...During the last century BC the Roman Republic was in turmoil, civil wars had wrecked the country, and out of these conflicts came a powerful dictator the general known as Sulla. Sulla took power through corruption and violence. His dictatorship was characterised by the constitutional reforms that he tried to implement in order to prevent future violence, and paradoxically to retain the traditional Roman power distribution. These reforms did not create an environment in which the Roman Republic was better off, the senate was weakened and corrupted and he failed to curtail the power that the major generals had gained through the Marian reforms. Furthermore he damaged the republic by setting a precedent for future leaders to follow when he marched on Rome with his own army, an example which would be followed by generals such as Caesar. Whilst there was a certain inevitability surrounding the fall of the Roman Republic, some scholars believe that through concerted efforts to reduce the power of the military Sulla could have saved the Republic. Sulla’s reforms, whilst they were able to be enforced by him, curbed the violence and made the Roman Republic a more civil society, however, once he was no longer around the Republic reverted back to violence and instability. This shows that these reforms lacked popular following and there was no longevity in them. Sulla’s dictatorship, though brief, made many changes to the Roman system that would not remain in place after his leadership ended...
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...The Roman Republic was an ancient republic that was supposedly a republic, while the facts say that they are closer to being a monarchy. During the Roman Republic time period (509 BC- 27 BC), they had many faults in their democracy. The ancient Romans said they were democratic, but they weren’t because they had unequal voting rights, the regular people did not have a big role in the government, and the upper class governed most of the society. The Roman Republic said they had equal voting rights, but not many people were able to vote. In fact, only about 2% of Romans voted. This is because when the Roman Republic expanded, the people living in the farmland regions couldn’t travel back to Rome to vote. Since they had to go to Rome to vote,...
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...The Roman Republic had three branches of government like the US government. However, some people say that the government was more like an aristocracy (form of government where the nobles hold the power), while others say it was more like a despotism (a form of government where a ruler has all the power). Lastly, others say it was democratic. The Roman Republic had a dictator at times of war and it lasted 479 years. The Roman Republic was only partly democratic because the majority of the power was the people's, however the Senate was mainly an aristocracy, and the Consul was mainly a despotism. The Roman Republic was only partly democratic since the majority of the power was the people's. The branch that represented the people was the Assemblies....
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...Since the Roman Republic functioned upon a democratic structure vastly different from Athens’ demokratia, therefore the reason for the collapse of Roman Republic was seemingly different. Unlike Athens where the problem stemmed from not having a far-sighted leader to push for the right action after the demise of Pericles, Rome had far too many tyrants trying to seize control for their own good. The Republic did not have fail-safe laws to guard against corruption and oligarchic control, bringing about internal unrest. Furthermore, since the weight of a vote in Rome increased with the amount of wealth an individual possesses, it created the perfect environment for corruption. The further showcases the dissimilarity between both cities: citizens...
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...How Democratic was the Roman Republic? I believe that the Roman Republic was very democratic because in Document A, a Hellenistic historian, Polybius, stated that they are greatly democratic. To prove his point, his book, called “The Histories” pointed out that the Republic have absolute authority in running the military and fighting wars and can spend much public money as they choose. Also, they can handle crimes that requires investigations. In essence, if it’s necessary to sent diplomats to a foreign country whether to make peace or start a war, this too is the business of the Senate. Another proof is that in Document B, Millar pointed out that the Romans’ democratic system were considered fair because most people, especially citizens, free...
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...Roman Republic Values in Plutarch’s Lives Outlines of traditional Roman values of which fueled the Republic can be traced throughout the majority of Plutarch’s biographies. The basis for any male Roman to become well respected consisted of obtaining one or more of the following attributes: gloria (upholding a family name), nobilitas (attain a high political office), virtus (a man’s service to the state), and auctoritas (moral authority) (Thomas). Two of Plutarch’s most notable Lives include those of Fabius Maximus Verrocosus and Marcus Claudius Marcellus; whom were regarded as the Shield and Sword of Rome, respectively. These men not only attained the majority of the before mentioned attributes, but did so in a way that granted them even more notoriety than they could have expected....
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...The civilization that had a better form of a citizenship out of the Athenian Democracy and the Roman Republic is the Roman Republic. This is because, the definition of citizenship is a position granted by the government given to its people. In the Roman Republic they were more generous in giving out citizenship to people. Athens was much more strict in giving out citizenship. Furthermore, The text says “if parents were free-born Athens.” This shows that only free-born adult males were granted citizenship. In Rome they granted citizenship to everyone but freed slaves and slaves. The Roman Republic was better because this shows that you had a better chance of being a citizen even if you weren’t a free born native male. In Athens citizens...
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...The Roman Republic to some extent was a democracy. While the Roman Republic was not as democratic as the United states is today, there are many things that you would have been different in ancient Rome to make it a true democracy. The Roman Republic was democratic in the way that they allowed the citizens of Rome to vote and they had a constitution that they followed; however, they weren't in the aspect such as they allowed slavery. All though they weren’t too liberal with many aspects they still allowed the poor to vote as long as they were in Rome. Citizens would have to travel to the city of Rome in order to vote. So many of the roman citizens wouldn’t, or couldn’t travel to the city of Rome to vote. As a result only 2% of all roman citizens...
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...In 510 BC, Rome witnessed a revolt against the rule of the Etruscan kings. According to George Reiff, there is a traditional story about this revolt. It was in this time that King Tarquinius Superbus’s son, Sextus, raped the wife of the nobleman, Tarquinius Collatinus (George Reiff, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.george-reiff.com/rome/early_roman_republic.htm). Kevin Thalersmith added that Tarquinius Collatinus’s wife Lucreatia felt so ashamed that she committed suicide, consequently enraging the Romans. Moreover, Thalersmith stated that the Romans were so angered by this tragedy that they reached the point of revolting and overthrowing King Tarquin and eventually form the Roman Republic (Kevin Thalersmith, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/1523487-siginificance-of-the-revolt-against-king-tarquin). According to Klaus Bringmann in an excerpt of his book, A History of the Roman Republic, the revolt against King Tarquin was led by Lucius Ionius Brutus, who was the nephew of the king himself through marriage. He may have been the king’s relative, but Brutus still hated Tarquin because his father Marcus was illegally seized of his wealth after his death, leading Brutus to realize that Tarquin was being an abusive king, using the power to steal his inheritance. Furthermore, Brutus was viewed as a fool by Tarquin and he was ridiculed by being promoted to Tribunus Celerum or second in command, a gesture which showed that he was mocked by a tyrant. His older brother was...
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...Julius Caesar was a powerful general, politician, and dictator in the Roman Republic. Caesar was born july seventeenth 100 BC. He died by assassination on march fifteenth 44BC. His rise to power was continuous in his life. In 73 BC he became a Pontiff or High Priest at a high ranking college. THis gained him popularity with the people, and caused him to side with the nobles by supporting their roman citizenship. He became the governor of spain in 61 B.C. He was later appointed dictator and remained as such for many years. Caesar made a name for himself early on while still in the military. He gained a reputation as a particularly brave soldier. He put himself out there as a great leader. He was very ambitious and thus decided to make a name...
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...Brutus’ ancestor, Lucius Junius Brutus, fought to get rid of the tyrannical regime of Tarquin the Proud replacing it with the Republic they now know. By letting his dear Caesar die, he guarantees the future of the Republic, or in his words, “the general” which his family fought hard for. This to him is worth more than the life of his close...
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...Catonis, Cato's daughter. According to Cicero, the marriage caused a semi-scandal as Brutus failed to state a valid reason for his divorce from Claudia other than he wished to marry Porcia. Brutus was admired by Cicero and other Roman aristocrats and after his death, he became a symbol of resistance to tyranny. Subsequently, he was given an honourable burial by Mark Antony. Brutus was admired by Cicero and other Roman aristocrats and after his death, he became a symbol of resistance to tyranny. Subsequently, he was given an honourable burial by Mark Antony. Brutus took a leading role in the assassination of Julius Caesar. After Ceasar was killed, Brutus was defeated in the battle Philippi by Octavius and Antony. As a result of his defeat, he committed suicide in 42BC. Brutus took a leading role in the assassination of Julius Caesar. After Ceasar was killed, Brutus was defeated in the battle Philippi by Octavius and Antony. As a result of his defeat, he committed suicide in 42BC. Brutus was a politician of the late Roman Republic. His political career started when he became an assistant to Cato, who was the governor of Cyprus. Four years before his death, he was made governor of Gaul in 46BC. Brutus was a politician of the late Roman Republic. His political career started when he...
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...power and justice in Julius Caesar What is power? It is the ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events. Background * At first Caesar belonged to what is referred to as the First Triumvirate in alliance with another general, Pompey and Crassus, a wealthy patrician. * Caesar had forced his way to dictatorial power and destroyed the republic when Crassus died in battle and Pompey began to entertain ideas of ruling without Caesar, who by then had become dangerously popular. This resulted in a in a civil war in which Caesar defeated Pompey’s forces and entered Rome, triumphant and unchallenged. * Upon his return, Caesar made himself dictator and absolute ruler of Rome and its territories. * In 44 B.C.E. Julius Caesar ordered the senate to make him dictator for life. (Caesar’s actions threatened to end the Republic once and for all. * Fearing this change, a group of senators plotted and executed the murder of Caesar on the Ides of March. * Although the senators succeeded in ending Caesar’s life, they did not realise at that time that the Republic had died with him. Rome would now become an empire. Power Although the biggest argument in Julius Caesar is the change of power in the rulers of Rome, Shakespeare tries to show us many different kinds of power and the use of it. As we can see during the play, people with power use power just for their convenience. During the first part of the play, Shakespeare...
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...A STUDY OF FULVIA by Allison Jean Weir A thesis submitted to the Department of Classics In conformity with the requirements for The degree of Master of Arts Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada December 2007 copyright © Allison Jean Weir 2007 Abstract Who was Fulvia? Was she the politically aggressive and dominating wife of Mark Antony as Cicero and Plutarch describe her? Or was she a loyal mother and wife, as Asconius and Appian suggest? These contrasting accounts in the ancient sources warrant further investigation. This thesis seeks to explore the nature of Fulvia’s role in history to the extent that the evidence permits. Fulvia is most famous for her activities during Antony’s consulship (44 BC) and his brother Lucius Antonius’ struggle against C. Octavian in the Perusine War (41-40 BC). But there is a discrepancy among the authors as to what extent she was actually involved. Cicero, Octavian and Antony, who were all key players in events, provide their own particular versions of what occurred. Later authors, such as Appian and Dio, may have been influenced by these earlier, hostile accounts of Fulvia. This is the first study in English to make use of all the available evidence, both literary and material, pertaining to Fulvia. Modern scholarship has a tendency to concentrate almost exclusively on events towards the end of Fulvia’s life, in particular the Perusine War, about which the evidence is much more abundant in later sources such as Appian and...
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...Caesar Summary Option K Rome: Julius Caesar Principal Focus: Students gain an understanding of Julius Caesar in the context of his time. Students learn about: 1 Historical context – geography, topography and resources of Rome and provinces – overview of Roman political and social structures – overview of significant political and military developments 2 Background and rise to prominence – his family background and position – his education, early life and ambitions – paths to power: priesthoods; Marian connections; political alliances and marriages – early political career to 60 BC 3 Career – role in First Triumvirate – Gallic Wars: campaigns and tactics, siege of Alesia – relationship with his army – relationship with the Senate – role in the Civil War – political supporters and enemies – personal relationships: Julia, Cleopatra VII, Brutus, Mark Antony, Cicero – impact of personality on career; significance of his writings – dictatorship: policies and reforms – assassination: motives, manner and impact of his death 4 Evaluation – impact and influence on his time – assessment of his life and career – legacy – ancient and modern images and interpretations of Julius Caesar. 1. Historical Context Geography, topography and resources of Rome and provinces Geography and topography • Most of Italy is...
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