Transcript File
THE RISE OF THE ROMAN
REPUBLIC
OVERVIEW
Ruled by Etruscan Kings from Northern Italy
The Romans overthrew these kings and created a
republic
Republic: A form of government with elected
leaders
U N D E R E T RU S C A N RU L E
Patricians
Plebeians
A small group of wealthy
A large group of peasants,
landowners who held
laborers, crafts people and
important jobs in society
shopkeepers who had few
(The Upper Class)
rights
Latin: patres = father
Forced to serve in the army
Patricians were seen as
Latin: plebs= many
“fathers of the state”
90% of Rome’s population
CREATION OF A REPUBLIC
In 509 B.C.E, a group of patricians rebelled and
drove out the Etruscan King
A republic was born!
Patricians were not concerned about the needs of
the plebeians and only looked out for themselves.
THE PATRICIANS’ REPUBLIC
Most power belonged to the Senate
Senate= 300 elected men who served for life
Patricians also had appointed government officials
and judges
PATRICIANS’ REPUBLIC
CONTINUED
Two elected leaders called CONSULS shared command
of the army
The senate advised the consuls and made decisions that
were treated as law
Rome’s Republic resembled a democratic government but
left out the voice of the majority
THE PLEBEIANS REBEL
Plebeians demanded more political rights.
During times of war, Plebeians were forced to join the
army and started to resent the Patricians
Plebeians marched out of Rome until their demands were
heard
Patricians feared that Rome would be helpless with out the
plebeians in the army
CONFLICT OF THE ORDERS
A conflict between two social classes; Plebeians and
Patricians
Think Ink Say:
Describe in your own words the conflict between the
Plebeians and Patricians
THE PLEBEIANS GAIN
POLITICAL EQUALITY
Gaining equality was a long process!
The Patricians agreed to let the Plebeians to elect officials
(Tribunes)
Tribunes spoke to the Senate and Consuls on behalf of the
Plebeians
Plebeians gained the right to veto or overrule decisions made by
government officials
CONSUL OF PLEBS
Consul of Plebs (Council) made laws for ONLY the
plebeians
Plebeians still had less power than the patricians
As a result, Plebeians would protest when they felt it was
necessary
(200 years of protests)
PLEBIAN EQUALITY
In 451 B.C.E, Plebeians demanded Patricians to write down
the laws= The Twelve Tables
In 367 B.C.E, Plebeians demanded that one of the consuls
would be for Plebeians so they could hold some power
In 287 B.C.E, Plebeians gained the right to pass laws for ALL
Roman citizens
The Tribune were able to become members of the Senate
The Twelve Tables
Take out the Twelve Tables
Pick 6 tables.
Try to explain the 6 tables you chose.. IN YOUR OWN
WORDS
• What does that law mean?
Table I.
- If anyone summons a man before the magistrate, he must go. If
the man summoned does not go, let the one summoning him call
the bystanders to witness and then take him by force.
Table II.
- He whose witness has failed to appear may summon him by loud
calls before his house every third day.
Table III.
- One who has confessed a debt, or against whom judgment has
been pronounced, shall have thirty days to pay it in. After that
forcible seizure of this person is allowed.
Table IV.
- A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed. If a father
sell his son three times, the son shall be free from his father.
Table V.
- Females should remain in guardianship even when they have
attained their majority.
Table VI.
- When one makes a bond and a conveyance of property, as he
has made formal declaration so let it be binding.
Table VII.
- Let them keep the road in order. If they have not paved it, a
man may drive his team where he likes.
Table VIII.
- If one has maimed a limb and does not compromise with
the injured person, let there be retaliation. If one has broken
a bone of a freeman with his hand or with a cudgel, let him
pay a penalty of three hundred coins
Table IX.
- The penalty shall be capital for a judge or arbiter legally appointed
who has been found guilty of receiving a bribe for giving a decision.
Table X.
- None is to bury or burn a corpse in the city.
- The women shall not tear their faces nor wail on account of the
funeral.
Table XI.
- Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians.
Table XII.
- Whatever the people had last ordained should be held as binding by
law
If you could make your own
laws…
W hat would they be?
Create 5 laws and list/ describe them on the
paper provided
CICERO ONCE SAID…
“The people’s good is the highest law”
-Cicero; Roman Statesman
Think Pair Share:
What do you think this Quote means?