The Roman Republic Briefly

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