transformation of Rome from republic to empire

Transformation of Rome from Republic to Empire

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Like so many agricultural cultures , Rome began as a city-state about 600 B .C . It was founded by descendants of Indo-European invaders from central Europe who merged with earlier Italian peoples . The Roman language and many basic social patterns were

inherited from the local farmers who had populated the region long before the city was founded . But the city itself borrowed from an earlier Italian civilization , the Etruscan , slightly to the north , and

to a lesser extent from Greek colonies in the south . This gave form to early Roman religion and also to political structure

Rome began as a kingdom under Etruscan rule . But about 509 B .C . the Roman aristocracy overthrew the king , and Rome became an aristocratic republic not unlike the Greek city-states . Intense local civic pride was part of this pattern , as in Greece , including a willingness to sacrifice self in the interest of the state . Heroic military action by a few individuals , such as the fabled Horatio holding the bridge over the Tiber river against an Etruscan army , gained Rome increasing independence . Roman family structure was the basis of this kind of culture . It emphasized obedience to the father , although the mother was honored as well . Even though the aristocrats competed for power , they could unite when loyalty to the state was at stake , because they had been trained to subordinate themselves to the common good , just as children were taught to yield to family interest

Religion was another binding force , as was the consideration with which aristocrats treated the common people of the city . In the early days of the republic there was much social tension , but uprisings gave the citizens of the lower class , whatever their wealth

their own representatives , called tribunes , to oversee their interests in the government . The first law code , the famous Twelve Tables , was introduced about 450 B .C this restrained the upper class from arbitrary action . By the third century B .C , citizens of the lower class , called plebeians , could be elected to public office and pass laws

The Roman city-state was not like the Greek . The Roman people met in assemblies , but the assemblies were called and run by officers . There was no choosing of leaders by lot two consuls were elected by the people each year to serve as executive and military leaders , and almost always these were aristocrats or wealthy plebeians . The consuls scrutinized each other 's activities so that neither could seize power behind the scenes the aristocracy could usually run the show Aristocratic power was formalized in the Roman senate which was composed of anyone who had held public office and who then served as senator for life . This group had only advisory powers , but , composed of experienced and prestigious men , its influence was considerable and it lent stability to the

state

The picture of the Roman state around 250 B .C . proved so attractive to many western political...