Governing Rome

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Governing Rome

• Chapter 11.2

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Tennessee Social Studies

• 6.59 On a historical map, identify ancient Rome
  and trace the extent of the Roman Empire to 500
  AD
• 6.62 Describe the government of the Roman
  Republic and its contribution to the development
  of democratic principles, including but not
  limited to rule of law

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Roman social class
Patricians Plebeians
Ruling class Wealthy landowners Farmers, artisans, and merchants Often lacked rights Could not hold public office
Both had to pay taxes and serve in the army
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Government of the Republic

• Roman Republic was organized into 3 branches
• 1. Made laws
• 2. Ran daily affairs of government
• 3. Judges
• Checks and balances

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• Consuls headed the government, also served as
  army leaders
• Consul could serve 1 year
• Could veto each other
• Praetors interpreted the law and served as
  judges, also led army

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• Senate was the legislature
• Group of 300 men
• Served for life
• Advised the consuls
• Assembly of Centuries elected consuls and
  praetors

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Conflict Between Classes

• Plebeians became frustrated because they no power
  in government.
• 494 BC plebs went on strike, refused to fight in
  army, and left Rome
• Patricians knew they could not survive without
  the plebs.
• Let the plebs have representation The Council
  of the Plebs
• Plebs elected tribunes

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More power for the Plebs

• Tribunes could veto
• Plebs were allowed to become consuls
• Plebs could even marry patricians
• 287 BC Council of Plebs could pass laws

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Cincinnatus and Civic Duty

• Romans created the office of dictator
• The dictator would rule during crisis and then
  regular power would resume
• Cincinnatus had been a consul.
• 458 BC the Senate appointed him as dictator to
  handle the threat of an enemy army.
• For 2 weeks Cincinnatus led the army, defeated
  the enemy, and then went back to farming.

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Civic Duty

• Civic duty (idea that citizens have a
  responsibility to help their country)
• George Washington was inspired by Cincinnatus.

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Romes System of Law

• Romes laws were not written down in the
  beginning
• Plebeians wanted the laws written down for all to
  see.
• 451 BC - Twelve Tables
• Carved on bronze tablets and placed in the Forum
• Foundation for law, all free citizens had the
  right to be treated equally

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Roman Justice

• Roman law influenced many other civilizations
  including the United States
• Assume a person is innocent until proven guilty
• Rule of law everyone treated the same, guiding
  principle of our legal system

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The Punic Wars

• Carthage, located along the north African coast,
  became powerful through trade.
• Originally been a Phoenician trading colony
• Became Romes bitter enemy
• 264 BC a series of war between the two began that
  would last over a century

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First Punic War

• Carthage had colonies on the island of Sicily.
  Rome decided it wanted the island for itself.
• Carthage had a strong navy.
• Rome quickly built a navy of its own.
• - improved the ships by adding moveable
  bridge allowing them to board Carthages ships
• After more than 2 decades of fighting, Rome
  defeated Carthage and took control of Sicily

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Second Punic War

• Carthage needed more land and resources after
  losing Sicily to Rome.
• Carthage decided to take over Spain.
• Rome encouraged Spain to fight back.
• In response, Carthage sent Hannibal to attack
  Rome in 218 BC.
• Hannibal had a large army of 46,000 men and 37
  elephants.
• Carthage used the elephants to cross the Alps.
• Bitter cold and mountain tribes killed most of
  the men and elephants.
• 216 BC Hannibal was able to defeat the Romans at
  the Battle of Cannae.

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Second and Third Punic War

• Rome continued to fight back.
• 206 BC the Roman general Scipio took Spain and
  attacked the city of Carthage.
• Hannibal was forced to return home to protect his
  people.
• 202 BC, Rome once again is victorious at the
  Battle of Zama.
• Carthage had to pay a huge fine and give up its
  navy.
• Carthage remained a threat, so finally in 146 BC
  Rome destroyed it.

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