The Roman Republic

1. The Roman Republic

2. Today’s Goal • Describe the origins, development, and characteristics of the Roman Republic

3. LIVY, The Early History of Rome “Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot for the site of our city – the [salubrious] hills, the river to bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from foreign fleets, our situation in the very heart of Italy – all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great."

4. Geography & Location • Central peninsula of Mediterranean Sea • Island of Sicily • Fertile land! • Tiber River

5. Legendary Origins • Romulus & Remus

6. Legendary Origins • Told in Virgil’s Aeneid • Links the founding of Rome to the Trojan warrior Aeneas who flees from a burning Troy

7. Historical Origins of Rome • Latins • Palatine Hill • Greeks • Mythology • Writing • Etruscans • Metalwork • Sculpture • Road building • Arch

8. Examples of Etruscan art Note the Greek alphabet

9. Romans borrowed Etruscan building techniques.

10. The Last Monarch • King TarquiniusSuperbus = Tarquin the Proud • Tyrant driven from power • res republica(“public affairs”)  Republic

11. Conflict of the Orders • SenatusPopulusqueRomanus= “Senate and the Roman People” • Patricians - Wealthy landowners - Most power • Plebeians - Commoners - Most of population

12. Conflict of the Orders • Tribunes = elected to protect rights of plebeians • Twelve Tables  written law code • Citizenship = all adult male landowners

13. Twelve Tables (excerpts) • If a thief was a freeman, he was flogged & handed to person from whom he stole to repay the damage • If a thief were a slave, flogged then thrown to his death off the Tarpeian Rock (cliff) • No burials or cremations within city walls • Maintenance of roads was responsibility of property owner • Marriage between plebeians and patricians no longer forbidden • Permitted to remove branch from neighbor’s tree if overhung into one’s property • Theft of crops was death penalty by clubbing • For slander there was death penalty by clubbing • Levels of punishment varied by status of person • Laws distinguished between intentional and accidental killing • Father had right to kill his deformed child

14. Roman Forum Public meeting place and the heart of Roman political life

15. Limited power Commanded Army Veto each other Two Consuls 1 year term (once/10 years) Gov’t of Roman Republic

16. Foreign, financial policies Elected for life Senate (Curiae)– 300 members Patricians & plebeians Gov’t of Roman Republic Advises consuls

17. Selects consuls, makes laws Gov’t of Roman Republic Centuriate Assembly – both patricians & plebeians Citizen-soldiers elected for life

18. Gov’t of Roman Republic Tribal Assembly Citizens elected yearly Elects tribunes, makes laws

19. Gov’t of Roman Republic Dictator – Elected in times of crisis Command Army Absolute power to make laws Chosen by consuls for 6 mo. term

20. Magistrates • 8 praetors – judges • 2 censors – census of citizens, tax assessments • 4 aediles - supervised public places, public games, and the grain supply

21. Appian Way

23. Rome’s Balanced Government Consuls = a monarchy + Assemblies = a democracy + Senate= an aristocracy = Rome’s balanced government

24. Roman Army • All land-owning citizens required to serve • Legions = large military units of ~6,000 infantry - Supported by cavalry (equites) • Centuries = smaller units of 100 infantry • 60 centuries make up a legion

25. Typical Formation of Legions

26. Family Life in the Roman Republic • Pater familias– led religious ceremonies, total life and death authority • Women had no legal protection • Children obeyed authority • Slaves were treated well

27. Life in Roman Republic • The Roman villa • Countryside • Hypocaust (“heat from below”) • Atriums, garden • Al fresco dining

29. The uncomfortable toga. Easy to make – no sewing – no buttonholes Large wool blanket 18 X 7 ft. Symbol of Roman citizenship Young boy wore a white toga with a purple band around the border Age 16 a boy and his family would go to the forum where he would register as a full citizen and wear a white toga The toga was worn at the theater, in court, for religious ceremonies, and on any formal occasion At death, his body is wrapped in a toga, marking him as a Roman citizen

30. Rome Gains Control of Italy • Romans defeat Etruscans & Latins • Samnite Wars – gained central Italy • Romans vs. Greeks - Pyrrhus (king of Epirus) – “Pyrrhic victory” - Rome defeats Greeks

31. Treatment of Conquered Territory • Nearby Latins = full citizens of Rome • Farther territories = rights of citizenship except the vote • Allies of Rome = freedom to go about their business, BUT supplied troops, could not make treaties

32. Punic Wars - Rome v. Carthage, 264-146 BC • 1st Punic War – Rome beats Carthage, gains Sicily • 2nd Punic War – Hannibal of Carthage marches through Spain, Alps to attack Rome • Would Roman allies defect?  NO • 3rd Punic War – Roman general Scipio • Hannibal defeated in N. Africa • Carthage burned

33. The Corvus (Latin for “raven” or “crow”) • Crane/plank on a Roman ship that turned naval battle into a land battle

34. Rome dominates Mediterranean by 70 BC • East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & Anatolia • West – as far as Spain • Republic dominates the . . . “known world”