LO1 The Roman Republic Notes

Some Latins settled near the Tiber River. Around 750 BC, the settlements joined to form a single city-state, Rome. The Etruscan (non-Indo-European immigrants who arrived in Italy in the 9th century BC and lived in Etruria) and the Greeks were influential on the growth of Roman Civilization. 

At first, Rome was ruled on the Etruscan model by powerful kings. The King was advised by a council of elders (Senate). The King chose the Senates among the patricians, 500 BC, Rome overthrew the Kings and the monarchy was destroyed. The government became the "people's business". The Roman Republic went through development under the influence of social struggles between aristocrats and commoners. On the aristocrat side of the argument were the patricians  on the commoners side was the plebeians. The Senate ran the "people's business". The consuls appointed the senators and successors  In times of emergency the consuls, on the advice of the Senate, could appoint a dictator. 

As Rome grew, Plebeians population grew & became wealthier. Plebeians put pressure on the Patricians by acts of passive resistance & threats to seceded and start a rival settlement. To resolve this, over 200, the Republic developed a government that maintained the leadership of the Senate and admitted the plebeians to power. 

One of the complaints of the Plebeians was the lack of legal protection because the laws were not written down. Around 450 BC, the laws of Rome were written down and engraved on 12 slabs of bronze or wood and mounted in the chief public square, called the Forum. 

New Plebeian assemblies formed and gained power. One of the new bodies, were Plebeians predominated, gained the right to elect consuls subject to confirmation by the Senate. The other body began electing tribunes. 250 BC, distinction between the two groups no longer involved politics and government, the Plebians were eligible for all public offices including the consul, admission to the Senate, and the right to marry into patrician families.  

The Roman Mixed government was influenced and still is. In order to become part of the Senate, he would have to work him way from a lower magistracies to a higher one. Many of the magistracies were elected. They also had to support clients. Clients were paid by a patron. 

Patricians: Upper-class citizens who belonged to the oldest and noblest Roman families

 Republic: the system of city-state government in which decision-making power was shared between the Senate and the assemblies of male citizens

 Plebeians: the Roman common people, including workers, small farmers, and wealthy people who were not patricians

Senate: a government assembly appointed by the king, and under the Republic by the consuls; originally all members were patricians, but in time wealthy plebeians were appointed as well

Consuls: two senators who led the government and military for one year terms and appointed their own successors

 Dictator: a single leader with full decision-making powers, appointed for a maximum six-month term during times of emergency

Tribunes: Magistrates elected by the plebeians, who eventually gained the power to initiate and veto laws.

Clients: a person who provides personal services in return for money and protection from a patron.

Patron: a wealthy person who supports others with money and protection in exchange for personal services

Pontiff: one of the Republic's leading priest
Paterfamilias: the "family father" who had unlimited power over his household
Matron: title of honor given to a married woman in ancient Rome