Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

Structure of the RepublicThe Punic Wars

Structure of the Republic

• Rome combined what were considered to be the best characteristics of a monarchy, aristocracy and democracy.

EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE JUDICIALTwo consuls

• Command army and direct the government

• Limited power

• One year term

• Could veto the other’s decisions

Senate (patricians)•Perform legislative and administrative functions•300 upper class citizens•Influenced foreign/domestic policy

Tribal Assembly (plebians)•Organized by province•Members for life•Elected tribunes•Made laws for commoners

Centuriate Assembly•Citizen-soldiers•Members for life•Elected tribunes and made laws

Praetors•8 judges chosen for one year by Centuriate Assembly•2 oversaw civil and criminal courts•6 governed provinces

The Roman Army

• Romans placed great value on their military– Landowners required to serve in army– 10 years service required to hold certain public offices

• Organized into large military units called “legions”– Roman legion made up of 5,000 heavily armed men– Soldiers riding horseback (cavalry) accompanied them

• Divided into “centuries” of 80 men

Rome Conquers Italy• 4th cen. B.C. - Romans dominated central Italy

– Defeated Etruscans and Greeks• By 265 B.C. Rome completed its domination of

entire Italian peninsula• Treated each conquered area differently

– Nearby Latins became full citizens, could vote– Territories further away got full rights, except voting– Others became allies

Roman Power Expands• Lenient policy towards defeated enemies helped

Rome build a long lasting empire– Rome’s power spread for more than two centuries

• Also a powerful commercial state– Access to riches of lands around Mediterranean– Sometimes other large, powerful cities interfered

with Roman access to Mediterranean• One particular city was Carthage

Punic Wars• Conflicts between Rome and Carthage lasting

from 264 - 146 B.C. - 3 major wars

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For next class…• Complete Government Comparison Chart• Complete Punic Wars Charts• LATE WORK DEADLINE TODAY!