Social and Political Structure of Ancient Rome

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Social and Political Structure of Ancient Rome

• Ancient Rome Unit

Hang in there for 1 week!!!
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Do Now - Review of Friday

• How does Romes geography give it an advantage?
• What protects the Roman Empire from the northern
  invasion?
• What sea basin is Rome located in the middle of?
• What civilization does Rome borrow much of their
  religion from?
• Who are the mythological founders of Rome?

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Do Now - Review of Friday

• How does Romes geography give it an advantage?
  Peninsula-protected on 3 sides, distance from
  East Mediterranean Powers
• What protects the Roman Empire from the north?
  Alps
• What sea basin is Rome located in the middle of?
  Mediterranean
• What civilization does Rome borrow much of their
  religion from? Greek
• Who are the mythological founders of Rome?
  Romulus Remus

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The Founding of the Roman Republic

• Etruscans group from Northern Italy that
  briefly controlled the peninsula.
• 509 BC Romans drive out Etruscans to create new
  Roman state - a Republic.
• Republic government structure where some
  officials chosen by people prevented individuals
  from gaining too much power.

http//www.bible-history.com/ancient_maps/Rome_Map
s/map_Etruscan_Empire_530_BC.gif
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Structure of the Roman Republic

• Patricians
• Land-owning upper class
• Descendants of founders of Rome
• 5-10 of population held most power
• Plebeians
• Farmers, artisans, merchants
• Majority of population very little power
• Slaves
• Lowest social class
• NOT based on race

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What rights did each have?

• Patricians and Plebeians both could vote and make
  legal contracts.
• Marriage WAS allowed for these groups, however
  they could NOT intermarry.

http//www.mrdowling.com/images/702patrician.gif
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TV Timeout ?
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The Big Dogs - the Roman Senate

• The Senate
• Most powerful body of the Republic
• About 300 members
• Served for life term and made laws
• Only patricians could be Senators
• The Senators
• Chose two consuls chief executives
• Consuls responsible for commanding the armies and
  directing the government.
• Only serve one term, every 10 years.

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Roman Senate, Cont

• By limiting consuls time in office, Rome had
  system of checks and balances on power of
  government.
• Senate could also elect a dictator in event of
  war.
• Dictator ruler with absolute power over
  government (usually for 6 months)

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The Story of Cincinnatus

• An Ideal dictator
• 457 BC appointed by Senate
• Organized army, defeated enemy, attended victory
  celebration, and returned home within 15 days.
• Romans hoped future dictators would be modeled on
  Cincinnatus

http//www.nndb.com/people/833/000107512/cincinnat
us-1.jpg
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Patricians vs. Plebeians

• Patricians held most power, while Plebeians
  struggled for equality.
• Plebeians gained from 1st written Roman law,
  created in 450 BC 12 Tables.
• Inscribed laws of the land on 12 Tables and
  placed in the Roman Forum.
• Forum public meeting place
• Laws of 12 Tables clarified laws in Rome for all
  classes.

http//historylink102.com/italy-pic/rf-overlooking
-roman-forum.jpg
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The Plebeians

• Eventually gained right to elect own
  representatives known as Tribunes.
• Tribunes worked in the Assembly it wasnt as
  powerful as the Senate.
• Over time, he could veto laws that were unfair
  for Plebeians and gained equal status as the
  Senate.
• Towards end of the Republic, the tribunes were as
  powerful as the Senate.

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Structure of the Roman Political System
Consuls Two appointed by Senate for one year
terms Command army and direct Government
Senate Senators chosen from Patrician
class Serve for life and make laws
Assembly Made up of Tribunes chosen from
Plebeians Had limited power
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Odds and Ends of the Political Structure

• Women, aliens, and slaves could not participate
  in government.
• Citizenship was granted to patricians and
  plebeians. Citizens had two main duties
• Pay taxes
• Military service
• Military was mainly the legion troop of 6,000
  men.
• Similar to Greeks citizens soldiers fought
  without pay and supplied own weapons

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Quiz Tomorrow!!

• Quiz on information from these notes and the
  notes on Friday.
• Focus on fill in the blank areas, what the
  headings are focusing on, etc.