Transcript The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic
Res publica -- “a government in which power resides in citizens entitled to vote and is
exercised by representatives responsible to them and to a body of law” (Fiero’s definition
in The Humanistic Tradition
I.
Roman Republic as a model of a mixed constitution to the American Founding Fathers.
Greek historian of Rome
Polybius (205-125 BCE) wrote of consuls as monarchial,
senate as aristocratic, and tribunes as democratic
II.
Traits the Republic absorbed from earlier Roman tradition:
Patriarchy (Paterfamilias)
Class divisions between patricians and Plebians
Executive (Kingship from Romulus 753-509 BCE)
III. Roman Republic 509 BCE to 31 BCE
Structure: Senate (Patricians – power resides here. Censor determines
eligibility
(continued to meet with less power under empire until 5th c. CE)
2 elected Consuls (Patricians) presiding over Senate and Army
Assembly (all citizens, patricians dominating plebs,
wealthiest voting first)
Increased role for Plebs in 3rd c. BCE coincident with Latin control of Italian
peninsula
Plebs request publication of laws, Twelve Tables 450 BCE
2 Elected Tribunes of Plebs (early 5th c. BCE), judicial role (3rd c. BCE)
Land redistribution under Tiberius Gracchus (assassinated 133 BCE)
and Gaius Gracchus (scanned reading more sympathetic than textbook)
Plebian Council, 287 BCE right to make binding laws
Plebs gain public offices
IV. Roman Expansion to Status of World Power
Successful imperialism compared to Athens: absorbed Italian peninsula into Roman rule.
Punic wars with Carthage (264 BCE-146 BCE, mid 3rd to mid 2nd c.)conquer Corsica, Sardinia, Carthage
Wars against Macedonia (215-148 BCE) conquered Greek city-states
Problems of a Republic which becomes a World Power—
corrupt wealthy class gaining booty and slaves
authoritarian ruling of provinces
power of military generals greater than Senate
(Discussed in Cicero, Horace, Josephus)
Law of Peoples (jus gentium) slowly evolved in relations of Latins with others.
V. Greek Cultural Impact on Rome—Gods and Goddesses, theatre, columns and pediments of
temples, sculptures
Athenian schools of 2nd and 1st c. BCE
Carneades’s visit to Rome 156 BCE
Cato the Censor (d. 149) rejector of Carneades and Greek Influence
Marcus Tullius Cicero (104-43 BCE), reporter of Athenian philosopher’s impact,
Defender of the Roman Republic