Chapter 14: The Roman Republic



The Roman Republic

Study Guide – Accommodated

The Government

• Once the Romans overthrew Tarquin, their Etruscan king, they set up a republic in which the people chose their rulers.

• Patricians were members of the oldest and richest families who had the most say in government.

• Plebeians were the ordinary citizens, such as farmers, workers and artisans.

• Rome’s republic was headed by two consuls who were administrators and military leaders.

• Each consul had the power to veto – cancel another’s decision.

• Tribunes were government officials elected to protect the rights of the plebeians.

• The Twelve Tables were placed in the Forum making laws public for everyone to see.

Roman Expansion

• By 275 BC Rome ruled the entire Italian peninsula.

• Roman soldiers, called legionaries, helped the army gain territory.

The Punic Wars

• The wars between Rome and Carthage were known as the Punic Wars.

• The use of the corvus helped Rome win the First Punic War at sea.

• Hannibal spent 15 years destroying the southern Italian countryside before he was defeated at Zama in the Second Punic War.

• As a result of its victory in the Third Punic War, Rome controlled Macedonia, Syria and later, Greece.

Effects of Conquest

• Conquests hurt Roman farmers:

o Many small farms were replaced by large estates called latifundias.

o While Hannibal and his soldiers were in Italy many farmers burned their fields and crops to prevent them from getting food.

o Slaves began to live and take over work on the latifundias.

• Farmers moved to live in the terrible conditions of the city.

• The government used publicans to collect high taxes from the people of the territories it conquered.

Roman Leadership

• Reformers tried to improve conditions in Rome.

• The Gracchus brothers tried to help the small farmers.

• General Gaius Marius, a military hero, thought he could end Rome’s troubles by setting up a professional army.

• Lucius Sulla made himself dictator, or absolute ruler, and increased the power of the Senate.

• Political power passed to a triumvirate – group of three people of equal power – led by Julius Caesar.

• Caesar was killed by a group of senators who were afraid he would make himself king.

• Octavian gained control of the government of Rome after fights broke out in the Second Triumvirate.

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