How did Rome's Republic develop?
Well Roman's were divided into 2 classes: patricians and plebeian.The patricians were wealthy landowners.These nobles made up Rome's wealthy classes. Most of Rome's people were however,were plebeian.This group included artisans,Shopkeepers, And owners of small farms.Both patricians and plebeian men were Roman citizens.They had the right to vote and the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the military.However,Plebeians had lower social statues.Marriage between members of the two classes was forbidden Plebeians or plebs also lacked an important political right: they could not hold public office
How did Rome's Government work?
Rome had 3-part government.One group of people enforced the law,another group made law,and the third acted as judges or interpreted the law.It had checks and balances so that one group won't get strong,But it did not separate the powers like our government does today.In the Roman Republic the top government officials were the consuls.Two consuls-patricians-were chosen every year.They headed the Army and ran the government. Because they served such short terms there was little risk that they would abuse their powers.The consuls also kept each other in line because they could veto the other's decision. Rome had important officials called praetors.Their main job was to interpret the law and act as judges in court.Rome's most legislative,or law-making body was the senate.
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What was the relationship between Plebeians and patricians?
As you might expect,Plebeians complained about having little of power,in the Roman Republic. After all,they fought alongside patricians in the army,and their tax payments helped the republic thrive.Eventually,the plebeians took action to bring about change.In 494 BCE many plebeians went on strike,they refused to serve in the army.They also left the city to set up their own republic of their own.These moves frightened the patricians into agreeing to give power.In 471 BCE the plebeians were allowed to set up their own representatives,called the councils of the plebs.In 455 BCE the plebeians and patricians were allowed to marry. And in 300s plebeians were allowed to become councils.In 287 BCE the councils of plebs were allowed to pass laws.
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Who was Cincinnatus?
An unusual feature of the roman republic was the office of Dictator.We define a dictator today as on oppressive ruler with complete control over the state.Roman Dictators also had complete control,but they served the people and rules on a temporary basis during emergencies.The senate appointed a dictator in times of great danger.As soon as the danger was past,Roman dictators gave up their power.The best -known early roman dictator is cincinnatus.About 460 BCE,a powerful enemy had surrounded the roman's Army.Official's decided that the crisis called for a dictator and that cincinnatus was the right men for it.
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What is Rome's Law like?
One of Rome's chief gifts to the world was it's system of laws.The legal system of the untied states owes much to the roman system.Rome's first code of laws was the 12 tables.Rome's laws were not written down.As a result the plebeians claimed that patrician judges often favored their own class.They demanded that the laws be put in writing for everyone to see.The patricians finally agreed.They had the laws carved in bronze tablets.The 12 tables laws only applied to roman citizens.As the roman's got more and more land they had to make more laws and the first law they made was that all people are to treated equally.
What was carthage?
While Rome developed it's government,it also faced challenges abrod.The Roman's had completed their conquest of Italy. However, they now face a powerful rival in the mediterranean area.This enemy was the state of catherage in the coast of north africa.By controlling the movement of goods in this region,carthage made itself the most largest and richest city in the western mediterranean.
What happened in the 1st punic war?
Rome and carthage wanted to control the island of Sicily.In 264 BCE the dispute brought two powers to blows.The war that began in 364 BCE is called the first punic war.The war dragged more than 20 years,finally,in 241 BCE,Rome defeated carthage's navy off the coast of sicily.Carthage was forced to leave sicily and pay a huge fine to the romans.The island than became under roman's rule.
What happened in the 2nd punic war?
To make up for it's loss Sicily,carthage expanded it's empire into southern Spain.Roman leaders were not happy about carthage gaining land on the european mainland west of rome.They helped the people living in spin fight against carthage.Of course carthaginians were angry.To punish Rome,carthage sent it's greatest general,Hannibal to attack rome in 218 BCE.This started the second punic war. Hannibal's strategy was to take the fighting into Italy itself.To do this,Hannibal gathered an army about 46,000 men,many horses,and 37 elephants.He landed his forces on Spain and then marched east to attack Italy.At the end Rome won the 2nd punic war.
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What happened in the 3rd punic war?
While carthage was no longer a navy power,it remained a trading center.In 146 BCE Rome finally destroyed it's rival in the 3rd punic war.Roman soldiers burned carthage and enslaved 50,000 woman ,men and children.Legend says that the roman's even spread salt on earth so no crops would grow.Carthage became a Roman province,or regional district.Rome won all the war that they had with other states .