The Rise of the Roman Republic

1. The Rise of the Roman Republic SS.6.W.3.8&10 and SS.6.C.1.2

2. Rome Under Etruscan Rule • Between 616 and 509 B.C.E., the Etruscans ruled Rome. • During this time, Roman society was divided into 2 classes. • Patricians: upper-class, usually wealthy landowners • Plebeians: lower-class, mostly peasants, laborers, craftspeople, and shopkeepers • The word plebeians comes from the plebs, which means many. • Plebeians made up about 95% of Rome’s population.

3. The Patricians Create A Republic • Over time, the patricians came to resent Etruscan rule, and in 509 B.C.E., they revolted and drove out the last Etruscan king. • They created a republic where elected officials work for the interests of the people. • Most of the power was in the hands of the Senate, an elected body of 300 patricians who served for life. • 2 elected leaders, called consuls, shared command of the army.

4. The Plebeians Rebel • In the early republic, patricians held all the power, and because laws were not written down, they often changed or interpreted them to benefit themselves. • Angry over their lack of power, in 494 B.C.E., the plebeians marched out of Rome and camped on a nearby hill refusing to come back until their demands were met. • Without the plebeians, the patricians feared that the army would be helpless if an enemy struck Rome, so they compromised,

5. The Plebeians Gain Equality • The patricians agreed to let the plebeians elect officials called Tribunes of the Plebs. • Other rights came to the plebeians slowly. • In 451 B.C.E., the plebeians demanded that laws be written down so the patricians could not change them at will. • In 367 B.C.E., a law was passed saying that 1 of the 2 Roman consuls had to be a plebeian. • Finally, in 287 B.C.E., the plebeians gained the right to pass laws for all Roman citizens.