Bell ringer Objectives Students Complete Describe the contributions of Rome. Analyze the early settlers of Rome. Describe the government system of Rome. Compare Rome’s written law to other civilizations we have studied. Students Complete What do you hope to learn about Rome? Name 5 things you already know about Rome w.30 Assess the influence of geography on Roman economic, social, and political development. (G)

Bell ringer Objectives Students Complete Describe the government system of Rome. Compare Rome’s written law to other civilizations we have studied. Analyze the influence of Greece on Roman mythology. Students Complete Describe the myth of Romulus and Remus What was the first government of Rome? Who were the leaders? Describe the Roman Republic w.30 Assess the influence of geography on Roman economic, social, and political development. (G) w.31 Describe Roman mythology and religion. (C)

The Republic: 509 - 27 B.C. Early Rome

Essential Question How did the government of the Roman Republic become more democratic in its decision making?

“What have the Romans ever done for us?” Watch this scene from the 1979 movie The Life of Brian. In the scene a rebel leader opposed to the Roman Empire asks his followers, “What have the Romans ever done for us?” Clip Time!

Roman Contributions Aqueducts Sanitation Roads Irrigation Education Medicine Public Order

Roman Empire

Geography Geography of Italy and Rome 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 Romulus and Remus Fewer mountains & less rugged than Greece Fertile land

The Earliest Settlers Group Where the Group Settled Etruscans Native to northern Italy Greeks Colonized southern Italy and Sicily Latins Built the original settlement at Rome

Etruscans have skills Skilled metal workers and engineers System of writing Architecture

It was all Greek to them Greeks settle between 750 and 600 B.C Settle along southern coast and Sicily Develop prosperous and commercial activity Teach Romans to grow olives and grapes

The Early Republic Early Rulers Around 600 B.C. Etruscan kings begin to rule Rome. Kings build Rome’s first temples and public centers Romans overthrow cruel Etruscan kings in 509 B.C.-Tarquin the Proud is the last king of Rome-Declare they will never have another king. Romans found a republic—a government in which citizens elect leaders.

Different Groups Living in Rome Patricians Wealthy landowners who held most of the power Plebeians Common farmers, artisans, & merchants who made up the majority of the population

Have you heard the term plebe before? Plebes

Disenfranchised Women Slaves Women could not partake in government decisions, office or voting Slaves made up 1/3 of population Slave mostly war captives who were soley owned by citizens and had no rights

The establishment of the Roman republic 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 vote for their leaders.

Two different branches of government 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 dictator

The Republic Dictator: elected during a crisis to rule for 6 months. Had absolute authority.

Picture of the Roman Senate

Picture of the U.S. Senate

Plebeians Rising Tribunes were elected to protect plebeian interests and had veto power. Veto is a Latin word meaning “I forbid it.”

Legacy 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

2 Consuls + other magistrates The Roman Republic – The System of Checks and Balances The system was based on balance of interests Monarchical Aristocratic Democratic 2 Consuls + other magistrates Senate Assembly of Tribes Tribune Directed government and army Acted as judges Could issue edicts Acted as chief priest Controlled state budget Could pass laws Approved/rejected laws Decided on War Tribune could veto actions of magistrate Acted as final court Basis of power: possess imperium, the right to rule need for leadership members were richest men in Rome. provided most of the soldiers Limits on power: one year term each could veto could not control army needed majority as soldiers. Could not suggest laws often paid as clients by the elite

One law to rule them all – the Twelve Tables Until 451 B.C.E there were no written laws. What are disadvantages of an unwritten law code? The Twelve Tables or Tablets were created.

The Twelve Tables A written law code that was carved on 12 tablets. The Twelve Tables established the idea that all free citizens had a right to protection of the law.

Types of punishments: "There are eight kinds of punishment: fine, fetters, flogging, retaliation in kind, civil disgrace, banishment, slavery, & death."

Closer look at the 12 Tables Read the 12 tables Reword each in words that your little brothers or sisters could understand Then, in your notes tell me some similarities you see with Hammurabi’s Code, US laws or other civilizations we’ve studied.

Table I & II - Procedure for courts and trials "If he (plaintiff) summon him (defendant) into court, he shall go. If he does not go, (plaintiff) shall call witnesses. Then only he shall take him by force. If he refuses or flees, he (plaintiff) shall lay hands on him. If disease or age is an impediment, he shall grant him a team (of oxen). He shall not spread with cushions the covered carriage if he does not wish to.

Table III - Debt III. 1 "When a debt has been acknowledged or a judgment has been pronounced in court, 30 days must be the legitimate grace period. Thereafter, arrest of the debtor may be made by the laying on of hands. Bring him into court. If he does not satisfy the judgment (or no one in court offers himself as surety on his behalf) the creditor may take the debtor with him. He may bind him either in stocks or fetters, with a weight of no less than 15 lbs. (or more if he desires)." [After 60 days in custody, the case is returned to the court, and if the debt is not then paid, the debtor can be sold abroad as a slave, or put to death.]

Table IV – Rights of father over family "A dreadfully deformed child shall be killed.“ "If a father surrender his son for sale three times, the son shall be free.“

Table V – Legal guardianship and inheritance laws "Our ancestors saw fit that females, by reason of levity of disposition, shall remain in guardianship, even when they have attained their majority.“ A spendthrift is forbidden to exercise administration over his own goods. The inheritance of a Roman citizen-freedman is made over to his patron, if the freedman has died intestate and has no natural successor.

Table VI – Acquisition & Possessions When a party shall make bond or conveyance, what he has named by word-of-mouth that shall hold good. Marriage by `usage' (usus): If a man and woman live together continuously for a year, they are considered to be married; the woman legally is treated as the man's daughter.

Table VIII - Torts (Laws of injury) If any person has sung or composed against another person a SONG (carmen) such as was causing slander or insult.... he shall be clubbed to death." "If a person has maimed another's limb, let there be retaliation in kind, unless he agrees to make compensation with him." (Lex talionis) "If a patron shall defraud his client, he must be solemnly forfeited (`killed')." "Whoever is convicted of speaking false witness shall be flung from the Tarpeian Rock." "No person shall hold meetings in the City at night."

Tarpeian Rock

Table IX – Public law The penalty shall be capital punishment for a judge or arbiter legally appointed who has been found guilty of receiving a bribe for giving a decision." "Putting to death... of any man who has not been convicted, whosoever he might be, is forbidden.“ Innocent until proven guilty

Table X – Sacred law Women must not tear cheeks or hold chorus of `Alas!' on account of a funeral." A dead man shall not be buried or burned within the city.

Table XI & XII – excerpts Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians. (As time went on, this law was changed. When the tables were first written, this was the law.) “Whatever the People has last ordained shall be held as binding by law.“ (The last laws written are in affect – once a new law is written on a subject, the old is no longer in force)