The Roman Republic and Empire

Chapter 1

Section 2

Focus Questions

1. How did the government of Rome develop into an empire?

2. What modern democratic principles originate from ancient Rome?

Romans

Romans established a government called a republic (a government in which supreme power belongs to the citizens through their right to vote)

Romans thought a republic (indirect democracy) would keep any individual from gaining too much power

The 300 members of the republic’s senate were all patricians—the landholding upper class (nobles)

Senators, who served for life, made the Roman laws

Roman Warrior

Roman Government Structure

Each year, the senators elected two consuls from among the patricians

The consuls supervised the business of government and commanded Rome’s armies

In the event of war, the senate might choose a dictator to temporarily take complete control over the government

The law granted each Roman the power to rule for six months

A dictator is a person who rules with total authority and often in a cruel and brutal manner

Roman Senate

Roman Armies

Roman Consul

Roman Government Structure

The common people, or plebians, influenced government to have the laws written down in the Twelve Tables

They also gained the right to elect their own officials, called tribunes

The tribunes could veto (preventing a bill passed by a legislature from becoming a law) laws passed by the senate that were harmful to the plebians

The Twelve Tables

Roman Government

Expansion of Roman Political System

As Rome’s political system evolved, its armies expanded Roman power into the eastern Mediterranean region

On the north coast of Africa, the Romans also destroyed the city-state of Carthage and established themselves as masters of the Western Mediterranean

Expansion, however, created problems At issue was who should hold power—the senate or popular

political leaders looking to enact reforms Soon Rome was plunged into a civil war over this power

struggle

Map of Roman Empire

Julius Caesar

Military commander who emerged from the civil chaos and seized control

Although Caesar kept the senate and other features of the republic, he forced the senate to make him dictator

Jealous and fearful of his power, Caesar’s enemies stabbed him to death

Caesar’s opponents believed he wanted to make himself king

Caesar’s grand-nephew Octavian became the new ruler

The senate gave Octavian the title Augustus Caesar, and he became the first emperor

Death of Julius Caesar

Pax Romana

During the time known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace), the Roman empire brought peace, order, unity, and prosperity to the lands it ruled

Trade flowed freely to and from distant lands in Africa and Asia

Merchants carried ivory, gold, spices, silk, and other commodities

People spread/shared ideas as they traveled Ideas about democracy spread to places the

Romans traveled

Legal Principles From Roman Times

Accused presumed innocent until proven guilty

Accused had right to face the accuser Accused could offer a defense to the charges Guilt had to be established “clearer than

daylight” through evidence Judges interpreted the laws and were

expected to make fair decisions

Legacy of Rome

Greatest legacy of Rome was the establishment of justice through the law

(A legacy is something that is left behind to future generations) In the 400s, the emperor Justinian, in what was now the

eastern Byzantine empire, reformed the Roman law code The Roman Law Code became known as Justinian’s Code Later, this code influenced the Christian church and medieval

monarchs The Christian church preserved much of the Roman culture in

its teachings

Powerpoint Questions (17 points)

1. Define republic 2. Who were the patricians? 3. What were the responsibilities of the two

consuls elected by the senate? 4. Why would the senate elect a dictator? 5. Common people were known as ___.

Powerpoint Questions (17 points)

6. Laws were written on tablets called the _________.

7. Define veto. 8. What city-state did the Romans destroy that

established Rome as the master of the Western Mediterranean?

9. Identify the military commander who emerged and seized power amidst the chaos and civil wars

10. Who became the first emperor of the Roman empire?

Powerpoint Questions (17 points)

11. What does Pax Romana mean? 12. What happened during the Pax Romana? 13. What modern legal principles originate from Roman times?

(four points) 14. What did the Roman emperor Justinian accomplish during

his reign?