CLASS 6 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE

Roman Republic and Society: Basic Principles

How it works

The Roman Republic (c. 509–27 BC) was a state without a king. Important decisions were made by magistrates, popular assemblies and the Senate. Social groups included patricians, plebeians, slaves and freedmen. Political rights were distributed unequally: above all free male citizens could vote and seek public office, while women could be citizens too, but held no political office and did not vote. The republic knew various means of limiting power, for example annual terms of office, several officeholders at the same time and mutual oversight.

Note
In the Roman Republic, power was distributed among several institutions. Consuls, the Senate and popular assemblies worked together and partly controlled one another. Which rights someone had depended on citizenship, sex and social status.

An example

Why were there two consuls in the Roman Republic instead of just one?

Because power was meant to be limited. Two consuls were elected each year and could control one another.

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50 Exercises

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Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: History. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.