3. THE REPUBLICAN PERIOD:
- They set
up what they called a republic.
- Rome's
government began by only allowing the wealthy land-owners a say in government.
They were known as
PATRICIANS.
- The
common people, known as the PLEBEIANS, had little say in
government.
- Many of
the plebeians were farmers, tradesmen, etc.
A. Roman
Government:
- The Roman
Republic was known to its citizens significantly as " Senatus Populusque
Romanus "
- SPQR or
the Senate and People of Rome
- Run by
the patricians
- There was
constant tension between the Senatorial aristocracy and the people.
- They
developed a means of government to try to accommodate this tension.
- The Roman
king, Tarquin the Proud, was expelled in 509 B.C.
-
Traditionally, Roman kings were advised by the wealthy land owners - they were
the Senate: important
through
out the history of the Roman Republic.
4. LIFE DURING THE REPUBLICAN
PERIOD IN ROME:
A.
The Family:
- Family
was very important to Romans- they worshipped their ancestors.
- Their
gods were many and practical, the Romans prayed to them.
- They did
not need luxuries- they lived a simple, Spartan existence.
- Lived in
one room houses
- Meals
were simple- eat meat on special occasions only
- Children
were well disciplined.
- The
father was in sole command
- Legend
has it; Roman fathers may have killed their sons for acts of cowardice or
disobedience.
- The
father taught the sons not the daughters
- Women
were considered second-class citizens
B. Growth
of the Republic: (509 B.C. - 275 B.C.)
- During
the time Rome was reorganizing its political system, it was also conquering the
Italian Peninsula.
- For the
first 100 years of the Republic, Rome fought nearly every summer.
- Celtic
speaking people called Gauls (modern day France ) from central Europe moved into Italy.
- The
Romans did battle with them, and were wiped out.
- Rome was
almost totally destroyed.
- As they
rebuilt, they added many of the other peoples of Italy to their realm.
- They soon
controlled all of Italy.
- They
built many roads to connect Rome with their colonies - thus the saying: "
All roads lead to Rome"
- Most
defeated states became allies who paid no tribute and retained local
self-government.
- They
supplied Rome with soldiers.
- All
foreign policy was done from Rome.
- Their
nearest allies became Roman citizens, some with the right to vote.
C.
The Rise of Carthage:
- Carthage
was established by the Phoenicians, the sea-traders from present day Lebanon.
- It was
located across the Bay of Carthage from present day Tunis, capital of Tunisia,
on N. African coast.
- Expanded
its power & dominated a trading area that included Spain, Africa, Sicily,
Sardinia and Corsica.
- It
depended on a mercenary (army for hire) army and a navy.
- Carthage
made treaties to exclude other nations. Whereas the Romans included conquered
peoples in its
armed forces,
the Carthaginians demanded grains, money or minerals.
- What we
know about the Carthaginians comes from the Romans so it is very one sided.
- They had
many gods but their main god was Baal.
- They
offered up human sacrifices, as did Romans from time to time.
- In the beginning, they had a treaty that essentially kept them apart.