Development of Roman Government Chapters 33 & 34

Less than 5% of the population Under Etruscan Rule 616-509 BCE: Etruscans ruled Rome Divided into 2 classes Class Size Responsibilities Plebeians 95% of the population Common people (shopkeepers, craftspeople, laborers, peasants), forced to serve in military Patricians Less than 5% of the population wealthy landowners, advised the Etruscan king, held military and religious offices

Romans Create a Republic 509 BCE: Patricians rebelled and drove out the last Etruscan king Patricians created a republic Disregarded the plebeians Power in the hands of the senate (group of 300 patricians elected by patricians, senators served for life and chose judges) Consuls ruled army What is a republic? It is a form of government in which leaders are elected to represent the citizens/people

Why were the Plebeians Unhappy? Only patricians could hold government positions Plebeians had to obey decisions regardless Laws were not written down, so patricians often changed or interpreted the laws to benefit themselves Plebeians had to fight for what they wanted Plebeians had to enter into wars that the patricians chose

What did the Plebeians do? 494 BCE: Rome had 40,000 people Plebeians marched out of city and camped on a nearby hill Refused to return until patricians met their demands Work in the city came to an end (no food!) Helpless without their army Ended in compromise THEY REBELLED

The Result of the Plebeian rebellion Tribune of the Plebs Council of the Plebs Spoke for the rights of the plebeians in the Senate and consuls Later, gained power to veto (overrule) the actions of the Senate and government officials Number of tribunes grew from 2 to 10 Lawmaking body for the plebians

Gaining Political Equality 367 BCE: 1 of the 2 Consuls had to be plebeian Plebeians could become senators 287 BCE: Plebeians gained right to pass laws for all Roman citizens More and more plebeians served alongside patricians in the assembly Had a set of written laws (constitution)

Rome Becomes an Empire! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6GO1wI9qxQ

Development of the Roman Empire Expansion 1: Rome’s Conquest of the Italian Peninsula (509 BCE-264 BCE) After last Etruscan King was overthrown, Romans began to expand territory Partnered with Latin neighbors Attacked by Gaules, but recovered Took over Etruscans and neighboring tribes Finally conquered the Italian Peninsula (took 2 centuries!) Rome forced people to be in the army Many people lost rights and privileges

Development of the Roman Empire Expansion 2: Expansion During the Punic Wars (264BCE- 146 BCE) Rome vs Carthage (city-state in North Africa) 3 Battles: 264 BCE: Mostly war at sea, Romans won in 241 BCE 218 BCE: Hannibal attacked Italy (marched armies over the Alps into Italy. In 202 BCE, Hannibal had to leave to protect an attack by Romans on the home front. Rome won, received money, and Sparta) 146 BCE-143 BCE: Romans burned Carthage to the ground, killed and sold people into slavery

Development of the Roman Empire Expansion 3: Expansion During the Final Years of the Republic(145 BCE-44BCE) Republic collapsed during 3rd period of expansion Many allies rebelled because they disliked paying taxes with little rights- so Rome allowed free Italians to be citizens Many slave revolts Many great military leaders Caesar (Gaul) vs Pompey (Eastern lands): Caesar won and became dictator for life. Caesar created jobs, built roads and cities, developed the gladiator games… all led to the growth of the empire

Development of the Roman Empire Expansion 4: Rome Becomes an Empire (44 BCE-14 CE) Octavian became ruler and conquered rivals “Caesar Augustus”: promised to restore republic, but was really an emperor Rebuilt/construction projects for Rome Expanded borders, improved economy by making trade better, and created a system of currency Pax Romana- Roman Peace