Chapter 11The Roman Republic

Ancient Roman Cities

• Most ancient cities in Italy were built on hilltops because they could defend their cities better.

• Remus and Romulus are legendary brothers whose father was Aeneas, a Trojan hero. After they grew up they became angry with one another, battling until Remus was killed by Romulus. Romulus founded and named the city of Rome after himself.

The Early Roman Empire

The Early Roman Republic

The government the Romans created in 509 BC was a republic. In a republic, people elect leaders to govern them.

• The most powerful members of the Roman republic were the patricians. Patricians were powerful and wealthy land owners or nobles.

• The government changed in the republics. The Patricians no longer had the greatest influence because the Plebeians formed a council and elected their own officials. The Plebeians were the common people of Rome.

Roman Government

Magistrates• The first part of

Rome’s government:

• Magistrates are officials elected every year. Some were judges. Others managed Rome’s finances and organized games and festivals.

• To keep anyone from becoming too powerful, the Romans elected two consuls each year. These were the most powerful magistrates in Rome. They ran the city and led the army.

The Senate

• The second part of Rome’s government was the Senate. This was a council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advise the city’s leaders. It was originally created to advise Rome’s kings. They gained control of financial affairs.

• They held office for life.

Assemblies

• The third part of Rome’s government protected and represented the common people. It had two branches. Both patricians and plebeians took part in the assemblies. Their primary job was to elect the magistrates who ran the city of Rome. Roman citizens could take part in assemblies all their adult lives.

Tribunes• The second branch of

the assembly was the tribunes, who were elected by the plebeians and remained in office one year.

• The tribunes had the power to veto any action by government officials.

• “Veto” means “I forbid”, in Latin, the language of the Romans.

• The United States Constitution was written to protect people’s rights. The Romans created the Roman Law of the Twelve Tables to protect the rights of their citizens.

• Like the United States Government, the Romans had a system of checks and balances. This system was put into place so one part of the government would not become too strong.

• The Romans loved to be out in the city. The forum was the center of life and daily activity in ancient Rome.

The ForumToday

The Forum in Ancient Times

• Hannibal was a famous leader from Carthage, Tunisia, who attacked Rome during the Second Punic War. He used elephants to cross the Alps to reach Rome.

Hannibal Crossing the Alps

Elephants In Battle

• 6,000 soldiers made up the incredibly brave and effective Roman legions.

Tribunes who worked for the good of the poor people of Rome

BothersTiberius and

Gaius Gracchuswere Tribunes. Both worked for

the benefit of thepoor people of

Rome. Both lost their lives in

doing so.

His ideaallowed

poor peopleto join the

army

GaiusMarius

His actionsled to civil

war in Rome.

eventuallyhe became

adictator

LuciusCornelius

Sulla

Spartacus

A former gladiator,Spartacus, led

an uprising of theslaves in Rome, who were being

treated verybadly.

He was killed inbattle during the

revolt.The revolt fell

apart. The Romansexecuted

6,000 rebelliousslaves.

Roman Hairstyles

Roman Clothing

Roman Fresco

Summary