The Roman Republic  (Prof. Horowitz)

                                               

         Res publica  -- “a government in which power resides in citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives responsible to them and to a body of law” (Gloria K. Fiero’s definition in The Humanistic Tradition)

 

I.                    Roman Republic as a model of a mixed constitution to the American Founding Fathers. Greek historian of Rome

                      Polybius (205-125 BCE) wrote of consuls as monarchial, senate as aristocratic, and tribunes as democratic

 

II.                 Traits the Republic absorbed from earlier Roman civilization

                      Patriarchy  (Paterfamilias)

                      Class divisions between Patricians and Plebians

                      Executive (Kingship from legendary Romulus 753 to 509 BCE)

 

III.               Roman Republic (509 BCE to 31 BCE)

                      Structure:  Senate (Patricians) –power resides here. Censor determines eligibility

                                     (continued to meet with less power under Empire until 6^th c. CE)

                                       2 elected Consuls (Patricians) presiding over Senate and Army

                                       Assembly (All citizens, patricians dominating plebs, wealthiest voting first)

                      Increased role for Plebs in 3^rd c. BCE coincident with Latin control of Italian peninsula

                                       Plebs request publication of laws, Twelve Tables 450 BCE

                                       2 elected tribunes (Plebs), judicial role (3^rd c. BCE)

                                       Land redistribution under Tiberius Gracchus (assassinated 133 BCE) and Gaius Gracchus

                                       Plebian Council, 287 BCE right to make binding laws

                                       Plebs gain public offices

 

IV.              Roman Expansion to Status of World Power

                Successful imperialism compared to Athens-absorbed Italian peninsula into Roman rule.

                Punic Wars with Carthage (264 BCE-146 BCE, mid-3^rd to mid-2^nd c.)-

                          conquer Corsica, Sardinia, Carthage

                Wars against Macedonia (215-148 BCE) conquered Greek city-states

                Problems of a Republic which becomes a World Power—

                             corrupt wealthy class gaining booty and slaves

                             authoritarian ruling of provinces

                             power of military generals greater than Senate 

                            (Discussed by Cicero, Horace, and Josephus)

                Law of Peoples (jus gentium) slowly evolved in relations of Latins with others

                            

V.                 Greek Cultural Impact on Rome—gods and goddesses, theatre, columns and pediments of temples, sculptures

               Athenians schools of 2^nd and 1^st c. BCE

                     Carneades’ visit to Rome 156 BCE. 

                               Cato the Censor (d. 149) rejector of Carneades and Greek Influence

                               Marcus Tullius Cicero (104-43 BCE), reporter of Athenian philosphers’ impact,

                                            Defender of the Roman Republic