Rome: From City-State to Empire Politics

Politics A small city-state in western Italy. 753 BCE a Monarchy 509 BCE a republic. It was originally ruled by a king, Roman aristocrats threw off the monarchy and established a republic in which the wealthy class, know as patricians, dominated. Romans took great pride in their political system, believing that they enjoyed greater freedom than did many of their more autocratic neighbors.

Republic A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to elect the leaders who make governmental decisions. Indirect democracy. Voting rights granted only to free-born males. Patricians versus plebeians. Written Code of Law Senate

Empire Building Took more than 500 years, began in 490s BCE. Conquest and wars led to expansion. Partial measures over time. Romans saw conquest as a measure of defense. Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia under Roman domination. Civil War broke out during the 1 st century BCE changing Rome, for authority was vested in an emperor- Octavian-Augustus. He was careful to maintain the forms of a republic- senate, consuls, public assemblies, and referred to himself as “first man” even as he accumulated enormous personal power.

Roman Law All citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law. A person was considered innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof rested with the accuser rather than the accused. Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside.