The Chronicles of Rome
Today I will be discussing a couple of topics regaurding Rome's government system. Those topics include tyrants and government structure. I hope you enjoy it!
Let us discuss the story of Tarquin...
If we start from the beginning, it went a little something like this.
Tarquin's grandpa was the fifth king of Rome and he died. Then his widow took over and named Servius Tullias king (because she liked him better than her own sons). S.T. has two daughters, whom each marry brothers (one of whom is Tarquin). The one daughter, named Tullia, kills her own husband and her sister (wife of Tarquin), which leaves her to marry Tarquin for her own benefit. She persuaded Tarquin to take over the thrown and sit on it and declare himself king. S.T. objected (obviously), and Tarquin threw him down the stairs and had him assasinated. Tullia hails Tarquin the new king, but gets sent home for her safety. After seeing the body of her father in the street, she took control of the reigns and ran him over (yeah, I don't get it either). A couple of children later, Sextus (son of Tarquin) goes out drinking with friends and tries to hit on a girl, who then refuses. He blackmails her with death threats and forces her to be with him. When this young lady confesses the news to her family, she commits suicide. After all of that, Tarquin tried to hide it away from the public, but everyone knew he was lying. As a result, the citizens rose up against the entire royal family and had them expelled from Rome for good. In conclusion, the peoples shock at the entire situation is what caused Rome to be incredibly cautious about their form of government and who was allowed to rule. The people of Rome never wanted to be governed under the rule of a king ever again. This attitude of theirs lasted for centuries.
Okay, moving on to government...
Instead of kings, Rome had consuls. Consuls are elected officilas whose terms can only last one year. They are always aristocrats (patricians) and they traced their descent from a famous ancestor, Pater (father). The consuls job was to make laws, command the army, and deal justice. The consuls coud veto each other as well. By 5 B.C.E, the plebeians had had enough of the the patricians and they challenged the government (98% of citizens were plebs anyways). Honestly, the patricians were kind of mean to the plebs, they made them serve in the army but didn't give them the power to hold office, and they threatened them with debt slavery and no rights. Plebeians were the victims of discrimination, but Rome had no written laws to support them. So the plebeians refused to serve in the army until they had the twelve tables written and posted in public, and until tribunes were elected. After that, Rome was ready with their new government made up of monorchy, aristocracy, and democracy, NOT A TYRANNY. Rome's government served as the model for the U.S. government too. Both Rome and the U.S. government consists of a legal code, and three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. While the goverments arent exactly the same, they certainly are similar.
Behold:
Rome Executive- 2 consuls, 1 year terms, veto power, military control, could appoint a dictator in a crisis for a six-month term.
U.S. Executive- President and Vice President, 4 year terms, power to veto proposed laws, Commander-in-Chief of the military.
Rome Legislative- 300 senate members for life (aristocrats), assemblies of 193 members for life (later 373 members).
U.S. Legislative- 100 senators (2 from each state) with 6 year terms, House of Reps. with 435 members with 2 year terms.
Rome Judicial- Praetors chosen by centuriate assembly with 1 year terms.
U.S. Judicial- Supreme court of 9 members with lifetime terms appointed by the Pres. and confirmed by the Senate (see article 2 of U.S. constitution).
Legal Code:
Rome- Twelve tables displayed publicly that gave rights to all people, but only protected free-born male citizens (not women).
U.S.- Bill of Rights with the first ten ammendments of the Constitution (see Contitution for further details)
That is all for my blog today, and I hope you enjoyed learning about Rome!
Have a good day!
- Karlee :)
Let us discuss the story of Tarquin...
If we start from the beginning, it went a little something like this.
Tarquin's grandpa was the fifth king of Rome and he died. Then his widow took over and named Servius Tullias king (because she liked him better than her own sons). S.T. has two daughters, whom each marry brothers (one of whom is Tarquin). The one daughter, named Tullia, kills her own husband and her sister (wife of Tarquin), which leaves her to marry Tarquin for her own benefit. She persuaded Tarquin to take over the thrown and sit on it and declare himself king. S.T. objected (obviously), and Tarquin threw him down the stairs and had him assasinated. Tullia hails Tarquin the new king, but gets sent home for her safety. After seeing the body of her father in the street, she took control of the reigns and ran him over (yeah, I don't get it either). A couple of children later, Sextus (son of Tarquin) goes out drinking with friends and tries to hit on a girl, who then refuses. He blackmails her with death threats and forces her to be with him. When this young lady confesses the news to her family, she commits suicide. After all of that, Tarquin tried to hide it away from the public, but everyone knew he was lying. As a result, the citizens rose up against the entire royal family and had them expelled from Rome for good. In conclusion, the peoples shock at the entire situation is what caused Rome to be incredibly cautious about their form of government and who was allowed to rule. The people of Rome never wanted to be governed under the rule of a king ever again. This attitude of theirs lasted for centuries.
Okay, moving on to government...
Instead of kings, Rome had consuls. Consuls are elected officilas whose terms can only last one year. They are always aristocrats (patricians) and they traced their descent from a famous ancestor, Pater (father). The consuls job was to make laws, command the army, and deal justice. The consuls coud veto each other as well. By 5 B.C.E, the plebeians had had enough of the the patricians and they challenged the government (98% of citizens were plebs anyways). Honestly, the patricians were kind of mean to the plebs, they made them serve in the army but didn't give them the power to hold office, and they threatened them with debt slavery and no rights. Plebeians were the victims of discrimination, but Rome had no written laws to support them. So the plebeians refused to serve in the army until they had the twelve tables written and posted in public, and until tribunes were elected. After that, Rome was ready with their new government made up of monorchy, aristocracy, and democracy, NOT A TYRANNY. Rome's government served as the model for the U.S. government too. Both Rome and the U.S. government consists of a legal code, and three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. While the goverments arent exactly the same, they certainly are similar.
Behold:
Rome Executive- 2 consuls, 1 year terms, veto power, military control, could appoint a dictator in a crisis for a six-month term.
U.S. Executive- President and Vice President, 4 year terms, power to veto proposed laws, Commander-in-Chief of the military.
Rome Legislative- 300 senate members for life (aristocrats), assemblies of 193 members for life (later 373 members).
U.S. Legislative- 100 senators (2 from each state) with 6 year terms, House of Reps. with 435 members with 2 year terms.
Rome Judicial- Praetors chosen by centuriate assembly with 1 year terms.
U.S. Judicial- Supreme court of 9 members with lifetime terms appointed by the Pres. and confirmed by the Senate (see article 2 of U.S. constitution).
Legal Code:
Rome- Twelve tables displayed publicly that gave rights to all people, but only protected free-born male citizens (not women).
U.S.- Bill of Rights with the first ten ammendments of the Constitution (see Contitution for further details)
That is all for my blog today, and I hope you enjoyed learning about Rome!
Have a good day!
- Karlee :)
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