1. The Rise of the Roman Republic
Pages

2. Focus Question
What kind of government did the Romans establish?

3. The beginnings of Rome…
Rome was only a cluster of mud huts overlooking the Tiber River
Enjoyed the view of two small lakes from the seven hilltops
Ruled by a king

4. Around 509 B.C. The Romans overthrew their king, Tarquinius
Began setting up a new government
Wanted citizens to play a larger part (like in Athens!)
Their community became a city

5. The community becomes a city
Marshlands were drained
Became a busy market and meeting place (like the Greek agora!)
Atop one of Rome’s hill stood a stone temple (like in Greece)

6. The community becomes a city
On other hilltops, fine brick homes housed Rome’s wealthy
Some Romans clearly had become richer than others
The division between the rich and the poor would eventually shape the new government

7. The Citizens of Rome Rome was divided into two groups
Those who were citizens
Those who were not citizens
If you were a citizen, you were either a plebeian or a patrician

8. Plebeians vs. Patricians
Plebeians – men who farmed, traded, and made things for a living
Patricians – members of Rome’s noble families
They owned large farms and had plebeians work the land for them

9. Plebeians Protest
After Rome’s last king was overthrown in 509 B.C., the patricians took power
They remade the city’s government
Only patricians could belong to a ruling assembly or become government leaders
Rome’s MANY plebeians reacted to the patricians’ rules with protest

10. Plebeians Protest
According to the Roman historian Livy, plebeians rebelled in 494 B.C.
Demanded changes in the government
Livy wrote: to calm the plebeians down, the patricians sent a popular leader to speak with the plebeians

11. Excerpt from Stories of Rome, Livy, 494 B.C.
“Once upon a time, the different parts of the human body were not all in agreement… And it seemed very unfair to the other parts of the body that they should worry and sweat away to look after the belly. After all, the belly just sat there… doing nothing, enjoying all the nice things that came along. So they hatched a plot. The hands weren’t going to take food to the mouth; even if they did, the mouth wasn’t going to accept it… They went into a sulk and waited for the belly to cry for help.. But while they waited, one by one all the parts of the body got weaker and weaker. The moral of this story? The belly too had its job to do. It has to be fed, but it also does feeding of its own.” How do you suppose the plebeians reacted?

12. A New Government
According to Livy, both sides in time agreed to work together to improve Rome’s government
The new government was called a republic
Republic – means “public things” in Latin
In a republic citizens choose their leaders
Latin was a language of ancient Rome (think: “Latium Plain”)

13. Governing the Republic
Unlike the democracy of Athens, not all Roman citizens participated in the assembly that ran their city
Instead, they elected representatives
Representatives – people who acted for them

14. Does this sound familiar?
The government of the United States is often called a republic!
Citizens elect representatives who serve in Congress or in state legislatures
Unlike the United States, not all votes of the Roman citizens were equal
In Rome the more powerful the man was, the greater influence his vote had

15. Rome’s Republic Lasted nearly 500 years
How old is the United States?
Three government branches ran the city’s affairs
Each of these branches had decision-making powers that allowed it to have come control over the actions of the other branches
Does this also sound familiar?
The United States has three branches – and they check each other!

16. Rome’s Three Branches – First Branch, The Senate
controlled by Rome’s patricians
determined how Rome would act toward other governments
Controlled all of the money collected and spent

17. Rome’s Three Branches – Second Branch, The Tribunes
Worked to gain rights for the plebeians of Rome
Made sure plebeians got fair trials
Leaders of the large citizen assembly

18. Rome’s Three Branches – Third Branch, The Consuls
Two men
Served as Rome’s army commanders
Served as the city’s most powerful judges
They could order anyone to be arrested
They could also propose new laws for Rome

19. Citizen’s Assembly
Could veto (stop) any of the consuls actions

20. Both patricians and plebeians had a role in the government of Rome.
Which citizens served as Rome’s consuls?
How many citizens served as Senators?
In which parts of government could plebeians participate?

21. Plebeian Influence Grows
Rome had a mostly plebeian army
Rome depended on this army (Rome was constantly at war)
The army protected both the city of Rome and its patrician leaders
This role gave plebeians added power to change Rome’s government

22. Twelve Tables Collection of laws on twelve wooden tablets (or tables)
The laws governed everything from marriage to slavery
People who did not pay debts could be made slaves

23. The City’s Forum Center of life in Rome
Senators met here and citizens pleaded cases before judges
Women sometimes took part in debates!

24. The Republic Expands
Eventually controlled all of the Italian peninsula (instead of just the Latium Plain)

25. Carthage – A Rival Across the Sea
Carthage – northern coast of Africa
Carthage controlled much land in the Mediterranean (including Sicily)
Romans named their conflicts with Carthage the Punic Wars

26. After 20 years of fighting…
… Carthage surrendered control of Sicily to Rome
Rome then seized even more lands controlled by Carthage
Carthage leaders were outraged…

27. Hannibal Carthage general’s son Led an army against the forces of Rome
Came up with a plan to attack Rome by land
Marched from Spain to Rome with 90,000 men
Brought elephants (scared Romans because they never saw elephants before!)
Who else was surprise by elephants in history?

28. Hannibal’s Plan Thousands died along the way
Roman general Scipio was elected consul – Scipio’s arm defeated Hannibal at the battle of Zama
Hannibal’s defeat gave Rome control of Carthage’s HUGE territory

30. The Changing Republic
The Punic Wars upset the workings of the republic
Patricians and plebeians struggled for government control
Slaves revolted against leaders
The republican government of Rome was fading around 100 B.C….
So what happens next?

31. Think About It
Describe the differences between patricians and plebeians.
Why was it important for Rome’s laws to be written down?
How did the struggle between the plebeians and patricians affect Roman government?
Make conclusions about the importance of the Punic Wars to Rome’s history.