07 Early Rome and the Republic Free Online FlashCards

How certain is the traditional date for Rome’s founding?

Roman tradition says Romulus founded the city in 753 BCE, but this is a legend, not a securely established date.

What were the main duties and term of Roman consuls?

Two consuls held executive authority for one year at a time and usually commanded armies. Their shared, limited terms helped prevent indefinite rule by one official.

Who were patricians and plebeians?

Patricians were a hereditary elite; plebeians were the larger body of citizens outside that elite. Plebeians included both wealthy and poorer people.

What was the basis of Rome’s military manpower in Italy?

Rome relied on a citizen levy drawn heavily from landholding farmers and increasingly on troops supplied by allied communities. Campaigning placed demands on farming households.

When did Roman tradition place the start of the Republic?

Roman tradition places the end of the monarchy around 509 BCE, when the Republic began; details of the transition remain uncertain.

What role did the Senate play in the Roman Republic?

The Senate consisted chiefly of elite former magistrates. It advised officials and wielded great influence over finance and foreign policy.

Why was the Roman Republic not a modern-style democracy?

Citizen assemblies elected officials and passed laws, but voting arrangements favored wealthier citizens. Rome was not a democracy in the modern sense.

Why were the Twelve Tables a major achievement?

The Twelve Tables, written in 451–450 BCE, made laws public and gave citizens a reference point in disputes.

How could plebeian tribunes protect citizens?

Plebeians elected tribunes whose personal inviolability and veto could protect citizens from official action.

What political changes did the reforms bring to plebeians?

Plebeians eventually gained access to the consulship. In 287 BCE, decisions of the Plebeian Assembly became binding on all citizens, though inequality and elite influence persisted.

What was the outcome of the Latin War?

In the Latin War of 340–338 BCE, Rome defeated a coalition of Latin communities and reshaped its relationship with them.

What qualification is important when describing the Samnite Wars?

The conflicts called the Samnite Wars began in 343 BCE and continued into the early third century BCE. They are not necessarily understood as one continuous war.