The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic Rome during the Republican Period

Rome • Etruscans introduced architectural and engineering skill to the city. • The heart of Rome became the Forum.

Rome • The Romans, themselves, were agricultural people who were brought into larger communities with their contact with the Etruscans.

Rome • Each household worshiped the gods that were responsible for protecting the hearth and home; Penates, Janus, Jupiter, Vesta, Mars, and many others.

Rome • The religion of the state resembled the private cults but was on a larger scale. • The Romans took the temple structure and cult-images from the Etruscans.

Rome • The social structure of early Rome resembled a free community surrounding a few aristocratic houses. • Artisans and traders were their own masters.

Rome • Slaves were small in number and were limited to debtors. • Farmers owned their own small piece of land and were not bound to it as serfs.

Rome • As time went on, however, the plebs became a separate class from the patricii. • By the 6th or 5th centuries these two groups had divided themselves into separate classes.

Imperium • The right to command troops. The power belonged to the chief executive officers (consuls and praetors) who were known as imperator when they had military command.

Rome • Officials only held the positions of power for a limited term. • They could be tried for offences that were committed while they held the power of imperium.

Consuls • Two consuls were chosen annually. They administered the government and led the army.

Praetors • Governed Rome when the consuls were away.

Dictator • An official granted unlimited power to run the state in times of emergency. He usually served for six months or so or until the emergency was over.

Quaestor • Roman officials responsible for the administration of financial affairs.

Aediles • Supervised public games and took care of the city grain supplies.

Censors • Chosen every five years to make a count of the population for documentation and tax purposes.

Senate • Council of elders. • 300 men who served for life. • They could only advise, not legislate. • As the Republic grew their decisions began to take on the force of law.

Centuriate assembly • The Roman army functioning in its political role. • Organized by classes based on wealth.

Paterfamilias • Head of the Roman family. • He was the father and husband of the family unit. • Maintained control over every aspect of their family life. • Until his death he had control over his adult children.

Plebians • Independent, unprivileged, poor and vulnerable members of society. • They were free but had less rights than the patricians. • Often they were wealthy.

Tribune of the plebs • New officials who were given the power to protect the plebs against the patrician magistrates.

Council of the plebs • Popular assembly for plebians only. • Their rulings became plebiscita which means it is the opinion of the plebs. • Rulings were binding only for the plebians.

Plebs • One of their demands was for intermarriage between plebians and patricians to be allowed.

Hortensian law • Passed in 287 BCE. • Gave the force of law to all plebicita passed by the council. • Now they were applicable to all classes in society.

Conquest • Rome began to expand beyond its borders. • Gradually all of the people in the surrounding communities became Roman. • 340 BCE there was a revolt of the Latin States. • Romans crushed the revolt and established supremacy.

Conquest • The Roman Confederation was formed in 338 BCE. • Gave citizenship to many of the neighboring peoples. • Others were made allies who were free to run their own territories but provided military support to Rome.

Conquest • By 264 BCE Rome had established colonies in key locations. • They built roads connecting the outposts and creating an efficient communications network.

Conquest of the Mediterranean • Rome came into conflict with Carthage. • Carthage was an important trade and commercial center. • Carthage was governed by two judges who were elected annually.

The Roman Republic