Download The Roman Republic and Judeo

The Roman Republic and
Judeo-Christian Ideals
Roots of Democracy
Greek Roots in the Roman Republic

Rome Absorbed Greek ideas from Greek immigrants in
Southern Italy

Romans conquered Athens and the rest of Greece

Continued to borrow Greek ideals

Used the ideal of Stoicism from the Greeks – Remain
dutiful and protect the well-being of the people

Main Difference between Greece and Rome – Greece =
Direct Democracy, Rome = Representative Democracy
The Basic Principles of the Roman Republic

Rome was a republic – unlike Greece which favored a government
by the people

A republic would keep any one person from gaining too much
power


Patricians had most of the power – members of the landholding
upper class


Do you think this worked under Julius Caesar or the other emperors of
Rome?
They were members of the Senate – a powerful law making and
decision making body
Plebeians fought for representation – the common people

The government inscribed Rome’s laws onto 12 tablets – Called the
Laws of the 12 Tables

Plebeians could then read the laws and take issues to the court – without
the laws written down, they did not know their rights

Eventually Plebeians could elect their own officials who could veto the
laws put in place by the Patricians

The Plebeians eventually were able to get into the Senate and protect
the rights of the common people.
Political System of Rome
12 Tables of Rome
Table
Law
1
Procedures for courts and trials
2
Procedures for trials
3
Procedures for dealing with debt
4
Rights of fathers over the family
5
Inheritance laws
6
Acquiring and possessing things
7
Land Rights
8
Laws of Injury
9
Public Law
10
Sacred Law
11
Marriages between classes
12
Slaves and Unwritten Laws
Roman Government Structure
Judeo-Christian Ideals and Democracy
Judaism

The 10 Commandments – Laws
for the Jewish people

7 Universal Laws – Applied to
all people, not just Jewish

Everyone should follow the
law, but also follow their own
morality and code of ethics.

The rich should protect the
poor, should not murder, etc.

Lived under the Romans

(Islam follows similar
Commandments as the 10
Commandments listed in the
Bible)
Christianity

Also lived under Roman emperors

Most emperors were tolerant of
different religions, but not Judaism
or Christianity because they refused
to make sacrifices

So both Jewish and Christian people
began to be persecuted by the
Romans

Christianity also had a strong code of
ethics – equality and dignity for all
people

Also followed the 10 Commandments
and other ethical principles in the
Old Testament

Added New Testament to their Code
of Ethics
Definition of Roman Democracy

Representative Democracy

All Citizens are equal and have the opportunity to participate

Did not include women or slaves

Had Slavery

Could elect a dictator in times of war

Checks on Power
Judeo-Christian Definition

Murder is Illegal

Adultery is Illegal

Stealing is Illegal

Lying is Illegal

Must Honor Father and Mother

Must Worship Only One God (Limits Freedom of Religion)

Must Not Use Lord’s name in vain (Limits Freedom of Speech)

Not necessarily a Democratic form of government