1. Start of a new Roman Government
Romans rebel against cruel king in 509 B.C.E.
Created a Republic
Republic = form of government where the citizens have the power
to choose representatives

2. ROMAN REPUBLIC 509 BCE – 46 BCE (approx 500 years)
509 B.C.E. Rome = small city
Slowly expands.
338 B.C.E. defeat the other Latins
284 B.C.E. defeat Etruscans
267 B.C.E. defeat the Greeks

3. What was life like in the Republic?
ROME BECAME A LARGE CITY THAT WAS ABOUT 500 MILES AROUND
OUSTED KING AND INVENTED REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT
ONLY FREE-BORN MALES COULD VOTE (ROMAN MEN’S CLUB)

4. Rome’s republic was shaped by a struggle between wealthy nobles and regular citizens.VS
Patricians
Plebeians

5. Plebeians Patricians Majority of the population Wealthy land owners
Artisans, shopkeepers, small farm owners
Citizens (male)– could vote, pay taxes, serve in army
Could not marry a Patrician
Could not serve in government
Patricians
Wealthy land owners
Nobles that made up the ruling class
Citizens (male)– could vote, had to pay taxes and serve in the army
Could not marry a Plebian
Could serve in government

6. Power in the Roman Republic
Patricians
Plebeians
Slaves

7. . Dictator Consuls Senate Assembly How the Republic Works
Division of Power
1 person .
2 men
Consuls
300 members
Senate
Rest of
population
Assembly

8. Consuls Top government official Two chosen every year
Headed the army and ran the government
Served short term….avoided risk of abusing power
Veto
The right of the consul to reject the other’s decision. Latin for “I forbid”

9. Senate 300 men Chosen for life Advise Consul Deal with other countries
Latin for “old men”
300 men
Chosen for life
Advise Consul
Deal with other countries
Proposes laws
Approve public works
Deal with daily government problems

10. Assembly Citizen soldiers – a voting assembly Power comes slowly
3. First step
towards
democracy

11. TWELVE TABLES Plebeians go on strike for more say in the government.
Leave the farms and the army to go sit on the Palatine Hill (Forum)
Patricians compromise- Pass a written code of law called the TWELVE TABLES.
First time that patricians and plebeians were treated equally under the law