PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Government – The Republic
After the legendary foundation of Rome in 753 BC, the city
was ruled by kings until 509 BC. Then the people, led by nobles,
drove out the last of the Etruscan kings. A republic was then set up
where power was not invested in a single king but in a group of
elected people. At first there were two classes of citizens–the wealthy
patricians (privileged class) who could trace their ancestry back to
the first Romans and the plebeians (ordinary working people). In
the early years the plebeians had little say in the government of the
Republic but they fought for equal rights. Eventually, after a series
of strikes, they formed a people’s assembly which excluded the
patricians. This assembly elected officials called tribunes to look
after their interests in the senate. At the first people’s assembly two
tribunes were elected but the number was increased to ten in later
years. Tribunes could speak against proposed courses of action by
the magistrates of the senate if they thought those actions threatened
the rights of ordinary citizens. During the Republic the senate and
the people’s assembly made the laws and the legal system was
explained in a document called the twelve tables. The most
important magistrates were the two consuls who were the heads of
the government and commanders of Rome’s armies.
The two consuls, who had equal powers, were guided by the senate,
a body made up of ex-magistrates. In emergencies, such as invasions
by barbarians, total power could be given to a dictator who held
office until the crisis was over. In the later years of the Republic
another class of citizens called equites (traders, bankers,
businessmen) also became involved in the struggle for power.
In 27 BC, after defeating other Roman generals in a struggle for
power, General Octavian renamed himself Augustus (‘revered one’)
and became emperor. From his rule onward this period of Roman
history is known as the Empire. Like the early kings of Rome, power
was again in the hands of one man for the emperor now appointed
the consuls and the senators.
Activity Box
1. Which class of citizens held power?
Roman senators wore robes with double purple stripes
down the front. Purple, a dye obtained from shellfish,
was the colour worn by people who held important
positions. Draw and colour his stripes.
Viewing Sample
2. How long did kings rule early Rome?
3. Which officials looked after ordinary people?
4. The most important magistrates were
5. Whose name means ‘revered one’?
6. The twelve tables was about Roman
7. The people’s assembly and the made laws.
8. Who held supreme power in a crisis?
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