How is the Rome Republic similar to the modern us government?

How is the Rome Republic similar to the modern US government?

• How is the Rome Republic similar to the modern US government?

• How did the struggle between the upper and lower classes in Rome shape the republic?

• What was the result of the Punic Wars?

Vocabulary

• Vocabulary

• patrician – Wealthy, landowning, ruling class in Rome

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• plebian – “plebs”, common people of Rome

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• consuls – two top government officials of Rome

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• veto – Latin for “I forbid”, to reject, as in a law

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• dictator – in Ancient Rome, a person who ruled with absolute power temporarily during times of emergencies

Romans were divided into two classes

• Romans were divided into two classes

• Patricians – wealthy land owners, the ruling class (nobility)
• Plebeians (“plebs”) – everyone else: farmers, merchants, artisans, soldiers etc.
• Most free Romans were “plebs”
• Slaves – Lots of them, 2 to 3 million

Rome could also have a Dictator!!

• Rome could also have a Dictator!!

• Dictator

• Today – an oppressive ruler that has complete authority
• Ancient Rome – a person who served the people and ruled temporarily during times of emergencies

• Who was Cincinnatus?

• In 460 BCE, Rome was surrounded by a powerful enemy army.
• Cincinnatus was a retired senator working on his farm when a officials from Rome came and asked him to take power and protect Rome.
• He did and a mere 15 or 16 days later, he saved Rome and returned power back to the Senate
• The city in Ohio is named after him.
• He is a role model to politicans

Twelve Tables – Rome’s first code of laws, like our Constitution

• Twelve Tables – Rome’s first code of laws, like our Constitution

• were carved on a bronze tablets and placed in Rome’s central market, the Forum.
• Included “RULE OF LAW” - Said that all free citizens were to be treated equally before the law
• Applied only applied to Roman citizen
• Examples: A person who owes money to another must be given 30 days to pay it back
• Burials must take place outside the city walls
• A son sold three times into slavery by his father is to become free

Rome will go to war and expand beyond the boot of Italy

• Rome will go to war and expand beyond the boot of Italy

• Carthage – a nation on the north coast of Africa, was a powerful enemy of Rome. Was founded by the Phoenicians

Punic – comes from the Latin word Punicus , meaning Phoenician

• Punic – comes from the Latin word Punicus , meaning Phoenician

• Rome & Carthage fight over Sicily

• Leader of the Carthaginian army was General Hamilcar – Carthage was DEFEATED once he was killed in battle.

• Sicily became the 1st Roman territory outside of the Italian peninsula

Carthage wanted to expand their empire into Spain (which Rome controlled), so Rome declared war

• Carthage wanted to expand their empire into Spain (which Rome controlled), so Rome declared war

• Leader of the Carthaginian army this time was Hannibal – he invaded Italy by crossing the Alps and crushed the Romans for years. He terrified the Romans by using elephants in battle

• Finally, Scipio Africanus attacked Carthage and with a little help, Scipio eventually won at the Battle of Zama (202 BC).

No so much a war, but a massacre

• No so much a war, but a massacre

• Rome won again

• Sold all surviving Carthaginians into slavery and then leveled Carthage City

• Roman soldiers supposedly salted the earth around Carthage so nothing would grow again.

Rome continued to expand, taking over Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Turkey

• Rome continued to expand, taking over Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Turkey

• Romans begin to call the Mediterranean Sea mare nostrum – “our sea”