The Roman Republic

1
The Roman Republic

• Compare and contrast the patricians and
  plebeians.
• Describe the social structure and daily life of
  Rome.
• Define tribunes.
• What were the Punic Wars?
• Who was Julius Caesar?
• How does the Roman Republic End?

2
The Roman Republic

• Roman citizens were divided into two groups . The
  wealthiest, most powerful citizens were called
  patricians. All of the other citizens were called
  plebeians.
• About 90 of Roman citizens were plebeians. They
  included farmers, soldiers and merchants.
• In a republic citizens have the right to vote or
  choose their leaders.
• Those who were elected to represent the people
  are called representatives.
• Roman representatives served in a governing body
  called a Senate.

3
How the Romans Governed Themselves

• Slaves and most foreigners were not considered
  citizens. Women were citizens but had few rights.
  They could not vote or hold public office. Women
  could own property and testify in court.
• At first only the rich patricians ran the Roman
  Republic. Each year two patricians were chosen as
  consuls, or officials who managed the government
  and army.
• Each of the consuls had the power to stop the
  other consul from taking an action if he did not
  agree with that action.
• In an emergency, the consuls sometimes named one
  person to rule called a Dictator or someone who
  had total control of the people.

4
The Tribunes

• The plebeians began to demand for more rights
  and threatened to start their own city. This
  frightened the patricians, who were afraid of
  losing the labor of the plebeians.
• Their walkout led to the creation of tribunes or
  officials who were elected to protect the
  interests of the plebeians. There were 10
  tribunes that were elected and held office each
  year.
• Any one of the tribunes could stop the actions of
  the senate by shouting, Veto a latin word
  meaning, I forbid.

5
Daily Life

• Boys and a few girls from wealthy families got to
  go to school. Some students were taught at home
  by Greek slaves who served as tutors.
• After school, children played with toys such as
  marbles, dolls, model chariots and animals.
• The main meal was eaten in the afternoon.
  Wealthy people ate fish, birds, olive oil with
  herbs, dates and pork. They had dogs as pets to
  guard their homes. They also used dogs to hunt
  small animals and birds.
• Poor citizens ate wheat, barley, bread, olives
  and meat scraps.
• Because the climate in Rome was warm, light
  clothing was worn. Men wore togas and women wore
  two layers of tunics which resembled long shirts
  or gowns.

6
Roman Dress
7
Wars with Carthage

• Carthage was a city-state located in North Africa
  that had become very powerful. Its army was one
  of the strongest in the ancient world.
• In 264 BC Rome and Carthage fought three
  destructive wars knows as the Punic Wars.
• All together, these wars lasted nearly 120 years.
• The Romans won all three.
• In the second war, the Carthaginian general
  Hannibal launched an invasion from Spain. He took
  a herd of elephants and crossed the Alps for a
  sneak attack against the Romans.
• Rome was saved when a general named Scipio
  attacked Carthage.
• 50 years later, a third war broke out. This time
  the Romans captured and destroyed Carthage.

8
Roads in the Republic

• Roman roads were built to last. Many of them
  lasted 1,000 years.
• The Appian Way is the most famous of these roads
  and is still used today. It stretched for more
  than 350 miles south and then east of Rome.

9
The Republic Ends

• Patricians kept the wealth for themselves.
• Slaves took jobs from the plebeians.
• The fighting in Italy caused homes and farmland
  to be destroyed.
• Julius Caesar was one of the most famous generals
  or leaders. His motto was I came, I saw, I
  conquered.
• He became too powerful and the patricians were
  afraid that he would destroy the republic.
• In 44BC Caesar was stabbed.
• Civil War broke out due to leaders fighting for
  power.

10
Roman Road