Warm-up
• Describe what Hellenistic culture is.
Roman Republic
Rome Map
• p. 151 and p. 156 for the maps• Things I also want you to mark on this map:– Greece– Mesopotamia (just off the map, so point an arrow
in its direction)– Mediterranean Sea– Shade in areas controlled by Rome
• What differences do you see between the geography of Rome and Greece?
Beginning of Rome
• Founded on area in central Italy with 7 hills
• Originally a kingdom• Tarquin the Proud – last
king of Rome– Abuses his power
• After, Romans say, “Never again will one person rule Rome.”
• Rome forms a republic
What is a republic?
• Republic – form of government where power is in the hands of citizens who vote on their representatives– Does this sound familiar?
• What’s the difference between a democracy and a republic?
• Patricians – upper class – considered themselves the ancestors of Rome’s founders
• Plebeians – common people in Rome
Roman System -- based on balance of interests
Monarchical Aristocratic Democratic
2 Consuls + other magistrates
Senate Assembly of Tribes
Tribune
Directed government and army
Acted as judges
Could issue edicts
Acted as chief priest
Controlled state budget
Could pass laws
Approved/rejected laws
Decided on War
Tribune could veto actions of magistrate
Acted as final court
Basis of power:
possess imperium, the right to rule
need for leadership
Basis of power:
members were richest men in Rome.
Basis of power:
provided most of the soldiers
Limits on power:
one year term
each could veto
Limits on power:
could not control army
needed majority as soldiers.
Limits on power:
Could not suggest laws
often paid as clients by the elite
Checks and Balances
• Checks and Balances - System meant to prevent one person or group from getting too much power
• In Rome, three groups, all have the ability to limit the powers of the other two groups– United States has similar system– 3 branches of government, none have complete
power of government
U.S. Checks and Balances
Roman Army• Legions – improvement
on phalanx• Fight in groups – much
better organized, and better weapons and armor
• Use army to take over Italy, begin to control trade on Mediterranean Sea
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgywD3XJaWU
Punic Wars• Carthage a rival of Athens
from North Africa• 264 BCE – 1st Punic War –
Rome defeats Carthage– Fought over control of island
of Sicily• 218 BCE – 2nd Punic War –
Rome wins again– Led by general named
Hannibal, tried to attack Rome by leading army through the Alps
– Works at first, but Rome attacks Carthage, burns it to the ground, sells people into slavery
Twelve Tables
• Twelve Tables - Roman set of laws – Similar to Code of
Hammurabi – post the laws so that everyone knew them
– Attempt to make fair laws for people to follow
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