Download The political system

Political life in Pompeii and Herculaneum – packages of information
1. The Roman Republic (509 – 27 BC)
 Rome was originally a monarchy, but in 509 it ousted its last king and became a
republic. The Republican system of government was semi-democratic, with popularly
elected officials ruling side-by side with an oligarchical Senate.
 The system was full of checks and balances, to prevent the return of another tyrant.
 The key institutions and political officers were:
 The Senate was made up of men from the wealthiest families in Rome, all former
high-ranking magistrates. The Senate made laws and advised the magistrates.
 The Assemblies were elected by adult, male citizens. They, in turn, elected the
various magistrates.
 The two consuls jointly ran the Republic. They were elected for one year, and had
supreme power.
 The praetors controlled the civil administration, and could also command provincial
armies.
 Proconsuls and propraetors ran the provinces (areas conquered by Rome).
 Other positions included the aediles (who controlled construction and maintenance
of the cities), quaestors (who controlled Rome’s finances), censors (who appointed
members of the Senate) and tribunes (who represented the poor).
2. The Roman Empire (after 27 BC)
 The Roman Republic collapsed following the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. To avoid
more civil war, the Senate granted extraordinary power to Caesar’s heir, Augustus,
making him the first emperor.
 The emperor derived his power from his ability to appoint magistrates, his control over
Rome’s legions, and his position as Rome’s religious leader.
 The emperor in the decade before the eruption of Vesuvius was Vespasian. He died just
before the eruption, and was replaced by his son Titus.
3. Local government
 Roman cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum were run as independent municipalities,
meaning they elected their own officials. Only men could vote and stand for political
office.
 Each city elected four magistrates – the decuriones.
 The two duumviri, ran the city and administered justice. They presided over the curia
(town council) and the courts.
 The duumviri were assisted by the two aediles, who oversaw public works and
various day-to-day activities (looking after the markets, temples and streets).
 Officials were elected for a term of one year.
 The curia was the town Council, and consisted of 100 former magistrates. It made
local laws, and its members were appointed for life.
 The duumviri were very wealthy, since it was expensive get elected. They would use
their influence to gain more political and economic power.
 Under the Empire, the emperor could also intervene in local affairs, issuing decrees or
vetoing local decisions.