Fourth Century Rome's Political Power

Between 500 BCE and 500 CE, the Roman civilization experienced changes both politically and culturally. Firstly, Rome’s government transitioned from a Republic to an Empire. Later, that empire was split into two parts; east and west. In terms of changes in culture, it was impacted by the shift in religion, as the Romans shifted from polytheism to monotheism. Despite all the changes, Rome still remained culturally diverse.

From 509 BC to about 27 BC, Rome was considered a republic. During this time there was no single leader of Rome and the government was run by elected officials. The main leaders of the Roman Republic were the consuls. There were always two consuls in power at a time. Each year new consuls were elected to serve for a one-year term. This kept any one man from becoming too powerful in the government. At the time the Senate was the most powerful governing body in Rome. The Senate had control of the state’s finances and foreign policies. Senators were elected by the people to represent them in government. The Senate was made up of 300 of the most elite and wealthiest of the Roman Republic. One of the most important roles of the Senate to undergo the checks and balances of the Roman government. Checks and balances are the “principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power” (The Editors). The checks and balances of Rome helped to stabilize the government and allowed the power to be distributed somewhat equally between the consul, the Senate, and the people. However, the fall of the Roman Empire eliminated this type aspect of government in Rome (Kagan 101-103).

Over a long course of time the Romans had many different forms of government. From oligarchies to dictatorships Rome had experience with most forms of government. With all of these happening so far in the past many questions are asked today. One of the most talked and quested forms of Roman government is the Roman Republic. The Republic of Rome is normally thought to be a democracy. But an extremely common question still arise. This questions is whether the Roman Republic was truly democratic. In a simple answer the Roman Republic was a democratic government.

Over time Rome’s leaders have become less dependent on the opinions of the senate. This lead to multiple assassinations because the leaders made poor decisions that were hard to reverse. As for the people of the Roman empire, they

Rome was a civilization that expanded their empire by getting new citizens from conquered civilizations and giving them limited citizenships in Rome by them some responsibilities of a regular Roman citizen. There were four types of Roman citizens: Latini were people on the Italian peninsula, and had the right to travel, trade, and live in Rome but were not allowed to marry in Rome or the Roman empire. The Foederati were citizens of states that had treaties with Rome and were given little rights in return for military service. Peregrini were foreigners in conquered lands they could be given full or partial citizenship (doc

In conformity, Document C states, “People from regions outside Rome but on the Italian peninsula were granted class of citizenship with the right to do business and to travel and live within the Empire...” (Document C) With Rome going further than conquered lands and including other regions allows new ideas, culture and population growth, which are all elementary to a great empire. Similarly, Document B observes, “For if the poor and the common people and the worse elements are treated well, the growth of these classes will exalt the democracy…” (Document B)

The power of Rome for many centuries was held by the senate, which is a group of men of the wealthiest families in Rome. They made all the political and military decisions for Rome. Under the Senate the romans conquered many lands such as the entire Italian peninsula, southern france, Spain, and northern Africa. After the conquering of many of these lands the armies became independent and created civil wars in the land. Much of the Roman empire was corrupt and falling apart. Three generals Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar formed an alliance, they kept the senate but left it with little power and say. The senate was worried about Julius Caesar he was power hungry and very

important role in the fall of the roman republic and the rise of the roman

At its height in 117 A.D., the Roman Empire was the largest political organization in the western world, extending across Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East (Mark, 2011). What is uncanny about this accomplishment are the numerous peoples and cultures that Rome gathered together under her banner. In my discussion post for this unit I will discuss the importance of the aftermath of the Latin Wars (340-338 B.C) specifically regarding Rome's treatment of the Latium cities and how this set the precedence for her treatment of future subjugations and laid the foundation for maintaining her vast empire (Toll, 2009).

By about 600 B.C.E. Romans had prospered sufficiently to drain the marsh that became the Fourm. They began to contruct temples and public buildings, including the first Senate house, where the elders met to discuss community affairs. Under the rule of its kings, some of whom were of Eruscan origin, Rome became an important military power in Italy. Only free male inhabitants of the city who could afford their own weapons voted in the citizen assembly, which made public decisions with the advice of the Senate. Poor men could fight but not vote. Thus began the struggle between rich and poor that would plague Roman life for centuries. After the monarchy was abolished, Rome established several new institutions that structured political life for 500 years.

Rome in the 3rd century AD was a “nation” in crisis. During this period we see a shift from the old, Italian dominated, ancient ways of antiquity into a new, more modern commonwealth where a vast number of its peoples were considered citizens, and could even aspire into prominent positions that were once reserved to leading Roman families. Initially, some of the changes that came to the Roman Empire sound good; indeed, I’m sure many Romans sometimes felt that way. However, when looking at the overall changes and the hardships that in brought on some of its people, one begins to see a very different picture develop. In order to better understand how the 3rd century contrasts from others one needs to take a small look at what life in the Roman Empire was like for people in early and late antiquity, under the republic and early empire and especially in the 2nd century. Without going into too much detail, the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire were dominated by Senators and Emperors that only came from dominating Roman/Italian families. Roman citizenship was a privilege that not everyone was able to enjoy. Rome was expanding its territorial power and beginning to define itself as the central power of the Mediterranean region. The 2nd Century AD was a golden age for the Roman Empire. In fact, this is the time period that is referred to as the happiest age known to man in Edward Gibbon’s book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Rome was in the middle of what is

The Romans once proud and established society who valued duty and responsibility to their Gods, family, friends, and to the state (Jones, Rome, Podcast 1). Romans like to believe they were descended from the noble Trojans. (Backman, Cultures of the West, p.171).

From this week history reading understanding I think before social classes existed, Rome comprised of people form all different origins and backgrounds, and these demographics allowed for every diverse population. If Rome wanted to be successful as an empire, they would have to accept people from all backgrounds, and by recognizing their own heterogeneous origins it, “allowed the Romans to assimilate other people and unite Italy into a strong federation based on an unusual degree of equality and

Victory over Carthage gave the Romans dominance over the Mediterranean basin, enabling them to build an extensive trading network that that would spread their goods and influence. However Romes republican form of government, admirably suited to a small city state, could not satisfy the demands of a far-flung sea-born empire. Roman generals contented to the right to experience political power, and in 27 bce Octavian eliminated his opponents and became the “first citizen of the

Both cities were strong but the type of their governments were not the same. Firstly, in Rome the government had a system that was democratic and fair. The system of Rome’s government was more closely to a calm atmosphere and to philosophic activities (Morey, 1901). But, the government style