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Bellwork Monday Oct. 10, 2011

Bellwork Monday Oct. 10, 2011. What was the government of the Roman Republic like? How did it tie into social class relations? What was the primary grievance of the plebians in terms of Roman laws and government structure?. The Roman Republic. Western Civilization Ms. Tully.

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Bellwork Monday Oct. 10, 2011

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  1. Bellwork Monday Oct. 10, 2011 What was the government of the Roman Republic like? How did it tie into social class relations? What was the primary grievance of the plebians in terms of Roman laws and government structure?

  2. The Roman Republic Western Civilization Ms. Tully

  3. “ SenatusPopulusqueRomanum” • “the Roman senate and people” • abbreviated SPQR • 509 BCE: first Roman constitution • not a single written document • a set of rules, customs, laws, beliefs

  4. 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

  5. Social Class Distinctions • Patricians (upper class) • wealthy landowners • had most of the power in the early Republic • laws, military, legal proceedings, etc.

  6. 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…)

  7. 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

  8. 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 • ComitaCenturiata:political body to decide Roman policy • Voted in centuries (blocs) • Patrician centuries outnumbered Plebians • ConciliumPlebis: Assembly of Plebians • Won right to form assembly in 471 BCE • Bills passed in conciliumplebis recognized as binding on the entire population

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Roman Law • One of the most important achievements of Romans • Iuscivile – 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

  12. 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 • Iusgentium: The Law of the Peoples • Applied to Romans and foreigners • Foundation for universal conception of law • Iusnaturale: Natural Laws • Stoic concept • Universal law that could be applied to all societies

  13. 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 • LexCanuleia – 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.

  14. 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 • LexHortensia, 287 BCE • Ended Struggle of the Orders • Gave conciliumplebis the force of law for plebians and patricians • All males considered equal under the law

  15. 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..)

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