Classwork WMSIO #2

finish reading The Roman Republic (p. 155-159)
answer questions 1, 3, 4, 5 (p. 159)
do worksheet 1 (The Romans Create a Republic p.88)





Notes:

• By the fourth century BC, the Romans dominated central Italy, and by 265 BC, they were the masters of nearly all of Italy.
• Punic Wars (264 - 146 BC) were between Rome and Carthage, a colony of Phoenicia.
• First Punic War  (264 - 241 BC)
• Fought in the western Mediterranean for control of Sicily.
• Ended in the defeat of Carthage.
• Second Punic War (218 - 202 BC)
• Mastermind behind the war was 29-year-old Carthaginian general named Hannibal.
• Hannibal assembled an army of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants.
• For more than a decade, moved his army on a long trek from Spain across France and through the Alps.
• Lost half his men and most of his elephants.
• Won his greatest victory at Cannae in 216 BC.
• With the aid of many allies, the Romans prevented capturing of Rome.
• Finally, the Romans found a military leader to match Hannibal's boldness--Scipio.
• In 202 BC, Hannibal was forced to defend his native city, Zama, and was defeated by the Romans.
• Third Punic War (149 - 146 BC)
• After Rome laid siege to Carthage, the city was set afire on 146 BC and its 50,000 inhabitants were sold as slaves.

• By winning the Punic Wars, Rome gained dominance over the western Mediterranean.
• Then went on to conquer the eastern half.
• By 70 BC, Rome's Mediterranean empire stretched from Anatolia to Spain.
  

Questions:



1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.

Republic: (comes from the Latin res publica, "people's affairs") people choose representative to vote in behalf of the people.

Patrician: wealthy, aristocratic landowners who held most of the power in the early republic.

Plebeian: common farmers, merchants, workers, and artisans which made up the majority of the Roman citizens.

Tribune: someone elected to represent the Roman lower class citizens.

Consul: One of two officials who shared the powers of ruling the republic  and whose time in office was limited to only a year. (They also could not be re-elected before ten years after their previous term.)

Senate: assembly composed of upper class citizens only.

Dictator: Someone with absolute power who only led the people for six months.

Legion: Military division of the Roman army.

Punic Wars: Three battles lasting over a century between Rome and Carthage.

Hannibal: Led a force of 50,000 soldiers and 60 elephants through the Alps for more than a decade to attemmpt to conquer Italy.


3. What limits were there on the power of the Roman consuls? They both had the power to overpower each other; so they limited each other's power. Their terms were a year's length and could not be elected again in ten years.


4. What was the significance of the Twelve Tables? The upper class people would stop inventing more ways to punish poor people. It gave lower class citizens rights and defended them from unjust laws created against them.


5. How was Hannibal's attack on Rome daring and different? He decided to lead his troops through the Alps to attack Romans head on.