Roman Empire Dbq

The seemingly unstoppable Roman empire was certain to fall in a matter of time. Even though Rome was majorly affected by external attacks, I feel like the fall was because of the internal decline. The economy and social issues were the key factors that led to the descent of the large empire. A vast amount of their problems came from within the city. Every decision that Rome made had an extensive effect on the city itself and the rest of the world. Many foolish decisions made by terrible emperors weakened the city and eventually cause the many aspects of Roman life to crumble.

Romans were a civilization that originated after the Greek culture. They, like Greeks, saw an extreme significance in the idea of a love for one’s country and loyalty. The Romans, however, were more concerned with public affairs such as education, sanitation, and health. They held a strong connection with their ancestors and wished to imitate what the ancient Romans did. Although Romans rejected the idea of a Rex, or king, they favored the common hero. They wanted a leader who a “regular Joe”, someone who was average and could still led an average life after doing extraordinary things. The Romans also had a very defined government that was broken into consuls, senate, and assembly. There were two consuls who served in place of the king as the leaders of the Roman Empire. Next in succession was the senate, comprised only of patricians who debated and passed legislation. Finally, there was the assembly made for the plebeians to approve laws.

As Rome conquered communities, more and more people were becoming Romanized, and noticed as Roman citizens. Of course these new citizens were expected to pay taxes, allowing the empire to grow economically as well as militarily. During the Roman rule of Augustus, Caesar and Trajan, Rome's laws were continually improved making Rome ever more powerful and ethical. (Ferril)

They had been pushing since before World War I. The Indians were promised in the 1930’s that they would be granted independence but

Many events played large roles in the middle ages. The fall of the Western Roman Empire occurred when the invading army named the Visigoths invaded Rome. For three days, they destroyed everything in their paths. Western Rome did not have effective royal progression. They set up officers as rulers, who were immediately removed by adversary petitioners. The reasons why Western Rome fell includes multiple invasions by Barbarian tribes, economic hardship, being too reliant on slave labor, government corruption and political instability, and lastly Christianity became popular and the traditional values of Rome were lost. Another important event was whenever Charlemagne became an emperor in Western Rome. In his quest of becoming an emperor, he became King of the

Citizenship is a status or standing given by government to it's people It was first thought of in ancient times by Athens. Athens was a city-state part of the peninsula Greece. This whole transition to citizenship instead of subjects was thought to begin at around 500 BCE, but Athens wasn't the only one participating in this new ideology. Rome, of the Italian peninsula, decided that citizenship was a good way to make their subjects feel proud of their home, so both civilizations started using these new principles. But which citizenship system was better Rome or Athens.

However, this influence that the Senate had on the magistrates and popular assemblies was meant to protect the Republic from “popular whims” or the stupidity of the commoner (Gwynn, 24) . Although one could argue this made Rome an aristocracy, this in no way downgrades the justice of the government. The system of checks and balances ensured that the Senate could never be in complete control. More importantly, “the People, who by their votes, bestow honors on those who deserve them” (Tingay and Badcock, 45). The Populus had the right to reject or pass laws or choose war or peace.

Ancient Rome was one of the most influential historical societies on our world today. From architecture to the basic way that the government was set up, they created a new era of thinking that set the standard for countries in the future, including how social classes were organized. Rome was an empire that was built upon its social classes with clearly defined roles that allowed for limited social mobility. There was a large gap between the wealthy upper class and the lower classes as well as slaves. Three main factors decided one's class, including wealth, freedom, and Roman citizenship. A person's social class determined what education, pastimes, and occupations were available to them. These classes included the elite upper class, a

The Roman was the most advanced for its time in 800 b.c. and this paper is about Roman Society and pivotal points in its time.

The Roman Empire, a period of time in Ancient Roman history when Rome and its territories were ruled by emperors, was established by Augustus Caesar, in 27 B.C, after the decline of the Roman Republic. It was one of the greatest civilizations in history and at its most powerful; the Roman Empire dominated over two million square miles around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia Minor (Alchin, 2015). Different from other civilizations, the Roman Empire had their own social structure, religious beliefs and way of life. First of all, social classes in Ancient Rome were mainly divided into lower, middle and upper classes based on its importance, which consist of Emperors, Patricians, Senators, Equestrians, Commons, Freedman and Slaves.

First, the government was headed by two elected officers called consuls who were members of the aristocratic famies or patricians. They served as the executive branch and had supreme civil and military authority. They held office for one year, and then entered the Senate for life. Two magistrates or consuls each consul could veto the action of the other. The Senate that was a collection of citizens and it served as the legislative branch of the government as well as an advisory body. The Assembley of Centuries, which conducted annual elections of consuls, was composed of all members of the army. In this Assembly , the wealthier citizen vited first and had a profound influence.

The rank of the citizen therefore, would be the rank of the child. Roman society was divided into two classes- the patricians and the plebeians. The commoner class would be the plebeians. They were mainly families of laborers, small farmers, and artisans that made up 95 percent of the population. The other 5 percent were the patricians, which were the upper class of Roman families. They monopolized the power and influence, and even went as far as to not allow marriage outside of their own group. The patricians were the only ones that could serve as senators, priests and magistrates. Slowly over the years the plebeians gained more rights and by 287 B.C. the Roman aristocracy gave way to the pressures of the lower class and the class difference became more subtle and was based on a combination of birth and also wealth. A small group of rich and powerful families arose, known as the nobiles and attained the highest offices in the state, thus changing the distinction of classes to the nobiles and then everyone else.

The ancient Rome started developing in civilization as early as 8th century BC on the Italian Peninsula. The Roman republic consisted of two main classes of people or citizen by birth, who directly and indirectly participated in the development of the city. The first class of citizens were the Patricians and the Plebeians were the second class of people. Unlike slaves, as they have equal rights, but they did not share equal rights and treated entirely different to one another both in economically and politically. (Kent, 2013)

Ancient Rome started as a monarchy with a king whom was tough yet inflexible. (Not physically of course) They soon emerged from the ashes of monarchy and become represented. Unfortunately for many people in Rome, in the early stages of the Republic, power lay solely in the hands of the elite, the old landowning families or patricians. The remainder and largest share of the city’s population - the plebeians - had few if any rights. This unequal division of power would not last very long.

To begin, the Roman style of governing had several counterbalancing roles that citizens were slotted upon. At the height of the hierarchy, were the Consuls. As their role is described by Polybius in an excerpt discussing the Roman Government, “The consuls, when they remain in Rome, before they lead out the armies into the field, are the masters of all public affairs ” (Thatcher). This statement alone shows how much power and influence these individuals held among the people. Holding both the key to the literal kingdom, these Consuls were supposed to be the fighting force that kept Barbarians out in the foreign frontiers, as well as the governing forces that held a final say