ipl-logo

Roman Republic Essay

800 Words4 Pages

introduction:
The Roman Republic is considered one of the most important political systems in ancient history, as it was established in the fifth century BC after the Romans overthrew the Etruscan kings, and adopted a republican system of government. Over time, these systems evolved and changed, and witnessed transformations that eventually led to the fall of the Republic and the emergence of the Roman Empire. In this paper, we will look at the conditions that led to the creation of the Roman Republic, the elements that democratized it, and those that called into question its democratic nature.

Circumstances that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic
First of all, it should be noted that the Roman Republic was not intended to be a …show more content…

In 509 BC, the Romans overthrew the last king of Rome and declared the Republic. This step was a result of the people's desire to get rid of autocratic rule and establish a system based on the principles of democracy and balance. As for the social and class differences, there were great differences between the social classes in Rome. The Patricians (the aristocracy) controlled the political and economic institutions and enjoyed great advantages, while the Libyan people (the working and poor class) suffered from a lack of rights and …show more content…

The democratic institutions of the republic, though found in the constitution, were in fact tools for the wealthy aristocracy to maintain power. The people were completely incapable of exercising the powers conferred upon them by the Constitution, as they had little influence in the process of making laws and electing leaders. In addition, the Romanian people suffered from great social and economic inequalities and a lack of freedom of expression and initiative.
Moreover, in the matter of war and peace, power rested largely with senators and consuls rather than with popular assemblies. Decisions on war and peace were made by senators and consuls, and the people were mostly passive observers. Thus, the Roman Republic, despite the apparent democratic elements of its constitution, was dominated by a wealthy aristocracy and controlled all aspects of government, making it distinctly

Show More
Related

  • Why Did The Roman Republic Fail Essay

    893 Words  | 4 Pages

    This was a bad decision because it caused inflation. Another economic reason why the Roman Republic failed was because of taxes. The poor made up a large percentage of the Roman population. The government became oppressive and started to force everything on the people. Roman leaders came up with the forced labor which made peasants work on fields, roads, and bridges.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Greed In Julius Caesar

    877 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Ancient Rome, noble families grew tiresome of their kings’ have hasty behavior. Due to this, they revolted in 509 BCE, establishing the creation of the Roman Republic. The Republic was not strong enough to withhold the force that accompanied influential men and that led the creation of an Empire. The Roman Republic fell into crisis because of the internal unrest provoked by various leader’s reckless behavior and greed.

    Read More

  • How Democratic Was The Roman Republic Dbq

    690 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Roman Republic was often known for its lasting influence for the development of Western political governance and ideals and is often hailed as a beacon of democracy in ancient history. But an in depth look reveals it to be more complex. While the Roman Republic held democratic elements that allowed citizen participation and representation, its political structure was ultimately characterized by a significant concentration of power among the elite and few for the average person. This essay will explore the extent of democracy within the Roman Republic, analyzing key aspects such as the electoral system, legislative bodies, and social hierarchy and the democratic nature and the implications it had on the overall governance of the state.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Han China And Imperial Rome

    440 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imperial Rome had a democratic government, where the people voted for everything. They had two classes, the patricians and the plebeians. The Plebeians had all the control over the Senate and the Consuls for a while. Eventually, the plebeians were given control over the Tribunes to give them a voice. The patricians were the wealthy, land owners, and the upper class citizens.

    Read More

  • Roman Bill Of Rights Essay

    564 Words  | 3 Pages

    The citizens would elect Praetors, these were judges that ruled in the judicial branch and would be voted for each year(AR). Usually only the wealthy Praetors would be elected leaving out the middle and lower class citizens of Rome(AR).Today in The U.S., people can vote on issues that are addressed within America and are also able to vote on who is elected as the president no matter what financial state they are in. In Rome, the lower class citizens also known as the plebeians, were forced into the army and were furious at the fact that

    Read More

  • How Democratic Was The Roman Republic Dbq

    736 Words  | 3 Pages

    By this time, it took more effort to vote since people were coming from all over to vote. Rome started to add limits, “How easily a small number of urban residents registered in a rural tribe could determine the vote of that tribe is clear from the small percentage of citizens who actually voted.” (Document C) This shows how little the number of people voted that were actually Roman citizens. The Roman Republic started to become an aristocracy whenever a lot more of the wealthy people came into power.

    Read More

  • Roman Republic Checks And Balances

    815 Words  | 4 Pages

    Notwithstanding these democratic components, the Roman Republic's aristocracy-dominated governance made it ultimately undemocratic. The Senate, which was predominately made up of nobles, held the majority of the republic's power. This indicated that very few people actually influenced the decisions that the government made. (National Geographic Society,

    Read More

  • How Did The Roman Republic Contribute To The Decline Of The Republic's Political System

    844 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC and lasted for nearly 500 years. During this time, Rome became a dominant power in the Mediterranean region, establishing a vast empire that lasted for centuries. However, the Republic itself was beset by internal conflicts, corruption, and a breakdown of the political system that eventually led to its downfall. One of the key factors that contributed to the Republic's decline was the breakdown of the political system. The Roman Republic was initially designed to provide a balance of power among different branches of government, including the Senate, the magistrates, and the people's assemblies.

    Read More

  • Roman Republic Dbq

    184 Words  | 1 Pages

    If it weren 't for need for power and jealously/rivalry between generals ( Maricus, Sulla, Caesar, ad Pompey) the republic would have survived, thrived, and been more democratic. Rome developed into a city-state, first ruled by kings, then formed a new form of government called the Republic. For 500 years, Ancient Rome was governed by the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was not upheld by a written document. The United States government is very similar to Rome’s model of the Republic.

    Read More

  • The Structure Of Government In Ancient Rome And The United States

    556 Words  | 3 Pages

    All citizens have an equal say and representation in the government, regardless of their economic or social status. Additionally, the Supreme Court provides an essential layer In Ancient Rome, the Senate and consuls had complete control over the citizens and their laws. This heavily favored the wealthy Patricians and created a society that was divided by socio-economic status. The common people had no say in the government, making it difficult for them to seek legal redress or challenge existing

    Read More

  • How Did Greek Government And Culture Influence Western Government

    908 Words  | 4 Pages

    This shift was not in the form of a sudden revolution, and rather grew as a gradual switch from a monarchy previously under the Etruscans. The republic stood for liberty and extended citizenship of the people. In the Roman republic, the people chose officials to represent their interests. Dominating the government was a senate that was primarily made up of the wealthy, landholding class, known as patricians. This outraged the lower class plebeians, who later gained power and elected their own officials.

    Read More

  • How Democratic Was The Roman Republic

    744 Words  | 3 Pages

    Introduction The Roman Republic was established in 509 BCE, after a long struggle against kingship. The Roman Republic was characterized by elements of democracy, such as the election of officials and the creation of a representative government. However, the Republic was also marked by undemocratic practices, such as the exclusion of plebeians and women from political power. This paper will discuss the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic, the democratic elements of the Republic, and the undemocratic practices that made the Republic questionable.

    Read More

  • Roman Republic Research Paper

    693 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Roman Republic was an ancient Roman civilization that was created after the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom in 509 BC, and ending in 27 BC with the creation of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was created in order for the rich men named aristocrats to gain even more power by removing kings from the Roman government. Soon after, the Roman upper class turned politics into a violent competition in their strive for power. Gaius Marius’ creation of “client armies” led soldiers to become more loyal towards their commander than the republic. This resulted in a commander named Lucius Cornelius Sulla overtaking Rome with his client army and establishing himself as a dictator.

    Read More

  • Fall Of The Roman Republic Essay

    1512 Words  | 7 Pages

    The composition and the governing structure of the Roman republic was not uniform throughout its existence, but some of the fundamental elements of its government came into being in the immediate aftermath of the monarchy’s collapse. Therefore, it is unsurprising that many of these institutions were created in reaction to the monarchy and its failures, and thus were shaped by this relationship. For example, the fundamental opposition to monarchy and the rule of kings that came with the experience of the Kingdom of Rome, remained quite strong in the Roman mindset throughout the existence of the Republic and into the beginnings of the Roman Empire, and its influence can be seen throughout Roman political discourse especially in the discussion

    Read More

  • Why Did The Roman Republic Fall

    913 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Why did the Roman Republic fall?” The Roman Republic did not fall simply from one cause, rather many external pressures that brought on political instability and destruction. There were multiple pressures that lead to the downfall of Rome including ambitious generals, changing politics, client armies, and a desolate Senate desperate to remain prominent. Many significant people of the time, who wrote letters and speeches on ancient Rome, help to build detailed recollections of the political warfare that took place between 78-31BC.

    Read More

More about Roman Republic Essay

Open Document