Rome Notes #4

Rule of kings is replaced by rule of two consuls

• consuls are elected officials
• term of office: one year
• always aristocrats (patricians)
• patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor, or pater (“father”)
• duties: dealing justice, making law, commanding the army
• one consul could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual)

  
  

  a challenge from the “regular folks”

  • fifth century BCE - patrician dominance of the government was challenged by the plebs (“people”)
  • plebs were 98% of the population
  • plebs had to serve in the army,

        but could not hold office

  • plebs were threatened with debt slavery
  • plebs had no legal rights
    
    
    “no legal rights,” you say?
    • plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials
    • Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs
    • patricians could interpret these to their own advantage
    
    
    So, plebs refused to serve in the military until…
  • laws were written out (The Law of the Twelve Tables)
  • these laws (on tablets) were posted in public (in 450 BCE)
  • tribunes (“tribal leaders”) were elected  
    
    
    SPQR - Senatus Populusque Romanum
  • designates any decree or decision made by “the Roman Senate and People
    
    
    res publica
    brand new republic, ready to run
  • democracy (the people’s assembly and the tribunes
  • aristocracy (the Senate - approx. 300 members)
  • plus monarchy (the consuls)
  • not a tyranny