The Roman Republic

1. The Roman Republic “All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in Rome . . .” How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?

2. The History of Rome in 2 Minutes!

3. The Founding of Rome • Let’s read about it! Woof!

4. The Site of Rome • Legend has it that Romulus built Rome on the Palentine Hill – one of the Seven Hills of Rome Fortresses & Government Romulus Rome's Elite Remus

5. Geography & Rome • People settled on seven hills along the Tiber River between 1000-900 BCE • Called Latins or Italics • Many geographical advantages: • Easy to defend • Fertile soil • Access to rivers allows for trade in the Mediterranean Sea • Other more powerful societies controlled the rest of the Italian peninsula • Example: Greeks and Etruscans

6. Ancient Roman History… • Can be broken into three “eras” • For over 200 years, Rome was a Kingdom • For about 500 years, Rome was a Republic • For about 500 years, Rome was an Empire

7. “Roman” Kingdom Really Etruscan Kingdom

8. Roman Republic

9. Roman Empire

10. The Etruscans • Early kings of Rome • Not much is known as their written works did not survive • Who were they? • Most developed Latin/Italic people • Located in northern, central Italy • Most likely descendants of modern-day Turkey and native Italian population • By 6th century BCE they were the most powerful city state (modeled after the Greek system)

11. Romans Take Control • Romans resented the all-powerful Etruscan kings who gave them no say in their government • 509 BCE the Romans revolted against LuciusTarquiniusSuperbus • Result: End of the Etruscan kings Super

12. Romans Take Control • Romans keep many Etruscan ideas: • Hierarchy of Gods (Greek in origin) • Alphabet (also Greek in origin) • Toga • I told you they “borrowed” freely from other cultures! Toga! Toga! Toga!

13. Rome…The America of the Ancient World Yum, Etruscan! A spoonful of Persian Just a smidgen of Phoenician A dollop of Egyptian A heaping portion of Greek Goin’ back for Greek seconds!

14. Review… • What are the three “eras” we can break Roman history into? • Who were the early kings of Rome? • What was the name of the last king of the Etruscans?

15. Ancient Roman History… • Can be broken into three “eras” • For over 200 years, Rome was a Kingdom • For about 500 years, Rome was a Republic • For about 500 years, Rome was an Empire

16. Romans Form a Republic • Romans never wanted a king again or any government with a single ruler • Establish a Republic…what is it? • “Republic” literally comes from a Roman term Res Publica, or “the public concern” or “public affairs” • This essentially translates to sharing all power

17. Romans Form a Republic • By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula • The Republican Government consisted of… 1. The Consuls • Two chief officials who led the government • Appointed to perform the duties that, prior to them, the king was responsible for, like military authority and ensuring civic welfare and acting as chief diplomat and religious authority. • Elected once a year; Each had equal power; could veto the other

18. Romans Form a Republic • By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula • The Republican Government consisted of… • 2. The Senate • Originally advisors to the king; aristocratic • Chosen by consuls • 300 upper-class patricians • Members for life • Most powerful part of the government • Deliberated on and voted on laws (consuls proposed) • The model for the US government

19. Romans Form a Republic • What were the pros of this system compared to monarchy? • What possible problems could this lead to? CONS PROS

20. Romans Form a Republic • Dictator • Roman official who had all the power of a king, but could only hold office for 6 months • Used only in dire emergencies • Praetors • Junior consuls who helped develop first rules for Roman judicial system (courts)

21. The People of Rome • Patricians – Members of wealthy families; only people eligible for the Senate • Plebeians – everyone else in ancient Rome (except the patricians) from well-to-do tradesmen all the way down to the very poor

22. Patricians & Plebs • Similarities : • Both paterfamilias • Both could own slaves • Citizens of Rome were adult freemen from both classes - plebs and patricians. • Women, children, and slaves were not citizens • Differences: • Did not mix socially • Illegal for plebs and patricians to marry • Lifestyles were very different • Patricians very wealthy and lived an opulent lifestyle, plebs did not

23. Problems With the System? • The Senate (power) was only open to patrician families • Plebeians resented the Senate who: • Took riches from war • Created prosperous farms run by slaves • Left many plebian famers unemployed • Reaction: Plebeians refuse to serve in the military in protest!

24. Concessions to the Plebeians • Twelve Tables – 450 BCE; a board of 10 men were entrusted to draw up a basic legal tradition and publish them on wood (later bronze) to be placed in the forum • Creation of the Assembly – an elected body that had 10Tribunes to discuss and decide issues on behalf of Plebeians • Plebs could marry into Patrician families • Eventually Senators could be Plebs (but very uncommon)

25. The Assembly Evolves • Eventually the Assembly was given the power to elect the two consuls every year… • So…what would be the impact?!?

26. Dictator in times of extreme need (6 months) Appoints Advises Consuls Appoints Consuls Appointed by Consul Elected by Assembly Senate Assembly

27. The Roman Military • Roman army had 30 Legions • Each Legion had about 5,500 men • Each Legion was divided into 10 units called Cohorts • The First Cohort consisted of approximately 800 men • Had “specialists” such as blacksmiths or engineers • The other 9 Cohorts consisted of approximately 480 men • Each Cohort was divided into 6 Centuries of about 80 men • Each Century was commanded by a Centurion • The First Cohort only had 5 centuries

29. Military Attire • Concept of uniforms was not part of their culture • Armor was not standardized and varied according to the province of origin • Romans had no concept of obsolescence; armor handed down, bought second-hand

30. Military Attire • Basic tunic of the Roman soldier was of red or undyed(off-white) wool • Senior commanders white cloaks and plumes • Centurions distinguished by transverse crests on their helmets, chest ornaments and the long cudgels (clubs) they carried.

31. Tunic • The Roman Legionaries wore a red coarse woolen tunic to keep them warm and to provide protection and padding from their armor • The red tunic was also significant because their enemies would never see them bleed

32. Galea • A galea was a Roman soldier's helmet • Most of the helmets used by legionaries had a crest holder. • legionaries had their crests mounted longitudinally • centurions had them mounted transversely. • The crests were usually made of plumes or horse hair.

33. Lorica • Lorica was the term for Roman armor • Consisted of metal strips ("girth hoops" fashioned into circular bands), fastened to internal leather straps.

34. Greave • A greave was a piece of armor that protects the tibia • Usually contained a metal outside with a felt padding inside • Often only worn on one leg – shield (4ft in length) usually covered second leg

35. Caligae • Heavy-soled hob-nailed boots issued to Roman soldiers of all ranks • Open design allowed for free passage of air to feet (designed so as to reduce blisters) • Socks notnormally worn • Iron hobnails hammered into soles, to provide reinforcement and traction.

37. Cingulum • The Roman military belt • Heavily decorated with metal ornaments and designed to hold the sword and dagger

38. Gladius and Pugio • The "classical" Roman short sword is called gladius • Generally made out of steel • Two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing during thrusting • The pugiowas a dagger • Used as a stabbing weapon and utility knife

39. Gladius

40. Pugio

41. Scutum • Latin word for shield • 22 lb large rectangular, curved • Made from 3 sheets of wood glued together; covered with canvas and leather • Round or conical piece of material at the centre of a shield called a boss • Advantages: • Light enough to be held in one hand and its large height (4 ft) and width covered the entire wielder (3 ft) • The metal boss in the center also made it a punching weapon as well

44. Pilum 24 inches • Javelin commonly used by the Roman army • Average length 6 ft 7 in long • Weighed between 4.4 and 11.0 lbs • The pyramidal tip was hardened, but the shank (or shaft) was not • Result: the softness of the shank would cause it to bend after impact, thus rendering the weapon useless to the enemy.

45. Pilium