Roman Republic

Section 9-2

Rome’s Government

• Romans divided into two classes– Patricians – nobles, wealthy land owners

• All of Rome’s ruling class

– Plebeians – artisans, shopkeepers, farm owners

• Most of Rome’s people

Rome’s Government

• Citizens– Patricians and Plebeians:– Right to vote– Paid taxes– Serve in the army– Plebeians less social status than Patricians

• Could not marry each other• Could not hold public office

Government

consuls praetors senate

Rome’s Government

• Consuls– Two patricians– Ran government– Headed army– One year term– Could veto the other’s decision

Rome’s Government

• Praetors– Act as judges– Interpret the law

Rome’s Government

• Senate– Made laws– 300 patrician men– Life term

Rome’s Government

• Assembly of Centuries– Elected consuls and praetors– Passed laws– Patricians only

Rome’s Government

• Plebeians complained

• 494 B.C. they went on strike

• Patricians agreed to share power

• Gave them the Council of the Plebs

Council of the Plebs

• Elected tribunes who brought concerns to government’s attention

• Could veto decisions

• Could marry Patricians

• By 300’s B.C., could become a consul

• Could pass laws for all Romans

Cincinnatus

• Was a dictator (ruled with complete control during an emergency)

• Farmer, ruled for 16 days then stepped down

• Romans strongly believed in civic duty or the idea that citizens have a responsibility to help their country.

Cincinnatus

• With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. His other hand holds the plow, as he resumes the life of a citizen and farmer." — A statue of Cincinnatus in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Roman Law

• Twelve Tables– Rome’s first law code– Written because plebeians thought laws

favored patricians– All citizens had the right to be treated equally

in the legal system– Applied only to citizens

• Table II.

• 2. He whose witness has failed to appear may summon him by loud calls before his house every third day.

• Table IV.

• 1. A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed.

• 2. If a father sell his son three times, the son shall be free from his father.

• Table V.

• 1. Females should remain in guardianship even when they have attained their majority.

• Table VII.• 1. Let them keep the road in order. If they

have not paved it, a man may drive his team where he likes.

• 9. Should a tree on a neighbor's farm be bend crooked by the wind and lean over your farm, you may take legal action for removal of that tree.

• 10. A man might gather up fruit that was falling down onto another man's farm.

Roman Law

• Law of Nations– Helped solve legal disputes between citizens

and non citizens

Roman Law

• Both sets of laws use ideas that we still use today– Innocent until proven guilty– Use of defense– Judges must look at evidence before deciding

Roman Law

• “Rule of Law”– Idea that says the law should apply equally to

everyone– This was a new idea then!

Rome Expands

• Carthage– In northern Africa– Ruled a trading empire

Rome Expands

• First Punic War– Carthage and Rome wanted to both control

Sicily– Rome built up a big navy and conquered– 20 years later, Sicily was under Roman rule

Rome Expands

• Second Punic War– Carthage expanded into Spain after they lost

Italy– Rome helped Spain rebel against Carthage– Carthage sent Hannibal to attack Rome

• Hannibal is known marching into Italy with a huge army and 37 elephants

– Rome lost at the battle of Cannae– General Scipio invaded Spain and beat C.

Rome Expands

• Rome was now a major power in the Mediterranean

• Third Punic War– Rome invaded Carthage

• Enslaved, destroyed• Made Carthage a province

Rome Expands

• Two years later, Macedonia fell to Rome

• Two more years later, Greece fell to Rome

• By 129 B.C., Rome gained its first Asian province