Download Around 600 BCE, Rome was under the control of a

Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Class Per: _________
THE EARLY REPUBLIC:
Around 600 BCE, Rome was under the control of a King from nearby group of people called the
Etruscans. Under its Etruscan kings, Rome grew from a collection of hilltop villages to a city that
covered nearly 500 square miles. Much of Rome was rich agricultural land. Various kings ordered the
construction of Rome’s first temples and public buildings. By royal order, the swampy valley below the
Palatine Hill was drained, making a public meeting place. Later it became the Forum, the heart of
Roman political life.
The last king of Rome was Tarquin the Proud. A harsh tyrant, he was driven from power in 509 BCE.
Roman aristocrats, wealthy landowners who resented the Etruscan kings, overthrew him. The
Romans declared they would never again be ruled by a king. They swore to put to death anyone who
plotted to make himself king.
Having deposed the monarch, the Romans established a new government. They called it a republic,
from the Latin phrase res publica, which means “public affairs.” A republic is a form of government in
which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote to select their leaders. In Rome, citizenship
with voting rights was granted only to free-born male citizens.
1. What similarities can you find between the beginning of Roman government and the beginning of Greek
government?
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2. What are ‘checks and balances?’ What examples can you find of checks and balances in the Roman
Republic? (use notes from class)
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Roman Government
Consuls

Chosen ____________

____________________ and military leaders

Had the power to _________

_____ members
Senate
________________ members called Senators, chosen for ________________
advised the _________________
handled the ____________________________________ of government
proposed _________________ and ____________________________________
discussed ways to deal with other countries
__________________________ politicians
Chosen from _________________________________
Magistrates
Assemblies
Each Magistrate had a
different job
_______ Roman ___________
belong to the assembly
8 Praetors
____________ on the Senate
decisions to go to ___________
________________________
2 Censors
________________________
4 Aediles
________________________
20 Quaestors
________________________
They
______________________,
Senate and Judges
Rich citizens
_____________________ than
poor citizens
Composed of _______________
citizens
Tribunes
______ members, had to
be __________________
They spoke for and
protected
the____________
They had the power to
_____________________
anything that affected
the ____________
HOW IS ROMAN GOVERNMENT LIKE CONRADY
JR. HIGH?
Use the descriptions of the levels of Roman government to create
connections to Conrady Jr. High. Who would be our consuls, senate,
judges, assemblies, and tribunes and why?
Consuls
Power flows from the top down.
Who:
Heads of the Roman
Republic. They were
administrators and
military leaders. They had
the power to veto any law
Why?
Senate
Who:
Made up of 300 men chosen
for life. They handled the
daily problems of
government. They
discussed ways to deal
with other countries and
proposed laws.
Why?
Magistrates
Who:
Appointed for a fixed
period of time for a
specific task. In the early
empire this was usually a
military task
Assemblies
All Roman citizens
belonged to the assembly.
Why?
Who:
Why?
Tribunes
Who:
They spoke for the poor.
They also had the power to
veto anything that
affected the poor
Why?