Roman Republic

Est. 509 BCE • A republic is a form

of government in
which voters elect
officials to run the
country
Roman Republic
Est. 509 BCE • In Ancient
Rome, only
male citizens
could vote
Roman Republic
Est. 509 BCE • Most people living
in the Roman
Republic were NOT
citizens
*write the following notes about each social
class inside the appropriate column or on
the person that represents that class
• It was made up of the Roman
nobility and upper class
• They were the most powerful,
but smallest social class
• They owned land and paid
taxes
• The men served in the military
and could vote and hold office
• It was made up of
merchants, farmers, and
shopkeepers
• They could be very wealthy
• They owned land and paid
taxes
• The men served in the
military and could vote
• They worked in
commerce and trade
• Some became very
wealthy
• As the centuries passed,
they joined the Plebeian Liberti =
class and became citizens freed slave
• Not citizens
• Had no rights
• They were the foundation of the
Roman Republic
• They were often people who had
been captured during battles
• They were servants, teachers,
accountants, craftsmen, builders
The Conflict of Orders or
the Struggle of the Orders
was a political battle
between the Patricians and
Plebeians that lasted from
494 BCE - 287 BCE
In 494 BCE, the Plebeians
went on strike by refusing
to serve in the military and
set up their own republic
Since the Plebeians made
up most of the military
force, the Patricians agreed
to compromise and
recognized the Plebeians'
chosen officials and the
Plebeian Council
• In 451 BCE, the laws were engraved on 12 bronze
tablets and displayed in the Forum
• These laws became the basis for all future Roman
laws, but only applied to Roman citizens
In 287 BCE, Plebeians gained
political equality with the
Patricians
 Plebeians were
allowed to
marry
Patricians
Debt was not
punishable by
slavery
Plebeians could be
elected to positions
once reserved only for
Patricians
 Despite these
changes, the Republic
was still dominated by
a group of powerful
and wealthy
Patricians
• Had few legal rights
• Had to follow the authority of their father
or husband
• Could own property and run businesses
• However, most women just took care of the
household and raised the children
 DISCIPLIN
E

FAMILY

SELF-
SACRIFICE

PUT THE
EEDS THE
NOF
REPUBLIC ABOVE
SELF
• Most children, regardless of
class, learned how to read
and write
• Wealthy parents often hired
tutors for their children
The Romans were polytheistic
(worshipped multiple gods)
 The
Rom
poly a
theis ns were
mult t i c (w
iple
gods orshippe
) d

They built temples and held feasts and

festivals to honor their gods and goddesses
 The
Rom
poly a
theis ns were
mult t i c (w
iple
gods orshippe
) d

l e s
m p
t t e a n d r
l
ui asts h ei
b t
hey ld fe onor
T h e o h s e s
s
and ivals t godde
fest s and
god

They adopted and renamed Greek

and Etruscan deities
 The
Rom
poly a
theis ns were
mult t i c (w
iple
gods orshippe
) d

l e s
m p
t t e a n d r
l
ui asts ei
an
b t h
hey ld fe onor usc
T h e o h s e s
s
and ivals t godde
Etr

fest s and
and
Gr and

god
eek
ted
ena adop
d
me
ey

s
Th

i t ie
Head
god
Wife of Jupiter
and goddess of
marriage &
protector of
women
God of
the sea
Goddess
of craft
and
wisdom
God
of
war
Goddess
of love
God of fire
and forges
Goddess of
homes and
children
God of the sun
Goddess of
the hunt
God of trade
and
messenger of
the god
Goddess of
the harvest
 God of the
underworld
 Goddess of
the underworld