Ch. 11 - Lesson 2 ~ "Rome As a Republic"

Ch. 11 - Lesson 2 ~ "Rome As a Republic"

Focus Question: How do governments change?

Governing Rome

• Not everyone was treated fairly in the Roman Republic. Rome's government reflected divisions within its society.

• Early Romans were divided into two classes: patricians and plebeians.

• Patricians were Rome's ruling class. They were wealthy landowners and came from Rome's oldest and most prominent families.

• Plebeians were ordinary (very poor) Roman citizens. This group included artisans, shopkeepers, and owners of small farms.

Poll

Which group held a higher social position?

• Patricians

• Plebeians

Government of the Republic

• The government of the Roman Republic was organized into three branches.

• Consuls were the head of the government. They were administrators and army leaders. They served one year in office - so they would not become too powerful. They could veto (or reject) the other's decision.

• Praetors were government officials who interpret the law and serve as judges.

• The legislative body consisted of the Senate and the Assembly of Centuries (both of which were controlled by patricians)

Multiple Choice

What was Rome's legislature called?

• Consuls

• Praetors

• Senate

Conflict Between Classes

• The patricians feared that the republic was in danger of collapsing, so they agreed to share power with the plebeians.

• They allowed the plebeians to have their own body of representatives, called the Council of the Plebs.

• The Council of the Plebs elected officials called tribunes (elected officials who protect the rights of ordinary citizens).

• Tribunes voiced plebeian concerns to the government.

Multiple Choice

What was the plebeian body of representatives called?

• The Council of the Plebs

• The Council of the Patricians

• Tribunes

• Praetors

Cincinnatus and Civic Duty

• The Romans believed there were times when the republic needed a strong leader. So, they created the office of dictator (a person granted absolute power)

• During a crisis, the dictator had complete control over Rome. After the crisis was over, the dictator was expected to give up his power, and the regular government's power would then be restored.

• One of the most famous dictators was Cincinnatus, a farmer who had been a Roman consul and was known for his loyalty to Rome.

• Cincinnatus was admired for fulfilling his civic duty (the idea that citizens have a responsibility to help their country)

Multiple Choice

the idea that citizens have a responsibility to help their country

• dictator

• praetor

• veto

• civic duty

Rome's System of Law

• In 451 B.C., Rome created its first written code of laws known as the Twelve Tables.

• The laws were carved on twelve bronze tablets and placed in Rome's marketplace, called the Forum.

• The Twelve Tables supported the ideal that all free citizens had the right to be treated equally in the Roman legal system.

The Punic Wars

• From 264 B.C. to 146 B.C., three Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage to gain control of the Mediterranean region.

• During the second Punic War, Carthage’s general Hannibal and his army took elephants over the Alps and into Italy.

• Rome won all three of the Punic Wars, expanding its territory and power following each war.

• After the Punic Wars, Rome conquered Greece and acquired a province in Asia.

Poll

How many Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage?

• 1

• 2

• 3