THE ROMANS. MASTERS OF THE MEDITERREANEAN GEOGRAPHY Italy = Center of Mediterranean world Rome is centrally located on the Italian Peninsula Trade routes.

THE ROMANS

MASTERS OF THE MEDITERREANEAN

GEOGRAPHY

• Italy = Center of Mediterranean world

• Rome is centrally located on the Italian Peninsula

• Trade routes pass through Rome

• Location made it easy to launch military operations east or west

Rome

600 BCRome is ruled by a series of kings

509 BCAristocrats overthrow a harsh king & set up a new gov’t

REPUBLIC

• Power rests with citizens (Roman men) who have the right to elect leaders that will make gov’t decisions (an indirect democracy)

PATRICIANS2 groups struggle for power

Patricians- wealthy aristocratic land owners, inherit power and social status

PLEBEIANS

• Common farmers, artisans and merchants

• Could vote, but not hold office

• Strict social order holds them down

• No upward mobility

• Serve in army (causes resentment)

• In time, Plebeians put pressure on Patricians to gain power

Plebeians demand rights

THE TWELVE TABLES• Plebeians force creation of a

written law code• 451 BC- 10 officials write down

Roman laws• The laws are carved on 12 tables

(tablets) and publicly displayedEstablishes the idea that all free

citizens have rights and protection under the law and laws would be fairly administered

Twelve Tables

REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENTTwo separate branches

The Executive Branch• 2 Consuls command army and direct govt• 1 year term• Choose Senators• In emergency choose a dictator to make

quick decisions (6 months)• Praeters decide on civil law as applied to

Roman citizens

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

• The Senate– 300 Patricians – Financial policy– Advise Consuls– Lifetime term– Approve or disapprove laws

passed by Assembly– Controlled foreign relations

ASSEMBLY

• Plebeians

• Vote on laws suggested by govt officials

• Could declare war or make peace treaties

• Elected the two Consuls

• Elected govt officials

ROMAN LAW

• “Law of Nations” creates a system of laws that could be applied throughout the Empire based on reason and justice

• Applies to all people regardless of nationality

Major step towards the development of Western law

ROMAN JUSTICE

• Innocent until proven guilty

• May defend yourself before a judge

• Judges weigh evidence brought before them

THE ROMAN EMPIRE1st century AD

• Augustus leads Rome into a period of peace AD 14 - AD 180

• “Pax Romana” (Roman peace) a time of peace, prosperity & flourishing trade throughout the Roman Empire

This 200 year period of peace and stability allowed the Roman Empire to achieve new heights in technology, agriculture, science, and the arts. The Roman Empire was a very civilized place during this time, and life was generally comfortable, and good.

Pax Romana

JUSTINIAN’S CODE

528 AD- Emperor Justinian orders the compilation of all Roman laws – The Code- 5,000 Roman laws– The Digest- summary of legal opinions– The Institutes- textbook for law students– The Novellae- all laws passed after 534 AD

Becomes the leading guide on legal matters in Western Europe

Justinian and his Code

Trevi Fountain