Important+Period+-+Republic+of+Rome

=**The Roman Republic**=

During the years from 510BC to 27BC Rome was in a stage called the Republic. Throughout the age of the Republic Rome flourished. The Republic started in 510BC when the aristocrates overthrew Tarquin the proud, the last king of Rome. After they had dethroned Tarquin, he raised a large army to attempt to come back to the throne but failed to do so. The revolution against Tarquin had 2 main outcomes: Rome was freed from the Etruscan rule and the republic started.


 * The structure**

The structure of the republic had three main branches. In this system the first branch was the magistrates, they were the ruling officials. The most important magistrates were the two consuls who were only in power for one year and could only be reelected once every 10 years. The second branch was the senate. Only the patricians could be elected senators and there were 600 senators at one time. The third branch was the general assembly. This was made up of all citizens and soldiers. In the beginning the general assembly was not allowed to vote.


 * Plebeians walk out**

Even though it was called a republic it was unlike any modern republic. The patricians ruled Rome and not the people. Therefore in the year 494BC the plebeians protested against the senate. They refused to fight for Rome until they were given rights. The senate finally gave them the right to vote. Due to the success of this strategy it was used many other times to get laws passed.


 * The fall of the republic**

During the first century BC the republic began to experience internal conflict. The senate was losing the support of the people. In the year 44BC there were 1000 senators. Because of the political unrest the famous general Julius Caesar was elected dictator. This was a common practice when the republic was experiencing conflict. He began to act as if he were the King of Rome. The senators were afraid that he would try to truly become King. Therefore some decided that he must be assassinated.

After the assassination of Caesar, Rome experienced a 30 year civil war. Mark Antony and Octavian, (later known as Augustus; they were both part of the first triumvirate) seized control and divided the Empire. Mark Anthony then fell in love with Cleopatra and promised to give the entire Empire to her. Octavian turned the people of Rome against Mark Anthony and a war was waged. Octavian won the war allowing him to add Egypt to the Roman Empire. He became the first Emperor. Throughout the Emperors rule there was a senate but the influence of the senate grew less and less over the years.



Works Cited Clare, John D. Classical Rome. N.p.: Random house uk, 1993. Ganeri, Antia. How Would you Survive as an Ancient Roman. Watts : n.p., 1995. Langley, Andrew. The Roman News. London : Scholastic, 1996 [|http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/spqr.jpg] http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/6/6d/300px- Octavian_and_Antony.jpg

"democracy." Compton's by Britannica. 2007. Encyclopdia Britannica Online School Edition. 7 Nov. 2007