the roman republic
Before 509 B.C.E., Rome was a cluster of city-states, first ruled by kings. After 509 B.C., Rome became different type of government—the Republic. During the early Republic, the Patricians held the power. The Patricians were privileged Roman citizens who earned their status at birth. The Patricians had total control over all religious offices and assemblies. The lower class know as the Plebians however,could form their own assembly, elect their own officers, and set up their own cults to decide debts and an unfair distribution of public land. Finally, after 222 years, the wealthier, land-rich Plebians achieved political equality with the Patricians. The result was the birth of a new ruling class that consisted of both Patricians and Plebians. This sharing of power continued into the late 1st century B.C.E.(Aldrete G. S., 2012)
During the last three centuries of the Republic, Rome the center and capital of a vast majority of continental Europe. These territories (outside Italy) included Sicily, Spain, Africa, Macedonia, parts of Asia, Crete,Syria, Cyprus, and many other lands. Governing this mass territory was difficult, and governing the empire, the involvement of a major military, political turmoil, led to the collapse of the Republic. After its collapse, Rome experienced political crises, civil disturbances, and several civil wars. Eventually, dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C. After Caesar's death, his grandnephew, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian, only eighteen years old, became responsible for stabilizing the Republic. Later, Octavian was crowned emperor of Rome and given the title of Augustus in 27 B.C. This marked the end of the Republic, and the beginning of the Empire.(The Metropolitan Museum of Art October 2000)
During the last three centuries of the Republic, Rome the center and capital of a vast majority of continental Europe. These territories (outside Italy) included Sicily, Spain, Africa, Macedonia, parts of Asia, Crete,Syria, Cyprus, and many other lands. Governing this mass territory was difficult, and governing the empire, the involvement of a major military, political turmoil, led to the collapse of the Republic. After its collapse, Rome experienced political crises, civil disturbances, and several civil wars. Eventually, dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C. After Caesar's death, his grandnephew, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian, only eighteen years old, became responsible for stabilizing the Republic. Later, Octavian was crowned emperor of Rome and given the title of Augustus in 27 B.C. This marked the end of the Republic, and the beginning of the Empire.(The Metropolitan Museum of Art October 2000)
Citation
Department of Greek and Roman Art. "The Roman Republic". InHeilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/romr/hd_romr.htm (October 2000)
Department of Greek and Roman Art. "The Roman Republic". InHeilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/romr/hd_romr.htm (October 2000)