THE ROMAN REPUBLIC ~

By: Dua Ansari and Tassneim Salem

Legendary Founding of Rome in 753 B.C.E

• There are many myths related to the founding of Rome, including the legends of

Romulus(named it after himself) and Remus and Aeneas

• The origins of Romans are cryptic but a few ancient sources seem to trace them back

to Asia Minor due to many factors including religious practices(augury- interpreting

the flight of birds to predict the future), clothing style(pointed shoes similar to those

of the Hittites, language, and architectural style(arches)

• Traces found in the Palatine Hill dating back to 750 B.C.E. have shown evidence of

when Rome was founded

• At its peak, Ancient Rome encompassed most of continental

Europe, Britain, much of western Asia, northern

Africa, and the Mediterranean islands

1. Etruscan Rule◦ Etruria was very close to ancient Rome (just to the North), which made conquest very

easy

◦ The Romans (or "Latins") flourished under the rule of the Etruscans for about 100 years, and Rome became a large city that was very active in trade

◦ The Etruscans transformed Rome into an industrialized city by introducing the Greek alphabet(Etruscans were highly influenced by the Greeks), rectangular urban planning, and underground sewers

◦ They also improved agriculture in and around Rome, placed more roads and bridges, and helped develop metallurgy

◦ The Etruscans also built the Forum, which is the center of Roman politics

◦ The Romans and Etruscans live in peace and harmony for 100 years until the rule of King Tarquin who uses harsh techniques such as violence, murder and terrorism to maintain his rule over Rome

1. Etruscan Rule (continued)

◦ The Romans hated their ruler during this time

◦ King Tarquin was overthrown by the Romans after a problem between his son an

respected noblewoman enrages them

◦ After this, the Romans vowed to never be ruled by a king again, thus leading to

the creation of the republic

2. Creation of Republic~ C. 509 B.C.E.

◦ The Roman Republic was created right after the rule of the Etruscans

◦ Since a republic is so much different from a democracy, every citizen played a role

◦ The citizens of Rome elected representatives to rule on their behalf

◦ The aristocracy, or the wealthy class(known as patricians) dominated the dominated the early Roman Republic

◦ The highest positions in the government were of the two leaders, known as consuls, who had the honor of ruling over the entire Roman Republic

◦ The consuls were elected by a senate of patricians

◦ The lower- class(plebeians) had almost no voice in the government

◦ Fortunately, both men and women had a role in the Roman Republic, except that only men could vote

◦ The Twelve Tables- first written Roman laws; were harsh but guaranteed equal treatment of every citizen

A. Military Organization

◦ Roman military is thought to be one of the strongest and most efficient known in

history

◦ The Roman army consisted of four Legions

◦ Each Legion had four lines of infantry, in the order: the hastati, then pricipes, and

then the veteran triarii

B. Elected Officials/System of Checks and Balances

◦ The greatest position in the government were two leaders who controlled the roman republic.

◦ The senate, which contained a group of patricians (aristocrats), chose these leaders.

◦ Lower class people (plebeians) had no say in the government.

◦ Senate often created laws that increased the ruling class at the expense of the plebes.

◦ The plebes in the military knew they were needed for the protection of Rome, so the went on strike.

◦ This lead to the creation of The twelve tables, which governed all roman citizens equally.

Conquest of Italy~ 396-264 B.C.E.

• In 387 B.C. The Gauls invaded italy and defeated the roman army

• The Gauls didn’t want to take over italy, they just wanted to be

more wealthy.

• They stole goods from rome then demanded a tribute.

• Rome became vulnerable and italian states tried to attack

• By 350 B.C, they became powerful enough again to take back

control of the territory.

• Latin cities rose up against rome in 340 B.C. but rome defeated

them in two years and took control over them.

• In 295 BC, a war had begun between Rome, and Latin people

living in the Appenine mountains, the Samnites, the remaining

Etruscan cities, Gaulish tribes, and some rebellious Italian cities.

• 15 years later, Rome had total control over cenral Italy, and by the

middle of the third century BC, Rome controlled all of the

Italian peninsula.

THE FIRST PUNIC WAR

AND THE CONQUEST

OF NORTH ITALY

EXCERP FROM

The History of Rome by

livy

(historian)

Bibliography

◦ http://ancientromehunthigh.weebly.com/the-etruscans.html

◦ http://www.roman-empire.net/founding/found-index.html

◦ http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp

◦ http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Checks_and_balances

◦ http://richard-hooker.com/sites/worldcultures/ROME/CONQITAL.HTM

◦ http://ancientmilitary.com/roman-military.htm

◦ https://sites.psu.edu/successoftheromans/organization-of-the-roman-army/

◦ https://books.google.com/books?id=1LyvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA112&dq=excerpts+from+The+History+of+Rome+by+livy+about+the+conquest+of+italy&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwionY2yyL_WAhWMKyYKHZmSANMQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=excerpts%20from%20The%20History%20of%20Rome%20by%20livy%20about%20the%20conquest%20of%20italy&f=false