Roman Republic
How did Rome's Government Develop?
The Romans were divided into two classes, the Patricians, and the Plebeians. The patricians were the wealthier and the powerful group. They owned the wealthiest land. The population was mostly made up of Plebeians. They were the artisans, shopkeepers, and owners of small farms. Men from both classes were citizens. They had the right to vote, pay taxes, and serve in the army. The Plebeians had a lower social status. Romans from the classes could not marry another from the different class. Plebeians could not hold public office.
How did Rome's Government Work?
Rome had a three-part government. one enforced the law, one created the law, and one acted as judges or interpreted the law. Their government had checks and balances. The top government officials were called the Consuls.Two Patricians were elected as consuls each year. They would head the army and the government. Each consul could veto one another's decisions. They also had the Praetors. The praetors would interpret the law and act as judges. Rome's most important legislative was a Senate. The Senate was made of 300 patrician men. These men would serve for life. At first the senate gave advice to the consuls but by 200 BCE they could propose laws, hold debates, and approve building programs.
What was the relationship between the Plebeians and the Patricians like?
The plebeians wanted more power. They took action to bring change. In 494 BCE they went on strike and refused to serve in the army. They even left the city to build their own republic. This scared the Patricians into giving them some power. In 471 BCE the Plebians were able to set up their own body of representatives. This body was called the Council of the Plebs.
Who was Cincinnatus?
Roman dictators only to served temporarily and only in a state of emergency. Around 460 BCE an enemy had surrounded a Roman army. Officials believed that Cincinnatus was right for the job. These officials found him plowing his fields. Cincinnatus left his farm and gathered the roman army. He then defeated the enemy and returned to Rome in triumph. Cincinnatus could have ruled a little while longer but he did not want any power. He returned to his farm only 15-16 days later.
What were Rome's laws like?
The U.S. has used much of the Roman Republics system of law. Rome's first code of law, the 12 Tables, were created around 451 BCE. At first their laws were not written down but after the Plebians complained that the judges favored the Patrician class they wrote them down on copper tablets. Theses tablets were placed in the Roman marketplace Forum. These Tables established that all free roman citizens had the right to be treated equally by the legal system. But as Rome took over more land, they needed laws for legal disputes between citizens and non-citizens. They created a collection of laws called the Law of Nations. It stated that their would be principles of justice for all people, not just citizens. The law of nations stated that a person was seen as innocent until proven guilty. People accused of crimes could defend themselves before a judge. Judges had to look at the evidence very closely before making any decisions. This idea that all were to be treated equally by the legal system was called the Rule of Law.
What was Carthage?
The very powerful state of Carthage was threatening to the Romans. Carthage was located in the Mediterranean area on the coast of North Africa. It was founded by the Phoenicians around 800 BCE. Carthage ruled a great trading empire that included parts of Northern Africa and Southern Europe. It was the largest and richest city in the western Mediterranean.
What happened in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Punic Wars?
The Punic wars started because Carthage and Rome wanted the island of Sicily. The first war began in 264 BCE. It started when the Roman army went to Sicily to prevent the Carthaginians from taking over. Carthage had already set up colonies on the island. The romans had always fought on land until they found that they could not defeat the Carthage's sea power without a navy. They confronted Carthage with their newly built fleet. This war dragged on for more then 20 years. In 241 BCE Rome defeated Carthage's navy on the coast of Sicily. Carthage had to abandon Sicily and pay the Romans a large fine. The second punic war started because Carthage started expanding its empire into southern Spain. The romans were not happy with this. The romans helped the people of Spain fight off the Carthaginians. This of course made the Carthaginians unhappy. They sent their greatest general, Hannibal, to attack Rome in 218 BCE. Hannibal gathered an army of 46000 men, many horses, and 37 elephants. They crossed the alps. (where they lost many) The romans suffered a severe loss in 216 BCE at the battle of Cannae southern Italy. In 202 BCE a roman force led by Scipio invaded Carthage. Hannibal had no choice but to defend his people. During the battle of Zama, Scipio's troops defeated the Carthaginians. They gave up Spain to the Romans, payed a substantial fine, and give up their navy. Therefore the Romans won the 2nd Punic war. Carthage remained a large trading center. In 146 BCE Rome burned Carthage and enslaved 50,000 men, woman, and children. Some say they even spread salt on the earh so that crops could no longer grow. So Carthage became a Roman province.
What are some other conquests of rome?
Throughout the Punic Wars, Rome triumphed many states in the eastern Mediterranean. In 148 BCE, Macedonia was conquered. Then all of Greece was conquered two years later. In 129 BCE Rome conquered their first province in Asia. The Romans were then called the Mediterranean Marenostrum, which means "Our Sea."
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