Ancient Rome and the Origins of

Christianity

Lesson 1: The Roman Republic

Lesson 1 Objectives

● Describe the development of the classical civilization of Rome

● Outline how the Roman republic was structured and governed

● Understand the rights and religious practices that characterized Roman society

● Explain how the Roman republic grew and used its political influence

The Rise of the Roman Civilization

Rome started out as a small city-state and grew to be the dominant power of the Mediterranean world

Their system of law applied to a large population of ethnically diverse people in a powerful empire

Over 1,000 years of history make up Rome’s journey

Geography of Italy

A peninsula that juts in the

Mediterranean Sea

Rome is in the center

The land rolling hills, not isolated valleys

Apennine Mountains split the country

lengthwise

Broad fertile plains in the north and

west

The Roman People

800 B.C.E. the Latins (the ancestors

of the Romans) migrated to Italy

Settled along the Tiber River in small

villages to farm and herd

Eventually these small villages

merged and formed the city-state of

Rome

Romulus and Remus

Legend holds these twin brothers

were the founders of Rome

Story says they were the sons of a

Latin woman and the war god Mars

Were orphaned and raised by a

she-wolf

The Etruscans

Their origins are not known

Believed they migrated from Asia

Minor or the Alps

They ruled much of central Italy,

including Rome

Rome’s Relationship with the Etruscans

Romans learned many things from

the Etruscans:

Adapted the alphabet that Etruscans

borrowed from the Greeks

Engineering skills including how to

build an arch, drainage of land

Gods and goddesses and some

religious practices

The Early Roman Republic

509 B.C.E. Romans drive out the

Etruscan king ruling the city-state

This is the founding of the Roman

state

Create their own government in

which officials were chosen among

their citizens - male

The Republic

They called this res publica “that

which belongs to the people”

We call it a republic today

Romans developed this in order to

make sure no one person gained to

much power and control of the

people

The Senate

Made the laws and controlled the

government

300 members, all patricians

Each year senators nominated two

consuls to supervise and command

the armies

Could only serve one term and had to

approve each others decisions

Supposed to consult the senate

Dictator

In the event of war the Senate would

go to dictator rule

Dictator was granted power to rule

for six months, but had absolute

control

Best example is Cincinnatus who

showed his devotion to Roman law by

how he handled being dictator

Change

Patricians ruled the Senate for about

one hundred years

Plebeians were very vocal in wanting

to have power in government, as they

were the majority of the population

This desire for power shaped change

in the government structure

The Twelve Tables

450 B.C.E. the laws of Rome were

inscribed in stone

They were publicly displayed in the

Forum

Created the appeal process of law for

plebeians

They also were able to elect officials

from their class - tribunes - to protect

their interests in government

Tribunes

This propelled the concept of a veto

as well

Tribunes were able to block laws that

were harmful to the plebeians

interests

It also set the stage for plebeians to

be chosen as consul and occupy high

offices of state

Made the government more

representative

Roman Society

The family was the core of Roman

society

Law that the male head of the

household has absolute power in the

family

Wives were subject to their

husband’s authority

The Role of Women

Roman women were supposed to be

loving, dutiful, dignified, and strong

They had few rights during the early

years of the Republic

They gained more freedom regarding

finances and politics and developed a

prominent role in society

Many ran businesses and created

independent wealth

Role of Women

Patrician women earned respect and

power in social events by planning

and paying for festivals and parades

They even started going to the public

baths, the theater, and going to other

forms of public entertainment on

their own

Others took on strong and vocal roles

in politics and government

Education

Everyone learned to read and write -

regardless of gender or social class

Wealthy Romans hired private tutors

by the end of the Republic, usually

Greek

The history of Rome was seen as

important content

Boys wanting to have a political

career studied rhetoric

Religion

Gods and goddesses similar to those

of Greece and the Etruscans

The calendar was full of feasts and

other celebrations to honor them

Honors were to ensure divine favor

for the city

Everyone in Rome participated which

made them have a sense of

community

Worship

Temples to the gods, with statues of

them, were in every city

Rituals were performed outside

these temples

The public participated in these

rtitual

The Roman Republic Expands

The Republic lasts for over 500 years

During this time a highly successful,

well trained, and loyal army

conquered many of Rome’s neighbors

in Italy

270 B.C.E. they controlled most of

the Italian peninsula

Citizen-Soldiers

Basic military unity was the legion

Made up of about 5,000 men

Men supplied their own weapons and

fought without pay

Small stipends were issued over time

They made their wealth in the things

they acquired in a victory

Successes

They were well-trained by

commanders who praised and

punished

Their military skills outmatched their

enemy

They were loyal and courageous

because that was what was valued

They had many significant victories

Conquered People

Acknowledge Roman leadership, pay

taxes, and supply soldiers for army

Rome let them keep their customs,

money, and local government

Treatment was just as long as they

did not try to rebel

Some received full Roman citizenship

Most lands remained local to Rome

Unity

Rome protected its conquered lands

by posting Roman soldiers

throughout the land

Built a complex road system to link

everyone to Rome

The Latin language become

commonly used in most areas

Roman customs and beliefs spread

All travel through trade