The Roman Republic was a very important historical period of Ancient Rome. We tell you how this form of government was organized and we explain the important social conflict between patricians and plebeians that characterized this era.
Political organization of the Roman Republic
The earliest times in Roman history, probably shortly after the formation of the city-state, were marked by monarchical rule. Its origin is located around the year 625 BC, a date more likely than that indicated by the myth of the founding of Rome (754 BC). Around 509 BC, the Roman aristocrats, with the support of the people, rose up against the last monarch and ousted him. That was the beginning of the Roman Republic.
consuls
The consul was a authority figure in the Roman Republic they exercised both government and military functions, in addition to administering justice or consulting the gods. In this way, it could be said that they fulfilled all the functions of the king during the monarchy but for a limited period of time.
The consuls were elected two by two, for thus one controlled the other, and his election was done annually by the popular assembly. Once their period of government ended, they had to present to the Senate, or Assembly, what the results of their functions were.
In order to ensure the security of the Republic, they had the duty to endow a person with absolute powers in the event that Rome was in danger. Of course, it is important to point out that this person could not be in office for more than six months or that he could end his functions as Dictator in case the danger had passed.
Senate
The Senate has always been a constant in the government of Rome, since it began to function during the monarchy and continued during the Republic. That yes, the paper that exerted was varying in the different periods.
Its main function was that of offer wisdom and experience to the government of the Republic. Therefore, the people who made up the Senate were not elected, but were respected people for their achievements and knowledge in different aspects, so their criticism or advice was listened to carefully.
assemblies
The Roman Assemblies were also known as elections, having to differentiate them into three types of classes:
- Curial Assembly it was the oldest. Meeting of the patricians that was made up of 30 curiae and each vote was counted per person, which allowed knowing what the opinion of the majority really was, what it came to be, what the vote of the people would be.
- Centurial Assembly it was a military assembly made up of different groups of 100 men, so the vote obtained was the representation of each of these groups and was represented by the head of each of these groups, called a Centurion. Their votes were part of the election of consuls and the approval or repeal of laws.
- tribal assembly It was the name given to the assembly of the commoners, who were responsible for representing and defending the rights of the commoners. The agreements reached were called plebiscites and had the character of law.
Expansion policy of the Roman Republic
The expansion of Rome begins between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC Rome had an army that was organized by legions made up of 6,200 men between the ages of 17 and 46, who were initially all patricians, later the plebeians and other allies would also be included.
His strategies and his way of fighting made Rome an expanding power superior to the Greeks. In this expansion process, differentiate three moments: the conquest of the Italian peninsula (conquering its neighbors), the conquest of the Western Mediterranean (highlights the confrontation with Carthage) and the conquest of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Conquest of the Italian Republic
The expansion process of the Republic began in the Italian peninsula itself, conquering the neighboring towns of Rome.
The first battles were latin wars that took place in the plains of Lazio, who once conquered were converted into settlers and formed part of the Roman army.
The samnite wars they took place between 343 and 290 BC. C., specifically, there were three battles that ended with the victory of the Republic, who went on to dominate the Apennines.
In the case of etruscanstheir power had been weakening over time and they ended up annexing the Republic, so that the north of Rome also came under their control.
The last cities to be conquered were those in the south of Italica which were Greek colonial cities named after the Magna Greece. After great and important confrontations against the King of Epirus, Pyrrhuswho had come with an army of 25,000 soldiers and elephants (never seen before), who despite having won several battles, ended up losing to the Romans, who in 264 BC came to dominate the entire peninsula.
Western Mediterranean conquests
After conquering the Italian peninsula, expansionist ideas began towards other territories and powers of the time.
One of the best known wars in Ancient History are the Punic Wars (of which we have spoken in other articles), in which the Romans faced the Carthaginians. The city of Carthage was located in Africa and was the most important power in the Mediterranean, a rich and prosperous town.
Three major wars were fought:
- The First Punic War was from 264 to 241 BC and resulted in Roman domination of the islands of Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia.
- The Second Punic War was from 218 to 201 BC, a period in which there were losing battles for both territories. The end result was that Rome gained control of Hispania.
- The Third Punic War was from 149 to 146 BC and marked the end of prosperous Carthage, first politically and then materially. Carthage was called Africa and the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum.
Eastern Mediterranean conquests
In the year 200 BC Rome directed its expansion towards the East. Initially, they faced the Greeks and defeated King Philip V of Greece in 196 BC. Macedonia.
They continued against what is now Turkey, and in 190 BC, after the battle of Magnesia, they came to dominate Asia Minor. The following were Egypt and, in this way, the Roman Republic extended from Hispania to Syria.
Consequences of Roman expansion
Roman expansion not only meant that Rome dominated and governed other societies but also enriched itself in multiple ways from different cultures. Next, we can see it in a more concrete way.
political consequences
There is nothing better to define what were the consequences of the expansion of Rome than that denomination of the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum. It became the most important power of that time, rich in all areas and this also transformed the government.
A governor or proconsul was appointed in each of the Roman provinces, but this was not enough, since the territory to be controlled was so vast that there was corruption in the authorities. This ambition for power led to clashes and wars between civilians.
The social classes were much more pronounced, or it was rich (patricians) or was it poor (commoners). Note that those who were part of the middle class ended up dying in the battles that led to Rome’s successful conquests, and those who were able to return did not have much to defend against the rich.
The family lost its traditional solidity and paternal authority was non-existent, other things were left to do. Things like palaces, bountiful delicacies and exotic dancers, a life dedicated to pleasures.
The other side of the story was the poor, those who repeatedly rose up against the rich and the Senate to fight for their social rights.
Economic consequences
The economic flourishing of Roman society meant that a new class also appeared, the gentlemen. This social class was located at the same level as the rich patricians, being those who were in charge of managing the money in functions similar to bankers, financiers or merchants.
A new change also arose, a single person could have extensive lands under their dominions.
religious consequences
The Greek culture greatly influenced the Roman, proof of this was the religious evolution that took place in the Republic, since they began to build temples and statues to gods that were very similar to the Greeks.
intellectual consequences
Once again, Greece was a source of wisdom and inspiration for the intellectual field, both in literature and in the arts. But, not only them, because from each of the societies they assimilated and were influenced by their culture.
You are interested in the history of Rome, do not stop reading:
Source: ABC