Lesson of Rome's transformation to a Republic

1. As you learned yesterday, in 753 BC Romulus founded the city of
Rome. The city of Rome would expand to a massive republic called
the Roman Republic. Based on your knowledge and yesterday’s
lesson, how do you think one city could turn into a massive republic?
Challenge Question:
Who are plebeians and patricians?
8/22/1
6
Bell
Ringer

2. 7.1 Analyze the legacy of
the Roman Empire.
I can analyze the
growth and significance
of the Roman Republic.

3. THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
• The Roman Republic began in 509 BC with the
overthrow of the last king and lasted until 146
BC (see timeline below).
• In Archaic Rome, the people were led by kings.
• In the Roman Republic, the people elected their
own leaders called representatives.
• This was a huge change!

4. The Roman Republic
• Elected representatives were always wealthy
• Rome will be divided by rich and poor (patricians &
plebians)

5. Patricians and
Plebeians
What differences do you see?

6. Patricians and Plebians
• The people were divided into
two groups:
Plebeians = common
people
Patricians = wealthy
people
• In the Roman Republic, the
elected leaders were always
from the wealthy class.
• What problems do you see
with this model of society?

7. Patricians and Plebians
cont.Patricians:
- wealthy
- only Patricians Could hold political,
military, or religious offices
- Small part of the population
- Held most of the power and control
- Could serve in the senate
Plebeians:
- middle-lower class [not as wealthy as
the patricians]
- could not hold military, political, or
religious offices
- bulk of the population
- artisans, shopkeepers, and peasants
- elected officials called tribunes
Both Patricians and
Plebeians:
- vote
- class was determined by birth
- Served in army
- Paid taxes
- Women had limited rights
- Protected by Roman Law (the
Twelve Table
- citizens

8. A GROWING REPUBLIC
• The Roman Republic mainly grew
as a response to outside threats.
As Rome responded to these
threats they would take over more
and more land.
• Rome would send in a legion,
which is a group of 6000 soldiers.
• One series of Roman wars was
called the Punic Wars which
occurred between Rome and
Carthage (a city in Northern Africa.
• After winning the Punic Wars,
Rome took control of Sicily,
Corsica, Spain, and North Africa.
Did you know???
SPQR was an acronym used in the
Roman Republic to shorten it’s name:
Senātus Populusque Rōmānus, the
Senate and People of Rome

9. Knowledge Check
1. How would you describe archaic Rome to your
parents?
2. How would you tell a 1st grader what a
Republic was?
3. Who were the Patricians?
4. Who were the Plebians?
5. Justify this statement: ‘Rome grew when it
became a Republic.”

10. Patricians & Plebians
One of you will be a Patrician and the other a Plebian.
• You will have a silent discussion through Paper
Chat!
• You will spend 10 minutes ‘discussing’ life for
you in the Roman Republic as a plebian or
patrician.
• Use the following for guidelines and think about
everything we you learned today!
• Legions
• Republic
• Government
• Kings

11. Notice the Expansion of the Roman Republic after the Punic Wars

12. FROM ARCHAIC TO REPUBLIC
Today we investigate how the Romans changed from a
society with kings to a government where the people
elected their own officials. Let’s read about the
culture of Archaic Rome and see what changed.
10 minutes
End
Read the article about ancient
Rome. As you read, look for
specific evidence that explains
how the Romans shifted from an
Archaic society to a Republic.
Using bullet points, list your evidence on the
back on the page. When all group members
are finished, share your answers as a group.