Ancient Rome

"Senatus Populusque Romanus" or "The Senate and the People of Rome"

Geography

• Alps • Tiber River and

swamps• Seas –

Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Ionian

• Harbors, inland trade

Founding of Rome

• Just like in ancient Greece, mythology was used to explain events in everyday life or the customs and beliefs of a society – as in Rome

• It involves traditional stories about gods, ancestors or heroes

• The city of Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus

• They were the twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin princess

Founding of Rome

• According to the legend, the boys were abandoned by the Tiber River

• Eventually they were raised by a she-wolf

Do you think this myth is true?

Why would Romans want to believe that their city was founded by the sons of a god?

Origins of RomeEarliest settlers arrived between 1000 B.C. to 500 B.C.

1.) The Latin settlers were farmers and shepherds who came from the north

2.) The Greeks settled in the south – influenced Roman agriculture, art & architecture, religion, and government

3.)The Etruscans were native to northern Italy

• They were skilled metalworkers (weapons) and engineers (built roads & drained the swamps)

• They had a system of writing & alphabet

• They used the arch

• They had religious ideas and eventually the Roman gods take on the personalities of the Greek gods

However, it was the Etruscans that influenced the culture of Rome the most.

I’m Jupiter, not Zeus!!

Etruscan Leadership• Around 600 B.C., an

Etruscan became king.

- Under the Etruscan kings, Rome grew from a series of villages to a major city.

- Many kings ordered the construction of Rome’s first temples and public buildings – like in the Forum

End of Etruscan Rule• The last Etruscan king of

Rome was Tarquin the Proud.

• He ruled as a tyrant and was overthrown/driven from power by the aristocracy who declared they would never again be ruled by a king

The Early Republic• Having removed the monarch, the Romans

established a new government -- they called it a republic.

• So what exactly is a republic?

• A republic is

– A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote to select their leaders

– In Rome, citizenship was granted to all free-born male citizens

In the new republic of Rome, two groups of Romans constantly fought for power --

1. Patricians – the aristocratic landowners who held most of the power. They…

- Claimed their ancestry gave them the right rule

- Had the authority to vote,

hold office, and make laws

- Were members of the Senate

It’s good to be a Senator, ain’t it

fellas?

2. Plebeians – the common farmers, artisans, and merchants

- Made up the majority of the population

- Were citizens with the right to vote

- By law, were not able to hold important government positions

It’s not fair!

• However, the Senate eventually allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes.

Do I stink or something?

• Tribunes protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts created by patrician officials.

• The tribunes were eventually able to gain more power.

• The laws in Rome were originally unwritten and left to interpretation.

• How would this affect the plebeians?

• With laws unwritten, patricians often interpreted the laws to their benefit/convenience

• In 451B.C. the plebeians forced Roman officials to write down Rome’s laws

The Twelve Tables• The laws were carved on twelve large stone

tablets and hung in the Roman Forum.

• These twelve tablets, later named the Twelve Tables, became the basis for Roman law.

• They established the idea that all free citizens, patricians and plebeians, had the right to the protection of the law.

• Rome felt they had the best government – a balance of a monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy all rolled into one.

Government Under the Republic• Instead of a king, Rome had

two elected officials called consuls.– They commanded the army– They directed the government

(executive branch)– Only served for one year– Could not be consul again for

10 years– One consul could always

overrule, veto, the other

Which modern United States office is most like the early Roman Republic’s consul position?

• The aristocratic side of Rome’s government was the Senate. It had…– Legislative and administrative functions– 300 members from upper class Roman society

(patricians)

• Senators...– Were members for life– Affected foreign and domestic policy– Eventually allowed plebeians into the Senate

• Rome’s legislative branch also consisted of two assemblies.

1.) Centuriate Assembly: made up of citizen-soldiers

-- Was originally patrician controlled, appointed by consuls, and responsible for creating the laws.

-- Less powerful than the senate

2.) Tribal Assembly: organized by the Plebeians

– They elected tribunes (35)

– Made laws for the common people

– Eventually won the right to help make laws for the republic

Rome’s Judicial BranchRome also had a Judicial branch that consisted of:

Eight Praetors (judges) chosen by the Centuriate Assembly for 1 year

Two Praetors oversee civil and criminal courts

The other six Praetors govern provinces

• In times of crisis, the republic could appoint a dictator (an absolute ruler) who…

– Had absolute power– Commanded the army– Power lasted only 6 months– Chosen by the consuls– Elected by the senate

I’m in complete control – at least

for the next 6 months!

Now let’s put it all together and compare and contrast Rome’s government to Ancient Athens and the United States.

To complete your chart/Venn use your notes from today