Roman Republic And The Roman Empire

The later Roman Republic and early Roman Empire controlled most of modern day Europe through Northern Africa to Asia Minor. This time of complete dominance over much of the known world propelled Rome into a new era of wealth and prosperity that allowed Romans to look past military expansion. The Roman state now turned towards betterment of society and the “craving for a good education.” Education was seen not only as a tool for the furthering of personal careers, but as a way to improve Rome. Education passed along virtue and the skills necessary to run the Republic and early Empire. This knowledge began in the home, transferring from father to son through the role of fathers as paterfamilias or head of household. Fathers were in charge of ensuring the best possible education for their sons in hope that they would further the ideals and goals of a glorious Rome. Education, through the different steps of the informal Roman education structure and through the influence of the father, furthered the ideal of Roman virtue and ensured generations of virtuous leaders.

The roman republic came into existence at the termination of the Roman kingship in 507 B.C.E. The last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud, was expelled by Collatinus and Brutus, as a result of his arrogance involving the matter of one of his relations raping the wholesome Roman matron Lucretia and her subsequent suicide. The rape of Lucretia was really a representation of the frustration that the roman citizens felt regarding the kingship. The later kings had little regard for roman values and the roman populus, which they used as something of a slave labor force. Brutus and Collatinus became the first Roman Consuls, elected by popular vote.

The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire both made advancements in the way of life, but both ended with their own conflicts and civil wars. Both kingdoms lasted about the same amount of time making it difficult to distinguish which one was greater. They both show times of great conquest and demolishing civil wars. The two were similar in their expansion of land, language, and resources. At the same time, they were very different with their views on government, religion, and leaders (Compare and Contrast the Roman Republic with the Roman Empire).

First, The Roman Republic had three main units and other small branches, much like America’s government. For the first main unit, there is a dictator that was elected by the people and took total control of Rome during a crisis, such as food shortages, wars, and other things. The second main unit is the Senate that collected taxes and passed all of the laws. For the last unit there are the Consuls that had control over the military when not in a crisis. They were elected by majority like America’s government. They also chose the senate members. And that is how Ancient Rome’s government worked.

Some policies and institutions of the Roman Republic were useful to help them succeed in conquering first Italy and then the Mediterranean world. Before of the institution of the republic, the romans were a monarchy since their beginning and they were basically a pastoral people. Rome suffer several changes and improvements under the control of the Etruscan kings. The Etruscan were civilization settled north of Rome in Etruria, and they once had control over almost all the Italic peninsula. The Etruscans influences in Rome were profound, they transformed Rome from a pastoral community to a city (91). The Etruscan built the street and roads that help the development of temples, markets, shops, streets, and houses. They basically brought urbanization to Rome. It is fairly to say that the Rome republic was a fusion between the elements of the Etruscan civilization and the Rome elements. The combination of the different political institutions and policies made the Romans succeed in their conquest territories.

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).

The Romans came up with the idea to make a government, which was called the Roman Republic because they didn’t want one person to take over and have all the power to themselves. The Roman expansion in the Mediterranean lead to civil war, but Augustus Caesar became emperor; there was a time period that was called Pax Romana, which helped create peace.

The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire highly differ in their political structures. The republic: created in 509 BCE. was a form of representative democracy. It consisted of 2 consuls of which were appointed by the senate and then voted on. These consuls were the head officers and the were appointed for one year. The senate was one of two legislative bodies comprised of 300 senators and 10 tribunes who were all patricians. The other body was knows as the tribal assembly and was made up of plebeians who met in a forum to vote on things such as consuls.

The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire were both influential and powerful in distinct ways. One compact and one expansive in nature, but each of them could contribute there demise to periods of instability. Both the Republic and Empire lasted approximately 500 years so the success of each was similar in time. There is no comparison if you consider the vast expanse of the Empire all throughout Western Europe. The key difference between the Republic and the Empire was that of political participation of the common man. In the Empire the common man had more political influence, but the reality was only a select few leaders had true political power. The Roman Empire was a superior form of government to the Roman Republic

By the late sixth century Rome had a republic government, but through a series of civil wars, the roman republic turned into the Roman Empire under a military control. Republics have been able to create empires, they have all, fallen prey to the ambitions of the strongest and most influencial among them. This is what became of the Greek city-states, and it is what finally became of roman when the empire had grown too big.

The Roman Republic was a “democratic” republic, which allowed first citizens to vote, and to choose their governors in the senate (Hence, their consuls). However, it was a nation ruled by its aristocracy, and, consequently, the entire Republic`s power was concentrated in a few individuals. Furthermore, the Senate was controlled by Patricians, which directed the government by using wealth to buy control and power over the decisions of the senate and the consuls. This situation aroused the inconformity of the people; as result, a civil war took place in the Republic (destroying it), and then the Roman Empire was born.

In 133 BC, Rome was governed by democracy. At the end of the second century BC the Roman people became supreme ruler. True noblemen in politics and rich people elected in election. Magistrates were elected by the assemblies implement the laws and carry state decisions. Rome was powerful and rich in culture however Ceaser Dictatorship, increase in slavery, and rise of private army destroyed the Roman Republic.

Rome was the most successful civilization of its time. Its strategic location in the center of the Italian Peninsula and the fertile plains that supported the growing empire allowed Rome to thrive. The Romans were able to turn the Italian city state into a large empire. A very well organized army insured their success. Soldiers were paid, giving them the ambition to fight. Conquered lands were also redistributed to the soldiers. The Romans used foreign military techniques, such as Greek techniques, to their advantage. The Roman army was successful and used their victories to their advantage. They treated their enemies with generosity but also firmness. Their most successful achievement, however, was their advanced system of government. The Roman Republic was a system of government that divided power among two consuls, the senate and the plebeian army. Here came the idea of a representative democracy, which would thrive for over 450 year. By that time, the republic had spread its control throughout the mediterranean sea and as far as Britain. Beginning with the Republic’s Twelve Tables, law would develop over years into a legal

Ancient Rome consisted of two main forms of government, the Republic and the Empire, each of which lasted about five centuries. At first, Rome was a republic, governed by members of wealthy classes. As the Republican form of government continued, a series of civil wars led to the breakdown of the system, and a new form of government, the Empire, was established in its place. The Empire began with a prolonged period of peace, the Pax Romana. However, like the Republic, the Empire also turned foul and collapsed after the Pax Romana. Still, a citizen of the Empire was better off than a citizen of the Republic. Health problems were less severe in the Empire than in the Republic. Moreover, the Empire was more peaceful and better able to provide necessities for average citizens than the Republic was. The political situation was also better in the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire generally provided a healthier and higher quality of civic life than the Roman Republic.

There are many factors that show the differences between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. With the many differences there are also some similarities between the two governing systems. A obvious difference is the time period the Roman Republic and Roman Empire lasted. A obvious similarity is they both occurred in Rome.