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1) A republic is a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders. One group was the patricians, the wealthy landowners who held most of the power. The other important group was the plebeians, the common farmers, artisans, and merchants, who made up the majority of the population. Rome's leaders allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes that protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials. Rome had two officials called consuls that were like kings who commanded the army ad directed the government. The senate was the aristocratic branch of Rome's government. In times of crisis, the republic could appoint a dictator - a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army. Roma soldiers were organized into large military units called legions. The Punic Wars were wars between Rome and Carthage from 264 - 146 B.C. Hannibal was the Carthaginian behind the second Punic War.

3) The limits on the Roman consuls were that they could only serve one year terms and could not be elected again for ten years, and one consul could always overrule the other's decisions.

4) The significance of the Twelve Tables is that Rome's laws were carved onto these tablets and set the the basis for later Roman law, along with establishing the idea that all free citizens had a right to the protection of the law.

5) Hannibal's attack on Rome was daring and different because he wanted to surprise the Romans rather than executing a head-on attack.