the roman republic briefly
DESCRIPTION
A brief overview of the Government of the Roman RepublicTRANSCRIPT
The Roman Republic
Resulted from discontent of tyrannical Etruscan monarchy
In a republic, citizens elect leaders to run their government.
SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus or the Senate and the People of Rome
A combination of aristocracy, oligarchy and democracy
753 to 509 BCE = Roman Monarchy244 years
509 to 27 BCE = Roman Republic536 years
27 BCE to 476 CE = Roman Empire449 years
Consuls = Leaders chosen to replace kingsAssembly = Ordinary citizens who elected the
consulsSenate = Rich men who advised the consulsAlthough citizens elected their own
representatives, the Republic was NOT a democracy… every citizen did not have equal powerDivided into 2 classes: patricians and plebians
New Organization
Patrician Order Plebians
Roman Society
PatriciansSenatorial
aristocracy Landowning
aristocracy From Latin word
‘patres’ which means father
PlebeiansPeople Landless poorFrom Latin word
‘plebs’ which means common people
The internal history of the Roman Republic consisted of constant tension and feuds between the patricians and the plebeians
Wealthiest 10% of Rome’s populationOnly ones who could run for political office
(magistrates)Served as priests, lawyers and judgesGranted financial and legal protection to their
clientsPlebians, newcomers to Rome, ex-slaves,
people who had left their familiesHeld the Roman imperium (power of law and
military command)
Patrician Order
The other 90% who did the “heavy lifting” in societyTill the land, herd livestock, work as craftsmen,
tradesmen, and labourersNo right of appeal against decision of
Patrician government since no laws were codified or published
Relied upon the Patricians exclusively for expertise/leadership
Defended Rome as soldiers
Plebians
Could engage in secession to get what they wantedGo on strike and refuse to defend Rome
The Plebians went on strike 5 different times
The Plebians’ Trump Card
1. Read Polybius' description of the Roman constitution to learn more about the government of the republic Note the powers and limitations
of the three divisions of government
Include one direct quote for each
Co-Co-ConsulsConsuls
SenateSenate Tribunes Tribunes (Plebian (Plebian Council)Council)
PowerPower
LimitationLimitationss
QuoteQuote
The Roman Senatecouncil of most powerful men in Romecontrolled the state budget and foreign affairsowned most of the landchosen for life
Consulmost powerful magistrates were the two consuls,
or Chief Magistrates of Stateboth had the power to veto (Latin for “I forbid”)
each other in important decisionselected by the patricians for a term of one yearextensive legislative, judicial powerusually commanded the army
CiceroScipio Africanus the Elder Lucius Junius Brutus
membership restricted to non-senatorial males2 plebeian tribunes elected and could veto
decisions made by consulseventually increased to 10 tribunesthe establishment of Tribunes became powerful
interpreters of the peoples’ wishes