The Roman Republic was a period where Rome was governed by an elected group called the Senate. The Republic began in 509 BC, when Rome’s first king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown by the Roman people. The Republic lasted until 27 BC when the Roman Empire was established.
In this article, you will find answers to everything you need to know about the origins, governance, characteristics, and fall of the Roman Republic.
Table of Contents
What was the system of government like in the Roman Republic?
The Roman Republic was a system of government in which power rested with the Roman Senate. The Senate was composed of wealthy landowners who had held office in the past. They were not elected by the people, but rather by the Senate itself. The Senate had the power to make laws, declare war, and ratify treaties.
The Roman Republic also had an assembly, which was composed of all the free men of Rome. The Assembly had the power to elect the Senate. However, the Assembly could only vote on laws proposed by the Senate. This is one of the reasons why the Roman Republic was a republic and not a democracy.
How was Rome organized during the Republic?
During the Republic, Rome was divided into two classes: the patricians and the plebeians. The patricians were the richer class, while the plebeians were the poorer class. The patricians held all the power in Rome and made up the Senate and the assembly. The plebeians could vote for the assembly, but they had no other power.
What did the Roman Republic consist of?
The Roman Republic consisted of the Senate and four different assemblies:
- Comitia Curiata, an assembly of patricians
- Comitia Centuriata, an assembly of citizens
- Concilium Plebis, an assembly of plebeians
- Comitia Tributa, an assembly of tribes
Each of these assemblies had different areas of power. The Comitia Curiata could elect the Senate, while the Comitia Centuriata could declare war. The Concilium Plebis could pass laws, and the Comitia Tributa could ratify treaties.
Who ruled the Roman Republic?
As said, the Roman Republic was governed by the Senate but also had two consuls, who were the highest-ranking officials in Rome. They were elected by the people, held office for one year, and fulfilled a very important function: to lead the Roman army in war. The consuls also had the power to veto laws they did not agree with.
Who could vote in Rome?
In the Roman Republic, only men who owned property could vote. This meant that only a small percentage of the population was allowed to vote. women, slaves, and poor men were not among these.
What is the difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire?
The difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire lies mainly in the fact that under the Republic power rested with the Senate, while under the Roman Empire, it rested with the Emperor. In the Roman Republic, therefore, questions regarding laws, wars, and treaties were decided by the senate, while in the Roman Empire, they were decided by the emperor.
When did the Roman Republic originate?
The Roman Republic is said to have originated in 509 BC, when the Roman king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown by the Roman people. Superbus was a tyrannical ruler and had a habit of killing any rivals who got in his way.
Why did Rome become a republic?
Eventually, the people of Rome had had enough of Superbus’ tyrannical rule and overthrew him. This event is said to have marked the beginning of the Roman Republic. Rome became a republic because the people were tired of being ruled by a monarchy. They wanted a system of government where power was given to the people.
How long did the Roman Republic last?
The Roman Republic lasted for almost 500 years, from 509 BC until 27 BC when it was replaced by the Roman Empire. The Roman Republic symbolically ended when the Roman general, Octavian, became the first emperor of Rome. He later took the name Augustus.
The Fall of the Roman Republic: Why did the Roman Republic fail?
There were many reasons why the Roman Republic fell. One of them was that the wealthy class, the patricians, had all the power, which led to social unrest among the poorer class, the plebeians. Another reason was that Rome was constantly at war. This put a strain on Rome’s resources and led to corruption and bribery.
In addition, strong men like Julius Caesar and Augustus played a central role in the power vacuum that arose along with the social unrest and constant warfare.
Julius Caesar was a Roman general and politician who became very popular among the people. He used his popularity to gain power and eventually stayed dictator in Rome. However, the Senate, horrified at the prospect of Rome returning to its old days of monarchy, assassinated Caesar. Thus they thought they had saved the republic.
However, the killing later proved to have the complete opposite effect. It triggered a civil war which was won by Augustus and led to him becoming the first emperor. Thus the fall of the Roman Republic was a fact.
Republic definition
The definition of the word “republic” is “a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president instead of a monarch.” This definition agrees well with the system of government of the Roman Republic.
What characterizes a republic?
A republic is characterized by a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The Roman Republic had this division of power between the Senate, the Concilium Plebis, and the Comitia Tributa.
Another characteristic of a republic is that it has a written constitution. The Roman Republic did not have a written constitution, but it did have a set of unwritten laws, known as the Twelve Tables, which regulated Roman society.
What are some examples of modern republics?
The United States and France are both examples of republics. Like the Roman Republic, they are both governed by elected representatives. They also have power distribution between different branches of government. The United States has a written constitution, while France does not.
Summary
In conclusion, the Roman Republic was a government that nearly 500 years. It was characterized by the distribution of power and unwritten laws, where the senate and two consuls ruled Rome. The republic fell when Augustus became the first emperor of Rome, and some examples of modern republics include the United States and France.