1. The Roman Republic
Chapter 6, Section 1

2. The Origins of Rome
 Rome’s Geography
 Site of Rome chosen for its fertile soil and strategic
location
 Located on Italian Peninsula in the center of the
Mediterranean Sea.
 Built on seven hills along Tiber River
 The First Romans
 Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans compete for control of the
region.
 Latins found original settlement of Rome between 1000 B.C.
and 500 B.C.
 Etruscans native to northern Italy influence Roman
civilization

3. The Early Republic
 Early Rulers
 Around 600 B.C. Etruscan kings begin to rule
Rome.
 Kings build Rome’s first temples and public centers
 Romans overthrow cruel Etruscan kings in 509 B.C.
 Romans found a republic—a government in which
citizens elect leaders.

4. The Early Republic
 Patricians and Plebeians
 Different groups struggle for power in early Roman
Republic
 Patricians—wealthy landowning class that holds
most of the power
 Plebeians—artisans, merchants and farmers; can
vote, but cannot rule
 Tribunes—elected representatives who protect Plebeians’
rights

5. The Early Republic
 Twelve Tables
 In 451 B.C. officials carve Roman laws on twelve
tablets.
 Called the Twelve Tables, they become the basis for
later Roman law.
 Laws confirm the right of all free citizens to the
protection of the law.
 Citizenship is limited to adult male landowners.
 The Twelve Tables are hung in the Forum

6. The Early Republic
 Government Under the Republic
 Rome elects two consuls—one to lead the army and
one to direct government.
 Senate—chosen from Roman upper class; makes
foreign and domestic policy.
 Democratic assemblies elect tribunes and makes laws
for common people.
 Dictators are leaders appointed briefly in times of
crisis.

7. The Early Republic
 The Roman Army
 Roman legion—military
unit of 5,000 infantry,
supported by cavalry.
 Army is powerful and a
key factor in Rome’s rise
to greatness.

8. Rome Spreads Its Power
 Rome Conquers Italy
 The Romans defeat the Etruscans in the north and
the Greek city-states in the south.
 By 265 B.C., Rome controls the entire Italian
peninsula.
 Rome treats the conquered peoples justly. This
enables Rome to grow.

9. Rome Spreads Its Power
 Rome’s Commercial Network
 Rome establishes a large trading network.
 Access to the Mediterranean Sea provides many
trade routes.
 Carthage, a powerful city-state in North Africa, soon
rivals Rome.

10. Rome Spreads Its Power
 War with Carthage
 Rome and Carthage begin the Punic Wars—three wars
between 264 through 146 B.C.
 Rome defeats Carthage and wins Sicily in the first 23-year
war.
 Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, avenges this defeat in the
Second Punic War.
 He attacks Italy through Spain and France, but doesn’t take Rome.
 Rome Triumphs
 Roman general Scipio defeats Hannibal in 202 B.C.
 Rome destroys Carthage and enslaves its people in the Third
Punic War from 149-146 B.C.

11. Hannibal
crossing the
Alps in the
Second
Punic War