Bellwork Monday Oct. 10, 20111. What was the government of the

Roman Republic like? How did it tie into social class relations?

2. What was the primary grievance of the plebians in terms of Roman laws and government structure?

The Roman RepublicWestern Civilization

Ms. Tully

“ Senatus Populusque Romanum” “the Roman senate

and people”• abbreviated SPQR

509 BCE: first Roman constitution• not a single written

document• a set of rules,

customs, laws, beliefs

◦Greeks:◦ idealistic;

philosophy/speculation about best way to govern people

◦Romans:◦practical, realistic,

devised solutions to everyday problems

◦Social divisions determined the shape of politics

Social Class DistinctionsPatricians (upper

class)◦wealthy landowners◦had most of the

power in the early Republic laws, military, legal

proceedings, etc.

Plebians (the commoners)◦most were poor◦artisans, farmers,

urban dwelling non-land owners

◦Roman citizens, could participate in Roman politics (but not as influential as patricians…)

The Government Consuls: chief

magistrates of Roman Republic• command armies,

state business, financial affairs

• elected for 1 year terms

• at first, only patrician men

• ran the Republic, along with the Senate

Senate: advisory body that helped the consuls◦offered advice, couldn’t pass laws (but very

influential)◦provided year-to-year stability◦wealth of experience, knowledge◦Advice came to have the force of law

◦Comita Centuriata: political body to decide Roman policy

◦Voted in centuries (blocs)◦Patrician centuries outnumbered Plebians

◦Concilium Plebis: Assembly of Plebians◦Won right to form assembly in 471 BCE ◦Bills passed in concilium plebis recognized as

binding on the entire population

Quaestors: appointed by consuls to help them• in charge of public treasury, prosecuted

criminals in court• 421 BCE: became an elected position (open

to plebians!) 443 BCE: create office of censor• supervised public morals, determined who

could sit in Senate, citizen registration, public contracts

336 BCE: create office of praetor• 4 praetors stepped in when consuls were

out of Rome• administration/interpretation of law

Censors:• Created in 443 BCE• Supervision of public morals, power to

determine who be in Senate, registration of citizens, leasing of public contracts

aediles: four officials who supervised streets/markets, presided over public festivals

• Romans divided the Mediterranean area into provinces governed by ex-consuls and ex-praetors Brought Roman experience, culture, way of life to

new lands

Roman Law One of the most important

achievements of Romans Ius civile – Civil Law

• Consisted of statutes, customs, and forms of procedures

Roman assemblies added to the body of law, Praetors interpreted it

Protecting the property, lives, and reputations of citizens, addressing issues of injustice

Expansion required new laws to deal with disputes with foreigners under Roman jurisdiction

Often rested on legal decisions of Praetors• Law of equity• Enjoyed flexibility

Ius gentium: The Law of the Peoples• Applied to Romans and foreigners• Foundation for universal conception of law

Ius naturale: Natural Laws• Stoic concept• Universal law that could be applied to all societies

Social Conflicts in Rome Struggle of the Orders – conflict between

Plebians and Patricians• Plebians wanted real political representation• Plebians had leverage b/c of Rome’s dependence on

military 445 BCE – First achievements for plebians

• Lex Canuleia – allowed patricians and plebians to intermarry

• Tribunes: officials elected by plebians Plebians did not want to undermine the state,

they wanted full equality under the law.

Plebians forced patricians to publish laws – Twelve tables

Licinian-Sextian Rogations (laws), 367 BCE• Plebians allowed to sit in and advise the

senate• One of two annual consuls must be a

plebian Lex Hortensia, 287 BCE

• Ended Struggle of the Orders• Gave concilium plebis the force of law for

plebians and patricians • All males considered equal under the law

Results of social compromise• Economic reforms – all citizens had access to public

land• New definition of political leadership• New nobility – extension of aristocratic rule• Rome stronger and better united

Paterfamilias: Male head of family held power• Limited power of male family members and women• Legally kill or divorce wife, kill children or sell them into

slavery • Sons could not legally hold property until paterfamilias

died• Authority over everyone in household (slaves, servants,

etc..)