Download The Roman Republic - EDSS Ancient Civilizations

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
ROMAN REPUBLIC (509 BCE)
• Resulted from discontent of tyrannical Etruscan
monarchy
• In a republic, citizens elect leaders to run the gov’t
• SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus
• The Senate and the People of Rome
• A combination of aristocracy, oligarchy and
democracy
NEW ORGANIZATION
• Consuls = leaders chosen to replace Kings
• Assembly = ordinary citizens who elected the
Consuls
• Senate = rich men who advised the Consuls
• Although citizens elected their own representatives,
the Republic was NOT a democracy… every citizen
did not have equal power
• Divided into 2 classes: patricians and plebeians
ROMAN SOCIETY
Patricians
Plebeians
PATRICIANS VS PLEBIANS
The internal history of the Roman Republic consisted of
constant tension and feuds between these two classes
Patricians
• Senatorial
aristocracy
• Landowners
• From Latin word
“patres” (father)
Plebeians
• Landless poor
• From Latin word
“plebs” (common
people)
PATRICIANS
• Wealthiest 10% of Rome’s population
• Only ones who could run for political office
(magistrates)
• Served as priests, lawyers, judges
• Granted financial and legal protection to clients
• Plebeians, newcomers to Rome, ex-slaves, run-aways (from
family)
• Held the Roman imperium (power of law and
military command)
PLEBEIANS
• The other 90% who did the “heavy lifting” in society
• Till land, herd livestock, craftsmen, tradesmen, labourers
• No right of appeal against decision of patrician
gov’t since no laws were codified or published
• Relied upon patricians exclusively for
expertise/leadership
• Defended Rome as soldiers
PLEBEIAN “TRUMP CARD”
• Could engage in “secession” to get what they
wanted
• Strike and refuse to defend Rome
• Plebeians went on strike 5 different times
GOVERNMENT IN THE ROMAN
REPUBLIC
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The Roman Senate
Council of most powerful men in Rome
Controlled the state budget and foreign affairs
Owned most of the land
Chosen for life
MAGISTRATES
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Consul
Most powerful magistrates were the two Consuls (or
Chief Magistrates of State)
Both had the power to veto (Latin for “I forbid”)
each other in important decisions
Elected by patricians for a 1-year term
Extensive legislative, judicial power
Usually commanded the army
Cicero
Scipio
Africanus
the Elder
Lucius
Junius
Brutus
PLEBEIAN TRIBAL COUNCIL & TRIBUNES
• Membership restricted to non-senatorial males
• Two plebeian tribunes elected and could veto
decisions made by the consuls
• Eventually increased to 10 tribunes
• Tribunes became powerful interpreters of the
peoples’ wishes
ROMAN REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT
(P.170)
• Sketch textbook diagram
DAILY LIFE IN THE REPUBLIC
(P.180-185)
Beliefs
Family Life & Morality
Education
Role of Women
Latin Language & Literature