Framework: From Monarchy to Republic Fall of Monarchy –Tarquinius Superbus –Rebellion of...

Framework: From Monarchy to Republic• Fall of Monarchy

– Tarquinius Superbus

– Rebellion of Aristocracy




• What is a Republic?

– Res publica

– Senate populesque Romanus (SPQR)

– State without a…

– Checks and Balances




• What is a Republic?

– Res publica

– Senate populesque Romanus (SPQR)

– State without a king

– Checks and Balances

• Arc of Republic

– Periodization

• Early Republic: 509 BCE-280s BCE

• Middle Republic: 280s BCE-133 BCE

• Late Republic: 133 BCE-27 BCE

– Aristocracy Retains Power

– Expansion of Empire

– Death of Republic

Structure of Republican Governance

“As for the Roman constitution, it had three elements, each of them possessing sovereign powers: and their respective share of power in the whole state had been regulated with such a scrupulous regard to equality and equilibrium, that no one could say for certain, not even a native, whether the constitution as a whole were an aristocracy or democracy or despotism.”

-Polybius, 2nd Century Historian

Structure of Republican Governance• Despotic Element: Consuls

• Aristocratic Element: Senate– Who are they?

– Becoming a Senator

– Tasks

– Proposing Laws

– “Advice”

– As Rome expands…


• Aristocratic Element: Senate

• Democratic Element: Assemblies– Who could participate?

– Overview

» Rome

» What did they do?

» Discuss?

» The Real Power?

– Three Major Assemblies

» Comitia Centuriata (Century Assembly)

» Comitia Tributa (Tribal Assembly)

» Concilium Plebis (Plebeian Council)


• Aristocratic Element: Senate

• Democratic Element: Assemblies

• Magistrates– Term Limits

– Elected by…

– Hierarchy

– Magistrates become…

– Evolution

– The Offices

Perpetuating Inequality and Senatorial Power• Unpaid Offices

Perpetuating Inequality and Senatorial Power• Unpaid Offices

• Centrality of Senate

FC.31B THE FLOW OF POWER IN THE ROMAN REPUBLICProblems of ruling an empire w/city-state govt. & army of short-term amateur officials &

militia(FC.30)

Senate: Advisory body of 300 ex-office holders whose decrees (senatus consulta) are not technically laws but

have virtual force of law to:

Rule on technical acceptability of treaties & laws

Assign budgets to. governors &

officials

Assign magistrates’ tasks (e.g., which proconsul rules which

province & for how long)

Centrality of Senate

1)“Advice”2)Shaped Laws3)Which

Assembly?4)Crucial Role in

Assemblies5)Senate =

Magistrates6)Dictated Tasks of

Magistrates7)Cursus Honorum

Senate controls popular assemblies through:

Comitia Centuriata• Votes on war & peace

• Weighted bloc voting to favor those who bear the

brunt of the fighting (which used to be the

rich)

Comitia Tributa;

• Votes on laws that only officials (who are also senators) can propose

• Open ballots Control votes of their clientes

(poor dependants)

Senate controls officials who return to Senate after 1-yr terms:

Tribunes(who are also members of

Senate) • Supposedly protect the

poor, propose laws, & can veto any act of state they or the senate want

Consuls & praetors (who are also members of

Senate) • Control what laws are

proposed to the assemblies, their text, &

who gets to discuss them

Priests (who are also senators) that can declare

bad omens & postpone govt. business for that day

Cursus Honorum The minumum age, number of times, & order one can hold

offices: Military tribune quaestor aedile or tribune praetor consul

Censors: 2 officials elected every 5 yrs to choose worthy men to fill the Senate to 300 &

expel unworthy senators

Senate controls various traditional and religious procedures:


militia(FC.30)





officials



Voting

1)In Rome2)Vote by Tribe/Century3)Bloc Voting





rich)

Comitia Tributa;



(poor dependants)
















Bloc Voting in Comitia Centuriata• 193 Centuries, split up according to property and age

– 18 for equites

– 170 for enlisted

» Split up, disproportionately, on property lines

» 85 for over 46

» 85 for under 46

– 5 for others

» Just 1 for the mass of very poor

• Result: _________________________


militia(FC.30)





officials



Voting

1)In Rome2)Vote by Tribe/Century3)Bloc Voting4)Vote in order of5)Justification6)Open Ballot





rich)

Comitia Tributa;



(poor dependants)
















Patronage/Clientage• Paternalism and Pietas

• Nature of Patron/Client Relationship– Patron provides…

– Client provides…

– Traced back to…

• Effect on Politics…

Social ConflictPatriarchs and the Plebeians

Overview:Monarchy into Early Republic

Who were Patricians?What did they do?How did you become a Patrician?Traces back to…

Social ConflictPatriarchs and the Plebeians

Overview:Monarchy into Early Republic

Who were Patricians?What did they do?How did you become a Patrician?Traces back to…

Struggle of the OrdersPlebs gain status from 509-287Original RestrictionsPlebeian Progress

Plebs want…TechniquePleb VictoriesLex Hortensia

Social ConflictThe New Aristocracy and the Retention of Privilege

Which Plebs benefit?The New AristocracySame Families…Justification

“Between the weakness of the ruler and the rashness of the masses, the aristocrats have occupied a middle position, and there is no position more moderate than theirs.” --Cicero

Framework: From Monarchy to Republic Fall of Monarchy –Tarquinius Superbus –Rebellion of...

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