The Roman Republic:

History of Rome

•The Kingdom of Rome•The Republic•The Roman Empire•Fall of Roman Empire

The Roman Republic510 B.C.E. ~ 44 B.C.E.

Republic

A system of government in which officials are elected by the citizens

Patricians

Plebeians

wealthy and powerful land owners

workers, farmers, artisans, and merchants

Slaves

Rome’s Republican Government : Roman laws and justice were Rome’s greatest contribution

to western civilization

Senate

Consuls

draw up, explain, and carryout the laws

300 men who served for life.

Advised government officials andproposed laws.

veto

Checks and Balances

3 Branches of Government

Rome’s Republican Government :

Tribunes

Protect plebeian interests

Assemblies

Voice of the people

Article II:

President,

Article 1:

Congress,

Article III:

Interprets the laws

Separation of Powers:

Makes the laws

Legislative Branch

Executive Branch

Enforces the laws

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court,

Checks and Balances

The structure of Roman government, with its consuls, Assemblies, and Senate, is similar to the executive,

legislative, and judicial branches of the United States

Law

Roman laws and justice were Rome’s greatest contribution to western civilization

• All persons are equal under the law

• A person is considered innocent until proven guilty

• The burden of proof rests with the accuser rather than the accused

• Unfair or unreasonable laws can be set aside.

The structure of Roman government, with its consuls, Assemblies, and Senate, is similar to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the United States

Roman ForumRoman Forum

• The Twelve Tables: written code of laws

• Displayed in the Forum so everyone would know what the laws were.

100 B.C.E.

Spain

North Africa

Greece

Middle East

Egypt

Fall of the Roman Republic

Rich / Poor

Rich Lazy

Poor Taxed

Draft Ended

Generals recruit their own soldiers

Second Century B.C.E

Julius Caesar Marches into Rome

Romans were tired of civil wars, political unrest, and poor economicconditions.

Caesar

PompeyCrassus

First Triumvirate

60 B.C.E.

44 B.C.E.

Dictator for life

March 15, 44B.C.E

Augustus

Roman Empire

27 B.C.E.

200 years of peace

Pax Romana = Roman Peace

Rise of Christianity

Palestine

As the Christian beliefs grew in popularity, the leaders of the Roman Empire became nervous.

Christians refused to worship the Roman emperor as a god or join the Roman army.

Persecution of Christians

to treat a person or group harshly andunjustly

persecute

Thousands of Christians became martyrs—

people who chose to die rather than give up their beliefs

Christianity grows and spreads

Christianity eventually became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Roman Empire

120 C.E.

Roman Government

•Established a common market for Europe Rome

•Provided the security and protection

•Coinage system

• Legal system

The Roman Military

The Roman army was one of the finest fighting machines the world has ever known. Beginning as a group of citizen soldiers who provided their own arms and defended the early city of Rome in times of emergency, the Roman army grew to become one of the largest professional fighting forces the world had ever seen. In later years, the enormous bureaucracy that governed and supplied the Roman army would grow to rival those of modern days.

The legion was the largest unit in the Roman Army. Originally, a legion consisted of from 5000 to 5500 men, but seldom was a legion ever at its full strength. More often, a legion consisted of 4000 to 4800 combat ready troops.

Roman Catapult

The Roman Empire Began to Decline

Roman Empire Divided

ConstantinopleRome Byzantine Empire

380 C.E.

Christianity is official religion

Decline of morals

Contrast between rich / poor

Apathy for government

Foreigners

High taxes

Poor farming

Slaves taking jobs

Bad emperors

Civil wars

Common people had no voice in government

Empire split

Barbarian invasions

Soldiers loyal to generals not the state

Strong generals ignored the government

Decline of patriotism

Invasion from north by Hunsand by south from Vandals

Roman Contributions to Civilization

In art, literature, and philosophy, the Romans borrowed from and copied the Greeks

The Roman Empire was responsible form transmitting aspects Of Greek civilization to western Europe

In the area of engineering, law, and administration, theRomans were leaders

Engineering and Architecture

roads

bridges

aqueducts

baths

Colosseum

The Roman Colosseum took ten years to build and seated approximately 50,000 people. Seating was divided into poor and wealthy. There were 80 entrances at the base of the building. The Colosseum was the largest building of its kind, in the ancient world. It was built so tightly that its arena could be filled with water for Mock Navel Battles. The walls were 160 ft. tall.

To commemorate its opening in 80 C.E. a hundred days of festivities were held which saw the deaths of 9000 wild animals and 2000 gladiators.

Usually the entertainment started early in the morning and lasted all day long. Mornings were for the animal shows. Tigers, lions, bears, elephants, and giraffes from other parts of the empire were released in to the arena, to fight to the death.

The afternoon entertainment gladiators would fight one another or other animals. Most gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, or criminals.

Science and Mathematics

Ptolemy Earth was the center of the universe and the sun revolved around Earth

Language

The language of the Romans, Latin, is the basis of many modern languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian. English has many words which came from Latin, as well.

Romannumerals