Chapter 5

1. Chapter 5 Section 1

2. The Romans Formed a Republic • Objectives: • How did geography affect the growth of Rome? • What did the Romans learn from the Etruscans? • How democratic was the Roman republic?

3. Rome Grew on the Banks of the Tiber River • 1000 BC the people who came to call themselves Romans lived on the Tiber River in small villages • The Tiber located in Italy is where these people formed their republic and went on to conquer the whole of Italy. • Their rules lasted for hundreds of years and included much of the lands around the

4. Mediterranean Sea. • The capital was called Rome • Between 800 – 750 BC a group of peopl from central Europe who were called Latins migrated to central Italy • There, they built farms along the Tiber • They united the others who were already living along the river. • It is said that a Latin princess gave birth to twins: Romulus and Remus

5. Their father was Mars – the god of war • They were abandoned by their mother because they were afraid they would someday challenge the king…they were founded by a wolf and raised by the wolf • They grew up discovered their origins and killed their evil uncle and later founded the city of Rome in 753 BC

6. II. Geography Influenced Rome’s Growth • Rome is largely mountainous but is blessed with mild climate and a number of fertile river valleys and plains • Rome has many fine harbors with access to the Mediterranean Sea • Rome lies halfway down the west side of Italy

7. With its position near the Tiber River gave it ready access to the Med. Sea • The hills of Rome protected it from attack • They valleys and hills are used to raise cattle and grow crops

8. III. Etruscans Overpowered the Roman People • Although the Romans are dated to have founded Rome in 753 BC, the city may have existed long before then • Around 800 BC Rome fell under the control of a group of people from Asia Minor called the Etruscans (ih TRUHS kuhns) • This group ruled nearly all of Italy

9. The Etruscans were a highly civilized group of people • They were very gifted and skilled in many areas • The Romans learned much of what they did from the Etruscans, such as metal work, building, art of war, weapons, and ships • They helped the Romans drain the marsh from the city to expand it

10. IV. The Romans Set Up A Republic • It was shortly after 509 BC that the Roman people declared themselves independent • Now free of monarchs, the Romans set up a new form of government called a republic • Republic – elected representatives govern, like the U.S., but unlike the U.S. the elected groups in Rome governs over a

11. governs over a particular group not a whole population. • The representatives who govern came from Rome’s upper class • The wealthy landowners were called patricians which comes from the Latin word meaning “fathers” • The common citizens of Rome were called plebeians (farmers, merchants, traders) and they had only limited say in government

12. The Romans set up a legislature which included a senate and 2 assemblies • The senators or members of the Senate were patricians who served for life • They propose and passed all laws and ratified treaties and approved official appointments • Assembly of Centuries also made up of patricians directed military matters. • Assembly of Tribes – made of plebeians

13. They represented 35 tribes in which the Romans were divided into. • In theory, the assemblies represented all the people of Rome b/c their members were of both patricians and plebeians • The patricians controlled the assemblies • The Romans felt they needed supreme authority or imperium and they placed this imperium in the hands of 2 consuls. • Consul was an official from the patrician class who carried out all laws of Rome.

14. They ruled for one year. In addition to carrying out laws, they also commanded the army and had the right to veto, or stop, the acts of the other consul • The 2 consuls had to agree in order to act • If quick decisions had to be made, the senate would replace the consuls with a dictator for a six-month period • The dictator had full power to make all decisions and guide gov’t through an emergency, but couldn’t change laws

15. The gov’t of Rome was also served by praetors or judges, who played an important role in interpreting the laws of Rome • Censors – counted the number of people of Rome and from this they determined the amount of taxes people would pay – taxes were based on a person’s wealth. • In the early years of the republic, the plebeians struggled for a greater share in gov’t and in social equality

16. Also, plebeians could not marry or hold important offices • They were forbidden to conduct religious rituals • But they paid taxes and worked for Rome and more importantly made up Rome’s army

17. V. Plebeians Won Additional Rights • In the 5th century, after the plebeians refused to fight for Rome, the patricians gave in to some of the plebeians demands • They won the right to choose, through the Assembly of Tribes, 10 tribunes • The tribunes had unusual powers, they could simply veto any act and override the senate, assemblies, or gov’t officials

18. In 450 BC, Rome adopted a set of 12 laws called the Twelve Tables. • These tables spelled out Rome’s basic laws • These laws covered every aspect of Roman life including wills, property rights, court cases, family laws and behavior of citizens • 339 BC plebeians were allowed to marry patricians and hold the office of consul • They could also sit in the Senate and their assembly could pass laws without senate approval

19. In spite of all these reforms, Rome was still not a true democracy b/c now the plebeian class guarded its power much like the patrician class had done earlier.