Roman Republic Section 9-2. Rome’s Government Romans divided into two classes –Patricians –...
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Transcript of Roman Republic Section 9-2. Rome’s Government Romans divided into two classes –Patricians –...
Roman Republic
Section 9-2
Rome’s Government
• Romans divided into two classes– Patricians – nobles, wealthy land owners
• All of Rome’s ruling class
– Plebeians – artisans, shopkeepers, farm owners
• Most of Rome’s people
Rome’s Government
• Citizens– Patricians and Plebeians:– Right to vote– Paid taxes– Serve in the army– Plebeians less social status than Patricians
• Could not marry each other• Could not hold public office
Government
consuls praetors senate
Rome’s Government
• Consuls– Two patricians– Ran government– Headed army– One year term– Could veto the other’s decision
Rome’s Government
• Praetors– Act as judges– Interpret the law
Rome’s Government
• Senate– Made laws– 300 patrician men– Life term
Rome’s Government
• Assembly of Centuries– Elected consuls and praetors– Passed laws– Patricians only
Rome’s Government
• Plebeians complained
• 494 B.C. they went on strike
• Patricians agreed to share power
• Gave them the Council of the Plebs
Council of the Plebs
• Elected tribunes who brought concerns to government’s attention
• Could veto decisions
• Could marry Patricians
• By 300’s B.C., could become a consul
• Could pass laws for all Romans
Cincinnatus
• Was a dictator (ruled with complete control during an emergency)
• Farmer, ruled for 16 days then stepped down
• Romans strongly believed in civic duty or the idea that citizens have a responsibility to help their country.
Cincinnatus
• With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. His other hand holds the plow, as he resumes the life of a citizen and farmer." — A statue of Cincinnatus in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Roman Law
• Twelve Tables– Rome’s first law code– Written because plebeians thought laws
favored patricians– All citizens had the right to be treated equally
in the legal system– Applied only to citizens
• Table II.
• 2. He whose witness has failed to appear may summon him by loud calls before his house every third day.
• Table IV.
• 1. A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed.
• 2. If a father sell his son three times, the son shall be free from his father.
• Table V.
• 1. Females should remain in guardianship even when they have attained their majority.
• Table VII.• 1. Let them keep the road in order. If they
have not paved it, a man may drive his team where he likes.
• 9. Should a tree on a neighbor's farm be bend crooked by the wind and lean over your farm, you may take legal action for removal of that tree.
• 10. A man might gather up fruit that was falling down onto another man's farm.
Roman Law
• Law of Nations– Helped solve legal disputes between citizens
and non citizens
Roman Law
• Both sets of laws use ideas that we still use today– Innocent until proven guilty– Use of defense– Judges must look at evidence before deciding
Roman Law
• “Rule of Law”– Idea that says the law should apply equally to
everyone– This was a new idea then!
Rome Expands
• Carthage– In northern Africa– Ruled a trading empire
Rome Expands
• First Punic War– Carthage and Rome wanted to both control
Sicily– Rome built up a big navy and conquered– 20 years later, Sicily was under Roman rule
Rome Expands
• Second Punic War– Carthage expanded into Spain after they lost
Italy– Rome helped Spain rebel against Carthage– Carthage sent Hannibal to attack Rome
• Hannibal is known marching into Italy with a huge army and 37 elephants
– Rome lost at the battle of Cannae– General Scipio invaded Spain and beat C.
Rome Expands
• Rome was now a major power in the Mediterranean
• Third Punic War– Rome invaded Carthage
• Enslaved, destroyed• Made Carthage a province
Rome Expands
• Two years later, Macedonia fell to Rome
• Two more years later, Greece fell to Rome
• By 129 B.C., Rome gained its first Asian province