legal code- rome/ US

Twelve tables:

• publicly displayed
• gave rights to plebians, not just aristocrats
• only protected free-born male citizens

Bill of Rights

• first 10 amendments to the constituation
• free speech/press/religion
• bear arms
• no unjust or harsh punishments

Comparing Governments Then vs. Now

res publica - the people's affair
brand new republic, ready to run 3 parts

• democracy(the people's assembly and the tribunes)
• aristocracy (the senate approx 300 members)
• monarchy (the consuls)
• NOT a tyranny

• originally, the US modled their new government on the model used by the ancient Romans
• both have 3 branches:
• executive
• legislative
• judicial  
• both have a legal code
• not exactly the same, but similar governments then vs now 

Executive-
Romans: 

• two consuls 
• one year terms
• each has veto power
• controls the military
• could appoint a dictator in a crisis for a 6 month term

US:

• president plus VP
• four year terms
• can veto proposed laws
• commander-in-chief of the military

Legislative
Romans:

• senate- 300 people -aristocrats- members for life
• Assemblies (either Centuriate of Tribal) 
• 193 members, later became 373
• members for life 

US:

• senate- 100 senators (2 from each state) - six year terms (1/3 voted for at a time)
• house of representatives- 435 members. States with higher populations, get more representatives
• each serve 2 year terms

Judicial
Romans:

• praetors (judges)
• chosen by the Centuriate Assembly 
• one year terms

US:

• supreme court
• nine members
• lifetime terms
• appointed by president, confirmed by senate

Class notes from friday and monday

Who settled Rome?

• etruscans 
• came from north-central part of the peninsula
• metalworkers, artists, and architects
• two foundation myths
• virgil's aeneid- where aneas escapes from troy
• story of romiulus and remus 

Greeks

• had colonies around the mediterranean sea
• romans borrowed ideas from the greeks such as:
• religious beliefs
• alphabet
• democracy 

Latins

• descendants of indo-europeans
• settled on the banks of Tiber River
• situated so trading ships- but not war fleets- could navigate as far as rome
• a commercial part, but not susceptible to attack
•  build on Thillis

Thillis

• Remus wanted Aventine
• Romulus vhose Palestine
• Rome named after Romulus
• many streams flowed into Tiber River
• marshy area is called the Forum
• Tarquin the Proud's grandfather built the Cloaca Maxima (largest ancient drain), channeled water into Tiber River.
• Urban Legend says D.C. was built on a swamp- only 2% was swampland
• constitution Avenue is located on, what used to be called, Tiber Creek 

"If you dont learn from history, you're doomed to repeat it."

Test Quest

• Lucius Tarquinias 
• the 7th final king of rome
• known as tarquin the Proud or the Arrogant
• a true tyrant inn ancient and modern times
• ** The people's shock at this horrible family and their terrible behavior made them NEVER want to be subject to the rule of kings EVER**
• this was an attitude that would last for centuries

Consuls

• rule of kings is replaced by two consuls
• consuls are elected officials
• term of office:one year
• consuls were always aristocrats aka. Patricians
• patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor or pater "father"
• duties of consul: dealing justice, making laws, commanding the army
• one consul could veto the other 

Plebians stand up

• fith century BCE patrcian dominance of the government was challenged by the plebs
• plebs were 98% of the population
• how patricians dominate:
• plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office
• plebs were threatened with debt slavery
• plebs had no legal rights
• plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials 
• rome had no actual laws
• patricians could interpret these "laws" to their own advantage
• SO, plebs refused to serve in the military until...
•  the laws were written out in The Law of Twelve Tables
• these laws on tablets were posted in public 450 B.C.
• tribunes "tribal leaders" were elected (fake power)
• SPQR - senatus populusque Romanium
• designates any decree or decision made by "the roman senate and people"

4-13-18

missed class friday

Test Grades review

Today we went over test questions that people got wrong. I stated my points why we should get some points back, and i got two points for the class!! im soo happy and it was actually really exciting to put all of my "arguement" together and get something useful out of it!

The Roman Republic book notes

The Origins of Rome:

• rome was built on 7 rolling hills on the Tiber River near center of Italian peninsula
• earliest settlers arrived in 1000-500 B.C.
• 3 groups inhabited the region:
• latins (the first romans)
• greeks (750-600 B.C. established colonies in southern Italy and Sicily)
• Etruscans (native to northern italy)
• Etruscans- skilled metal workers and engineers; system of writing; arch in architechure

Early Republic:

• Forum = the heart of roman political life 
• last king of rome was Tarquin the Proud. He was a harsh tyrant, lost power in 509 B.C
• res publica = public affairs
• Republic= government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
• patricians = wealthy landowners who held most of the power
• plebains = the common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population 
• patricians claimed ancestry gave them authority
• roman leaders allowed Plebians to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes
•  tribunes protect rights of citizens and unfair actions towards them  
• 451 B.C., ten officials began writing down laws
• laws carved on stone tables/tablets
• these 12 Tables established the idea that all free citizens had a right to the protection of the law
• had 2 consuls: commanded army and directed the government (term 1 year)
• one consul could overrule the other
• senate: aristocratic branch of government
• made up of 300 upper class citizens
• A Tribal Assembly, organized by plebians, elected tribunes and made laws for the people
• dictator: a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army. (6 months)
• chosen by consuls, elected by the senate 
• all citizens were required to serve in the army
• legions: large military units
• made of 5,000 infantry soldiers + a group of cavalry 
• divided into smaller groups called a century  

 Rome spreads its Power:

• defeated Etruscans and Grek city- states
• by 265 B.C. Rome controlled all of Italy
• in territories outside of Rome, they were citizens but couldnt vote
•  neighboring territories were full citizens
• this lenient policy helped rome succeed in building a long lasting empire
• rome location- easy access to riches of lands in mediterranean sea
• Carthage was is north africa on the coast 
•  264 B.C.  Rome and carthage went to WAR
• Punic Wars
• war #1: control over sicily and western mediterranean
• lasted 23 years (264-241 B.C.)
• Rome won 
• war #2: 
• 218 B.C. 
• Carthage led by Hannibal 
• Hannibal= brilliant military strategist who wanted to avenge carthage's defeat
• 50,000 infantry
• 9,000 cavalry
• 60 elephants
• led army through Spain, France, and the Alps
• Hannibal won at Cannae in 216 B.C., never captured Rome
• Scipio made a plan to attack Carthage, forced Hannibal to return his army home
• 202 B.C. Rome deafeated Hannibal
• war #3: carthage Control
• 149-146 B.C. 
• in 146 Carthage was set on fire and its people sold into slavery

Ancient Rome and Eary Christianity

We took our Ancient Greece Unit test in class today. Then i took notes from the board:

Power and Authority: Rome began as a republic, a government in which elected officials represent the people. Eventually, absolute rulers called emperors seized power and expanded the empire. 

Empire Building: At it's height, the Roman Empire touched three continents (Europe, Asia, Africa). For several centuries, Rome brought peace and prosperity to its empire before eventual collapse.

Religious and Ethical Systems: Out of Judea rose a monotheistic religion known as Christianity. Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, it soon spread throughout Rome and beyond.