The Roman Republic-By Shaista, Kal, and Phillip

509 BCE - 31 BCE

Timeline

Monarchy - 753 BCE

• Rome surrounded by the Etruscans, Carthaginiasn, Greeks
• Survived thru alliance with the Central Latin States
• 7 Kngs - last king = Tarquin the Proud: Etruscan
  • overthrown after his son, Sextus, rapes Lucretia
  • Revolt led by Lucius Junius Brutus
• Goals in establishing Republic:
  • preserve power for the oligarchy
  • ensure no man gains too much power (no Kings)

Political

Early Empire

• Aristocrats established 2 consuls, Senate, other assemblies
  • Brutus was one of the first consuls
• Rule of Law - law applies to everyone

The Romans feared a return to monarchy, so the The plebeians demand political power, which
Republic limited the power than any one man could hold. Patricians grant to avoid being overthrown.

• Dictator: appointed in times of emergency by the Senate, granted full power
  • Served for 6 months, or until the end of the crisis

Propraetor-The cushy governorship of a wealthy province that is the goal of going through the Cursus Honorum.
Proconsul-Basically same as Propraetor.

How to Advance your Political Career:

• Patronage
  • Client and Patron relationship where the client supports the patron politically, voting for him, being in his entourage, and supporting his views, and the patron does favors for his clients.
• Donations
  • political gifts to gain recognition and popularity.
• Fame
  • mostly through military success.
• Marriage
  • Often a political and financial transaction between families-trading wealth for political prestige.
  • Wives would work behind the scenes to advance their husbands' status.

Late Empire

Religious

Intellectual

Military

Economic

Social

• People separated into the Plebeians and Patricians

• No intermarriage at the beginning
• Class division based on BIRTH not wealth