HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Three major epochs of Roman History:

1. Regal period [foundation of Rome to 509 BCE]
2. Republic [509 BCE to 31 BCE]
3. Empire [31 BCE - CE 476]

REGAL PERIOD

- Romans ruled by Etruscan Kings

- mainly legendary material

• Legend of Romulus and Remus (twin founders of the city of Rome; traditional date 753 BCE)
• Myth of Trojan Origins (Virgil's Aeneid; note Julian clan claimed descent through Iulus, son of Aeneas)
• Rape of Lucretia (important role of women)

- ideological importance of Roman connection with the gods

- regal period ends with revolt against Tarquinius Superbus in 509 BCE

THE EARLY REPUBLIC

- original division of Roman society into patricians and plebians

- initially the Plebians almost powerless as a class

- Struggle of the Orders results in a steady increase of Plebian power (via strategy of general strikes)

- 390 BCE: Rome is sacked by the Gauls. As a result military is reorganized to include lower classes. This helps the gradual diffusion of political power

REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT

- in place of king, Romans elected two consuls (they held office for one year only)

- three important republican political bodies:

i) senate

- officially only an advisory body, but the senate held great prestige and power

- advised the consuls

- made recommendations (consulta) to other assemblies.

ii) centuriate assembly

- assembly of the full people, both patrician and plebeian, arranged in their classes

- elected consuls, praetors, and censors [note voting was weighted by class]

- could also pass laws and hold treason trials

ii) concilium plebis

- assembly of only the plebians

- run by special officers called tribunes (there were 8 of them), whom the concilium elected annually

- had the power to enact laws (plebescites); after 287 BCE these were binding on all Romans)