World History I

World History IUnit Six Block Three LectureRoman Social StructureMake sure that you are viewing this in Slide Show format. Click on Slide Show and push from beginning. Move through the presentation by pushing on the up and down arrows on your keyboardClick me What!?! This is Roman!?! How so Mr. Ross?

Rome is split into three classes of people.

Patricians: the male nobility (aristocrat) and male ruling class (including govt and religious leaders)

Plebeians: the male majority including landowners, townspeople, merchants, and small farmers

Slaves: Men and women forced into involuntary servitude based on conquest

There is always tension between the Patricians and the Plebeians!Who are the Romans?(and why dont they like each other)Click Here

Citizenship was held by all patrician and plebeian men and extended to a few foreigners as a privilege (usually local leaders and aristocrats of a conquered people) Citizens could vote, but were responsible to pay taxes and serve in the military.

Slaves were not citizens

Who is a Roman citizen and what are their rights?Click meCitizensNot so much

The Roman Republic is a representative democracy that lasts from 509 BCE/BC until 60 BCE/BC

Rome is a dictatorship under Julius Caesar from 60 to 44 BCE/BC

Rome is an Empire from 44 BCE/BC until 476 BCE/BC Republic versus Empire

We are here!Click me

Roman representative democracy is the foundation for modern representative democracy

There are three branches of government in the Roman republic:The two consuls (co-presidents)The Senate (like the US senate) and assemblies (House of Representatives)Magistrates (Judges)

Two rules help Patricians keep powerOnly a Patrician can be a CounselFor a long time only Patricians could be in the Senate (this changes after the Council of Orders (300 BCE/BC) when plebeians revolted to get more power).The Roman Republic Click Here

Counsels are the most powerful men in government

Two Consuls who represent the power of the old Roman monarchy

Elected by the Senate to a one year term and then made a senator for life

Lead the army, serve as judges, and represent Rome in foreign affairs

One consul can veto the other counsel,

Counsels have emergency power: in times of war the senate can appoint a counsel as dictator for six months

The Power of the Counsels

Click Here

More powerful than these guys!

The Senate and AssemblyClick HereThe Roman Senate is very powerful during this timeThey appoint and advise the CounselsNo money is spent by the government without their consentThey have no lawmaking powers but what they say is enforcedThey are not elected by the citizens but were picked for service

The Roman assemblies are democratically elected members (citizens) who make or reject laws and decide issues of war and peace

The government must follow the Twelve TablesCreated in 455 BCE/BC to stop another plebian revoltRepresents a codification (writing down) of Roman law that provides an understanding of legal and social protection and civil rights between patricians and plebeians