The Rise of the Roman Republic and Political Evolution in Ancient Rome
The Roman Republic emerged in 509 B.C.E. as a form of government with elected leaders, initially only accessible to Patricians. This led to a division between Patricians and Plebeians, the latter being the majority of the population. The Senate, Consuls, and Tribunes played key roles in shaping Roman politics, culminating in the Plebeians gaining political equality through various reforms and the codification of laws in the Twelve Tables.
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THE RISE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
REPUBLIC A form of government with elected leaders developed in Rome in 509 B.C.E. Not all citizens could participate At first, only the Patricians could vote and hold office. Created a divide between the Plebeians and Patricians. Creation of the Roman Republic made Rome more democratic (but still not a complete democracy)
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PATRICIANS AND PLEBEIANS Patricians Plebeians Made up around 95% of the population Plebs means many Mostly peasants, farmers, laborers, craftspeople and shopkeepers. Could not take part in the government at first Served in the military Upper Class Wealthy Landowners Owned valuable land House in the city and Villa in the countryside Held all the government positions at first
SENATE 300 Men elected by the Patricians Senate decisions were treated as laws Were extremely Powerful Elected two leaders to be Consuls Consuls shared command of the Army
THE PLEBEIANS REBEL Conflict of Orders In 494 B.C.E. the Plebeians decided to protest Left the city of Rome Stopped working on the farms Refused to fight for Rome in the Army
PLEBEIANS GAIN POLITICAL EQUALITY Patricians agreed to let the Plebeians participated in the government Tribunes elected Plebeians who spoke on their behalf Tribunes later gained the power to veto (over rule actions) Council of Plebs (only made laws for the Plebeians) Around 451 B.C.E. after continued protests by the Plebeians, the Patricians agreed to have laws written down on tablets called the Twelve Tables
TWELVE TABLES IV. 2 "If a father surrender his son for sale three times, the son shall be free." V. 7 A spendthrift is forbidden to exercise administration over his own goods. V. 8 The inheritance of a Roman citizen-freedman is made over to his patron, if the freedman has died intestate and has no natural successor. http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html
TWELVE TABLES CONTINUES VI. 2 Marriage by `usage' (usus): If a man and woman live together continuously for a year, they are considered to be married; the woman legally is treated as the man's wife. VIII. 1 "If any person has sung or composed against another person a SONG (carmen) such as was causing slander or insult.... he shall be clubbed to death." VIII. 2 "If a person has maimed another's limb, let there be retaliation in kind, unless he agrees to make compensation with him." (Lex talionis) VIII. 23 "Whoever is convicted of speaking false witness shall be flung from the Tarpeian Rock." VIII. 26 "No person shall hold meetings in the City at night. http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html
STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY Plebeians continued to fight for equality. 367 B.C.E. A new law said that one of the Roman consuls had to be a Plebeian 287 B.C.E. the Plebeians gained the right to pass laws for all citizens. Now Plebeians could be in the Senate and the Tribunes power was increased. After 200 years of struggle, the Plebeians had won their fight for equality.
CONSTITUTION Set of Basic Laws about a government Rome was one of the first to form a Constitution Rome s Constitution would inspire future generations including the United States. We would follow Rome s lead with our own constitution, elected assemblies, checks and balance system, citizenship, and civic duty. The people s good is the highest law. Cicero
SUMMARY As a result of the conflict of orders between the Plebeians and the Patricians, Rome became an effective Republic and became more Democratic over time. Rome as a Republic would only last so long and would set its sight on the rest of the world and become a mighty empire.
LIVY Once upon a time, the different parts of the human body were not all in agreement And it seemed very unfair to the other parts of the body that they should worry and sweat away to look after the belly. After all, the belly just sat there Doing nothing, enjoying all the nice things that came along. So they hatched a plot. The hands weren t going to take food to the mouth; even if they did, the mouth wasn t going to accept it They went into sulk (stayed silent or to be in a bad mood) and waited for the belly to cry for help. But while they waited, one by one all the parts of the body got weaker and weaker. The moral of this story? The belly too has its job to do. It has to be fed, but it also does feeding of its own. - LIVY
