Rome - Intro to AP World

Bckground

Monarchy

A system of government where a single person, usually a king or queen, holds supreme authority and power, often inherited through family lineage.

Republic

A form of government in which the power rests with the citizens who have the right to vote to select their leader

The Forum

• Open air market

• Center of religious, economic, social, and eventually political activity

• Where the 12 Tables are displayed

Patricians

• Wealthy landowners

• Their land/power/social status was inherited

• They held the most power in Rome

Plebeians

• Poor farmers, craftsmen, artisans, merchants

• Can vote but cannot hold political office

• Slaves —> captured during war, born to enslaved families, enslaved because of debt, one third of the population enslaved

• They worked on the Latifundia - large estates/ranch

Why did the Plebeians go on strike?

They wanted a voice in government. Their strike halted economic activity and the Patricians agreed to share power after losing money. Plebeians can elect representatives called tribunes. Laws are now written down and displayed in the Forum.

What is patriarchy?

• Paterfamilias: Family = core of Roman society; Father = head of household

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative, executive, and judicial

Centuriate Assembly

all citizen-soldiers = members; patrician controlled; appointed consuls & made laws; less power than senate

Tribal Assembly

plebeian assembly; elected tribunes & made law for common people; later won right to make law for Republic

Senate

• 300 Patricians (upper class)

  • Membership for life; more powerful than assemblies

2 assemblies to represent the Plebeians

Centuriate and Tribal Assembly

2 consuls

• in place of a king

  • They share power & can veto (override) decisions made by the other

  • 1 year term & can’t be re-elected for 10 years

  • Commanded army & directed gov’t

Judicial

• Praetors = 8 judges chosen for 1 year by Centuriate assembly to oversee civil & criminal court

What are the parts of the Roman government?

3 branches, 2 consuls, Senate, Centuriate and Tribal Assemblies, and Judicial

What’s a dictator?

• Dictators– would take charge in times of crises then give up power once the crisis is over

Rome’s famous dictator

Cincinnatus

• Appointed dictator twice (458 BCE & 439 BCE)

• Helped Rome defeat external & internal enemies

• Gave up authority once crisis was over & returned to farm

• Model for future Roman leaders

12 Tables

• First written code of law for Rome (451 BCE)

• Legal Code that established all free citizens had the right to protection of the law & innocent until proven guilty

Legions

Roman soldiers organized into units

Infantry

5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers

Cavalry

• Group of soldiers on horseback (cavalry) supported each legion

What’s the myth behind the creation of Rome?

• According to Roman poet Virgil, Trojan War refugees, led by Aeneas, founded Rome after escaping destruction of Troy (as told in The Aeneid) 

• According to Roman legend, Romulus & Remus born of the war god Mars & a Latin princess; raised by a wolf established Rome along the Tiber River

• Romulus founds Rome & become its king

What was the reality of how Rome actually came to be?

• Early settlers included the Latins, Romans, Etruscans, Greeks, & others

• People came to the Italian Peninsula because of the geography

  • Fertile land

  • Rivers

  • Mountains & hills

  • Centrally located on Mediterranean Basin

What was the geography like?

• Alps & Apennine Mountains– NOT isolating

• Rome built on 7 hills on the volcanic west coast of Italy. 

  • The hills serve as protection

• Tiber River = natural stopping point on many trade routes

• Rome = far enough away to defend from pirates, close enough to benefit from the Mediterranean sea– perfectly positioned

• Central location help Rome to take over the rest of Italy

What is the history of the government?

Monarchy → Republic

• 750-510 BCE = Rome ruled by 7 Etruscan Kings

  • Rome goes from town to city

• Swampy valley below Palatine Hill drained– becomes public meeting place

  • Forum

• 509 BCE– Romans drive out king (Tarquin the Proud) & declare they will never be ruled by a king

  • They swore to put to death anyone who plotted to make himself king

How did citizenship work?

• Citizenship = both Patricians & Plebeians

  • Voting rights only guaranteed to free born male citizens & some foreigners

  • Citizens required to pay taxes & serve in military

  • Slaves not considered citizens and had no rights in gov’t

Who was required to serve the army?

• All citizens who owned land required to serve

• 10 years required to secure certain gov’t offices