Section 1 Part 2 Political Structures and Punic Wars Ancient Rome Section 1 Part 2 Political Structures and Punic Wars

Roman Political Structure Rome was made up of: Patricians Plebeians

Patricians Wealthy landowners who became Rome’s ruling class Could vote Could be elected to office

Plebeians Less wealthy landowners, small farmers, crafts people, and merchants Could vote Could not be elected to office

Chief Executive Officers Consuls 2 chosen every year Ran the government Led army into battle Praetor In charge of laws that applied to Roman citizens (civil laws)

Roman Senate Made up of 300 patricians Served for life In the beginning its only role was to advise the government Later it had the force of law

Struggle for Order Conflict between patricians and plebeians Plebeians wanted political and social equality Eventually led to success for plebeians

Roman Law Twelve Tables 1st written set of laws Publically displayed Protected right of all citizens Law of Nations Laws for both Romans and non-Romans Based on natural laws or laws based on reason Example: Person accused allowed to defend themselves or person innocent until proven guilty

Twelve Table

Roman Expansion After Rome’s conquest of Italy, they looked to new areas One area was Carthage

Carthage Found on the northern coast of Africa By 800 BC had an enormous trading empire in the western Meditteranean Had colonies from Spain to Sicily Largest and richest state in the area

Punic Wars - Background Between Rome and Carthage Three Punic Wars The Carthage presence in Sicily made the Romans fearful

First Punic War War over Sicily Carthage had control over Sicily and the Romans were fearful because Sicily was too close to the Italy coast Rome built a large navy and defeated Carthage Sicily became the first Roman province

2nd Punic War Carthage brought war to Rome Carthage was led by Hannibal, the greatest Carthaginian general Used horse and elephants in battle. All the 37 elephants died No match for the Roman leader, Scipio, who crushed Hannibal’s forces and Rome won the war.

3rd Punic War Occurred 50 years later in Carthage Carthage was destroyed by burning the entire city down Inhabitants sold into slavery Carthage becomes a roman province called Africa Romans win the war

Activity #2 Get a book Turn to Page 150-151 Review the information on the Punic Wars Illustrate a poster on one of the wars Must include: Which war Lots of color Who won Example: Naval battle over Sicily (war #1), elephant battle in Rome (war #2), or burning of Carthage in Africa (war #3)