Ancient Rome: the Republic

The Rise of the Republic The legend says that Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by the twins Romulus and Remus. Romulus became the first king. The city of Rome founded at a strategically important position at the river Tiber, this was the natural crossing point between northern and southern Italy. The Roman language, Latin, belongs to the Indo-European languages. A certain existence of Rome can be dated to 575 B.C. Official buildings and temples were now gradually built. Initially Rome was ruled by the Etruscan kings, the Romans adopted the Etruscan alphabet (which later disappeared), symbols of political authority and vital knowledge regarding architecture and engineering. A republican constitution of Rome was adopted in 509 B.C., but the establishment of Roman hegemony on the Italian peninsula was a long process.

About 300 B.C. the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula. The Romans were masters in diplomacy and making alliances. Alliances with other Latin towns, their military victories and their willingness to extend citizenship brought the Italian peninsula under Roman control. An alternative to Roman citizenship was civitas sine suffragio, status as a Roman citizen but without the right to vote or hold Roman offices. These people paid Roman taxes and were subjects for military service, but handled their own local affairs. About 300 B.C. the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula. Do you remember: How was power divided in the Republic?

The Republican State The Senate: Advised the council and other magistrates. Controlled by the Patricians. Could not pass legislation. Consul (2): Elected for a one year term. Commanded the army, administered state business. Quaestor: Appointed by the consuls to assist them. Later an elective office open also to plebeians. Praetor: Dealt with administration of justice. Censor (2): Handled registration of citizens, determined who could sit in the Senate and dealt with public morals. Dictator: Could rule in times of four, chosen by the Senate for 6 months. Concilium plebis: The plebeian assembly. The Tribunes: Elected by the plebeians to represent their interests. Magistrates were the common name for elected offices.

Roman Law Roman law is one of the most lasting achievements that has influenced the Western World. The first written Roman law should have been the “Law of the Twelve Tables”, only fragments left. In short the laws were divided in: ius civile; civil law, consisted of statutes customs and regulations for Roman citizens. ius gentium; law of the peoples, regulated the relations with other peoples. ius naturale; natural law, made up of rules that govern human behavior, applied to all societies.

Patricians, Plebeians and the Struggle of the Orders Patricians; wealthy landowners, provided military leadership in war, aristocracy. Plebeians; common people of Rome. Free citizens, but originally with few political and social advantages. Were not allowed to marry patricians. Power struggle between the two groups referred to as the Struggle of the Orders, ended in 287 B.C. with the lex Hortensia which made all Roman citizens equal.

Expansion; The Punic Wars 264 – 146 B.C. As Rome expanded and started to play a more active role in trade on the Mediterranean, they came in conflict with other states. The Greeks were first defeated (notice Pyrrhus here!), but were given an important role in the Roman state. Sicily the first Roman province. The southern and western Mediterranean was dominated by commercial empire of Carthage. A power struggle between Rome and Carthage was inevitable and resulted in the first Punic war 264 B.C The first war was followed by the second Punic war. Famous from this war is the invasion of Hannibal, who first won three major victories before he finally was defeated by the general Scipio Africanus. In the third and last war, Rome finally destroyed Carthage. Rome now completely dominated the Mediterranean world

Images of Carthage

To next week: How did the expansion of Rome contribute to growing social unrest and the decline of the republic? Which conditions in the Roman state/society produced the rise of Julius Caesar? What methods did Caesar use to obtain power? The Roman family was controlled by the paterfamilias. What did that mean and are there present cultures where the same structure exists today?