Ancient Ancient RomeRome

Examining the Examining the Roman RepublicRoman Republic

Roman RepublicRoman Republic

Based on the following Based on the following image and pictures, list image and pictures, list FIVEFIVE characteristics or characteristics or themes that would themes that would describe the Roman describe the Roman RepublicRepublic

Share: Share: What What

were the were the common common

themes in themes in the the

images?images?

What is a What is a republic? republic?

Noun: Noun: A state in which A state in which supreme power is held by supreme power is held by

the people and their the people and their elected representatives, elected representatives, and which has an elected and which has an elected or nominated president or nominated president rather than a monarch.rather than a monarch.

  

Res Publica = Roman Republic (public matter)

Roman Republic Roman Republic

(509 BCE)(509 BCE) Roman RepublicRoman Republic= = Res Res

PublicaPublica (public matter) (public matter) SPQRSPQR = = Senatus Senatus

Populusque RomanusPopulusque Romanus or or the Senate and the the Senate and the People of RomePeople of Rome

Resulted from discontent Resulted from discontent of tyrannical Etruscan of tyrannical Etruscan monarchymonarchy

A combination of A combination of aristocracy, oligarchy and aristocracy, oligarchy and democracydemocracy

What would be the What would be the difference between the difference between the Senate and the People Senate and the People

(Assembly)?(Assembly)?

Senate and the People of Senate and the People of RomeRome

PatriciansPatricians Senatorial Senatorial

aristocracy aristocracy Landowning Landowning

aristocracy aristocracy From Latin From Latin

word ‘patres’ word ‘patres’ which which means father means father

PlebeiansPlebeians People People Landless Landless

poorpoor From Latin From Latin

word ‘plebs’ word ‘plebs’ which means which means common common peoplepeople

The internal history of the Roman Republic consisted of constant tension and feuds between the patricians and the plebeians

Roles in Roman RepublicRoles in Roman Republic MagistratesMagistrates: : most powerful magistrates were the most powerful magistrates were the

two consuls, or Chief Magistrates of State; both two consuls, or Chief Magistrates of State; both had the power to veto (Latin for “I forbid”) each had the power to veto (Latin for “I forbid”) each other in important decisions (elected by patricians)other in important decisions (elected by patricians)

Assemblies (Comitia)Assemblies (Comitia): : four assemblies (organized four assemblies (organized by wealth / classes) of male citizens elected by wealth / classes) of male citizens elected officials as magistrates annually to pass and officials as magistrates annually to pass and enforce lawsenforce laws

SenateSenate: : council of men who controlled Rome (state council of men who controlled Rome (state budget and foreign affairs); controlled most land budget and foreign affairs); controlled most land and chosen for lifeand chosen for life

Plebian Tribal Council & TribunesPlebian Tribal Council & Tribunes: membership : membership restricted to non-senatorial males; 2 plebeian restricted to non-senatorial males; 2 plebeian tribunes elected and could veto decisions made by tribunes elected and could veto decisions made by consuls; eventually increased to 10 tribunes; the consuls; eventually increased to 10 tribunes; the establishment of Tribunes became powerful establishment of Tribunes became powerful interpreters of the peoples’ wishesinterpreters of the peoples’ wishes

Roman Law: The Twelve Roman Law: The Twelve TablesTables

Rome was among few societies that Rome was among few societies that developed laws that were developed laws that were codifiedcodified (written down) and fully analyzed by (written down) and fully analyzed by juristsjurists

pressure by the ordinary people to pressure by the ordinary people to break the monopolization of the law by break the monopolization of the law by the patricians and upper classthe patricians and upper class

Twelve TablesTwelve Tables: written 450 BCE in Latin: written 450 BCE in Latin

Most laws related to Most laws related to civil matterscivil matters

Formed basic legal procedures and Formed basic legal procedures and appropriate punishmentsappropriate punishments

But Roman law still distinguished But Roman law still distinguished between rich and poor, freemen and between rich and poor, freemen and slavesslaves

Daily Life in the Daily Life in the RepublicRepublic

Very religious and superstitious tendenciesVery religious and superstitious tendencies

Lavish dinner parties Lavish dinner parties

All actions (political and military) were made with All actions (political and military) were made with omens of omens of nature which would signal approval from the godsnature which would signal approval from the gods

inheritance of property was very importantinheritance of property was very important

practice of adoption of males (ie. Caesar practice of adoption of males (ie. Caesar adopted Octavian, the son of his niece)adopted Octavian, the son of his niece)

arranged marriages (girls around age of 15)arranged marriages (girls around age of 15)

Patriarchal societyPatriarchal society

Education: read and write Latin and GreekEducation: read and write Latin and Greek

Boys studied art of rhetoric; girls taught to Boys studied art of rhetoric; girls taught to sing dance, spin, weavesing dance, spin, weave

Art and Art and ArchitectureArchitecture

Art was influenced Art was influenced by Etruscans and by Etruscans and even more by the even more by the GreeksGreeks (sculptures, (sculptures, paintings) with paintings) with expansion and expansion and conquests (ie. conquests (ie. Corinth)Corinth)

Greek architecture Greek architecture (columns) was (columns) was fused into Roman fused into Roman cultureculture

Romans alone gaveRomans alone gave the world the world CONCRETECONCRETE

LatinLatin

Romans spoke Latin,Romans spoke Latin,which spread throughout which spread throughout the Mediterranean the Mediterranean (only Greek survived)(only Greek survived)

For next thousand years, For next thousand years, Latin was the language ofLatin was the language ofRoman government, Roman government, legal system and became the international legal system and became the international language of the Christian church, education language of the Christian church, education and scholarshipand scholarship

Latin still to this day has a strong presence in Latin still to this day has a strong presence in language of medicine and lawlanguage of medicine and law

Examples of LatinExamples of Latin

Veni, vidi, viciVeni, vidi, vici ““I came, I saw, I I came, I saw, I

conquered”conquered” Alter egoAlter ego ““another I”another I” VetoVeto ““I forbid”I forbid” Et cetera Et cetera ““and other”and other”

Exit or exenutExit or exenut ““He / she / they go out”He / she / they go out” Habeas corpusHabeas corpus ““you must have the you must have the

fact / body of the fact / body of the crime”crime”

ViaVia ““by way of”by way of” VICE VERSAVICE VERSA ““the other way around”the other way around”