Roman Republic

I. Origins and background

A. Etruscans and Greeks

B. Political and social characteristics: Romulus, patricians, plebes, Senate, vox populi, SPQR

C. Roman timeline: Republic, Empire, Roman Empire

II. The Republic 509-31 B.C.

A. Political Development

1. Constitutional Structure: Polybius, consuls

2. Adaptations: tribunes, plebiscites

B. Expansion and Empire

1. Reasons for success: legion

2. Italian Expansion to c. 275 B.C.

3. Punic Wars (264-202 B.C.): Carthage, Hamilcar Barca, Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Zama

4. Eastern Expansion to c. 135 B.C.

C. Fall of the Republic (135-31 B.C.)

1. General problems and reasons

2. Political chaos: optimates, populares, Gracchi

3. Era of strong men: Jugurtha, Marius, Mithradates, Sulla

4. Triumvirate period 60-31 B.C.

a. 1st: Pompey, Crassus, Caesar, Gaul

b. Julius Caesar (d. 44 B.C.) as Roman ruler

c. 2nd: Antony, Octavian, Lepidus

d. Octavian, Roman ruler by 31 B.C.: Philippi, Actium