Roman Republic (507 BCE - 31 BCE)4th century BCE - 61 BCE

• Republican Empire (where it is defined with lots of land and power, not the definition of being ruled by an emperor)
  • Not ruled by an emperor
  • A lot of land outside the city of Rome
  • Expansion into the Mediterranean Sea

Roman Empire (31 BCE - 5th century CE) Roman Legal System

• 12 Tables
  • Law code
  • Legal rights granted to even lower classes
• Generally:
  • Even aristocrats must obey the laws
  • Law - impersonal/abstract/objective

Roman Government During the Republic

• Nobody gets paid.
• Senate
  • Aristocratic assembly
  • Dead white guys with large estates!
  • Passes laws, ultimate authority
  • ~300 people

Consuls

• Two of them at once!
• Served 1 year terms
• Could each veto the other

Dictator

• Appointed during emergencies
• Absolute power
• See "Star Wars episodes IV-VI" for further information dammit

Social Classes

• Patricians
  • Wealthy aristocrats
  • Owned large estates
  • Controlled the Senate
• Plebeians
  • Small free farmers
  • Poor city dwellers
• Slaves
  • Prisoner of war
  • Lots more by 2nd century BCE because they wanted to conquer more countries