The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

VII. The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

Roman Republic 509-27 BCE

A. The all powerful

1. By 64 BCE Rome was the unquestionable

master of the Mediterranean

B. Civil unrest started to break out between the

citizens and the political leaders of the Republic

C. Civil wars started around the Republic

1. Civil Wars: War within a country

D. The strongest leader who emerged out of all of this

chaos, was Julius Caesar and was given the title,

Dictator of Rome for life

3. The Roman army was a terrifying well ordered killing machine. Towns that opposed the Roman’s were put down swiftly and violently.

4.Strongest in the world because of strong discipline

C. Efficient Army

1. Even through the Greeks had war elephants

the Roman’s conquered the Greek Empire in 272 BCE.

2. Rome’s military built new settlements in the

conquered lands, then built roads to connect them. This way military and government officials could travel quickly around the republic.

a.) Settlement (colonies): a territory or area under the control of a certain government, may not be connected to the main state/nation.

II. Roman Republic 509 -27 BCE.

A. A state (country) in which supreme

power is held by the people and their

elected representatives

B. The Roman Republic was the first

world power

D. 3rd Punic War

1. After being totally destroyed in the 2nd

Punic war it takes 50 years for Carthage

to gain some of its power back.

2. Roman’s were getting nervous and demand

that they leave Carthage and move far

away.

3. When they refuse, the Roman’s attack

Carthage with a vengeance. Destroying

every building, enslaving all the people, and according to legend pour salt everywhere so crops can’t grow for many years.

5. Military Structure

a.) Early on the Romans fought like Greeks in

large armies, standing shoulder to shoulder in long rows. This wasn’t the most effective

way to run an army. Created smaller units called legions.

b.) Roman soldiers had a sword and a spear, they

wore metal helmets and a breastplate of iron strips joined by leather ties. They also

carried shields to protect themselves.

6. Romans believed in serving their country and protecting personal freedom.

I. Roman monarchy ends because

of Tarquin the Proud 753-509 BCE

III. Leaders of the Republic

A. Marcus Cicero was a Roman

philosopher, statesman, lawyer,

and consul. Considered one of Rome's greatest public speakers.

B. Julius Caesar the last leader of the

Republic and the first Dictator of the Roman Empire.

C. 2nd Punic War

1. Hannibal a Carthaginian army general, avenges

defeat of Carthage in the second Punic War

2. Hannibal assembles 50,000 infantry, 9,000

cavalry and 60 elephants

3. Attacks Italy through Spain and France, across

the Pyrenees and Alps, doesn’t take Rome but Hannibal is hurting Rome’s defenses

4. Roman general Scipio finally defeats Hannibal

in 202 BCE

a.) Scipio devises a plan to attack Carthage

while Hannibal is attacking Rome

b.) Roman’s destroys Carthage, enslaves the

people in last war (149-146BCE)

IV. Citizenship of the Republic

A. As Rome conquered neighboring

civilizations, Rome granted full citizenship to some of them. These new landowning citizens had to serve in the army.

B. Citizenship was not based on race.

Making it a true international republic.

C. Each Roman male citizen with property had to serve in the army.

Roman Republic

VI. Punic Wars

A. Rome and Carthage begin Punic Wars- three wars between 264-146 BCE

1. Carthage is a city-state in northern Africa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea

B. 1st Punic War

1. Developed a large and powerful navy to defeat the Carthaginian navy.

2. Rome defeats Carthage, wins Sicily, in first Punic War

V. Roman Roads

A. Rome Establishes a large trading network

because of the paved roads

B. Access to Mediterranean Sea provides many

trade routes and the ability to control the

Mediterranean Sea

C. These roads connect Rome to places as far

away as Egypt and Mesopotamia

D. Some of these roads are still around today

and are 2,000 years old