
The Romans loved to be out in the city. The forum was the center of life and daily activity in ancient Rome.

17. The Forum in
Ancient
Times
The Forum
Today

18. Hannibal was a famous leader from Carthage, Tunisia, who attacked Rome during the Second Punic War. He used elephants to cross the Alps to reach Rome.

19. Hannibal Crossing the Alps

20. Elephants In Battle

21. 6,000 soldiers made up the incredibly brave and effective Roman legions.

24. Tribunes who worked for the good of the poor people of Rome
Bothers
Tiberius and
Gaius Gracchus
were Tribunes.
Both worked for
the benefit of the
poor people of
Rome. Both lost
their lives in
doing so.

25. His actions
led to civil
war in
Rome.
eventually
he became a
dictator
His idea
allowed
poor people
to join the
army
Lucius
Cornelius
Sulla
Gaius
Marius

26. Spartacus A former gladiator, Spartacus, led an uprising of the
slaves in Rome,
who were being
treated very
badly.
He was killed in
battle during the
revolt.
The revolt fell
apart. The Romans
executed
6,000 rebellious
slaves.

27. Roman Hairstyles

28. Roman Clothing

29. Roman Fresco

30. Summary