GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
THE TWELVE TABLES
EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND DAILY LIFE
Roman Culture
FALL OF THE REPUBLIC
100

What group advised Roman leaders and controlled finances?

The group that advised Roman leaders and controlled finances was the Roman Senate.

  • It was made up mostly of wealthy patricians.
  • The Senate advised consuls and other magistrates.
  • It controlled money, foreign policy, and many government decisions.
  • Although technically advisory, the Senate held enormous influence in the Roman Republic.


100

Why might written laws limit government corruption?

Because leaders/Patricians/few Plebians must follow public rules instead of making decisions however they want.

100

Discuss in detail the story of Romulus and Remus

According to Roman legend, the city of Rome was founded by twin brothers Romulus and Remus. As babies, they were abandoned near the Tiber River and were rescued and cared for by a she-wolf until a shepherd found and raised them. When they grew older, the brothers decided to build a city, but they argued over where it should be built and who should rule it. The conflict became violent, and Romulus killed Remus. Romulus then founded the city of Rome in 753 BCE and became its first king.

100

What were Romes two social classes?

Name the prominent differences between them

Patricians

  • Wealthy upper-class families
  • Owned most of the land and held the most political power
  • Could become senators and high government officials
  • Considered the “noble” class

Plebeians

  • Common people such as farmers, craftsmen, merchants, and laborers
  • Made up the majority of the population
  • Had fewer rights and less political power at first
  • Often struggled with debt and unfair treatment
100

What title did Caesar hold shortly before his death?

Dictator for Life

200

What branch of government represented the plebeians?

TRIBUNES

  • Tribunes were elected by plebeians.
  • They protected plebeians from unfair treatment by patricians.
  • They could veto laws or actions they believed harmed common people.
  • Tribunes were considered an important check on government power.
200

Why was the publication of the Twelve Tables a threat to patrician power?

  • Laws were finally written down and public, so patricians could no longer easily change or interpret laws however they wanted.
  • Plebeians could now see and understand their rights, making it harder for the upper class to take advantage of them.
  • It reduced the patricians’ control over the legal system and government decisions.
  • Ordinary citizens gained more protection and a stronger voice in Roman society.
  • The Twelve Tables helped create more fairness between social classes, weakening the patricians’ exclusive power.
200

Rome was built on this RIVER year over 3000 years ago by the Latins

What is the TIBER RIVER

200

This is known as the center of Roman public life...

Describe in detail what goes on here

  • Large open public space in ancient Roman Forum
  • Center of government, business, and social life
  • Surrounded by temples, markets, statues, and government buildings
  • Senators and magistrates held meetings and speeches there
  • Citizens gathered to vote and discuss politics
  • Merchants sold goods and traded items
  • Trials and public events took place there
  • Busy, crowded, noisy, and important to daily Roman life
  • Often considered the “heart” of the Roman Republic
  • Twelve Tables eventually depicted and presented for all to see here
200

Who was Caesar’s adopted heir who later became Rome’s first emperor?

Augustus (Octavian).

300

What was the purpose of the Magistrates?

  • Magistrates were government officials who carried out the daily work of the Roman Republic.
  • They enforced laws and helped keep order in Rome.
  • Different magistrates had different responsibilities, such as overseeing courts, collecting taxes, or managing public events.
  • The two consuls were the highest magistrates and led the army and government.
  • Magistrates were elected by Roman citizens.
  • Most magistrates served for limited terms to prevent too much power from being held by one person.
  • They worked alongside the Senate and assemblies to run the government.
300

What principle found in the Twelve Tables is still important today? Explain...

1. Equality under law (No one is above the law)

2. Laws should be written down and apply to all

3. All citizens should be made aware of laws

.....

300

How did a patriarchal society shape the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of people in ancient Rome?

In a patriarchal society, men especially the father, or pater familias, held most of the power in the household and society. Men controlled property, made important family decisions, and had legal authority over women and children. Women had fewer rights and were expected to focus mainly on family and household responsibilities. This system shaped Roman laws, government, and daily life by placing men in positions of leadership and authority.

300

Could the Roman Republic possibly have survived if Julius Ceasar was not assassinated?

Understand the following:

After Caesar’s death:

  • Rome exploded into more civil war
  • Caesar’s supporters wanted revenge
  • the Senate became weaker
  • eventually Augustus took power and created the Roman Empire


So if Caesar had not been assassinated, there are a few possibilities:

  1. He may have slowly transformed Rome into an empire anyway.
  2. He may have stabilized Rome temporarily and prevented more civil war.
  3. The Republic might have lasted longer but probably not forever, because the system was already breaking apart.
300

Name different reasons the Republic was falling apart?

The Republic was struggling with:

  • corruption
  • violence in politics
  • powerful generals controlling armies
  • huge gaps between rich and poor (Plebians vs Patricians)
  • civil wars

ECONOMICAL

SOCIAL

EMOTIONAL

400

 How did the Roman assemblies and consuls both limit and strengthen each other’s power in the Roman Republic?

  • The Roman Republic used a system of shared power to prevent one person from becoming too powerful.
  • Roman assemblies elected the consuls, which limited the consuls’ power because leaders depended on citizen support.
  • Assemblies could pass laws and influence political decisions.
  • Consuls led the army, enforced laws, and carried out government decisions, strengthening the Republic’s leadership.
  • Two consuls served at the same time and could veto each other, limiting individual power.
  • Consuls guided and influenced the assemblies through speeches and leadership.
  • Together, the assemblies and consuls created a system of checks and balances meant to protect the Republic from tyranny.
400

What major weakness still existed in the Twelve Tables despite being written laws? Give an Example

They still favored upper-class citizens and did not create full equality.

  • Patricians still held most political power and controlled many government positions.
  • Women, enslaved people, and non-citizens had very limited rights.
  • Punishments could be harsh and unequal depending on social class.
  • The laws often favored wealthy citizens over poorer plebeians.
  • Even with written laws, true equality did not yet exist in Roman society
400

Name four of the seven hills that made up the early Roman Republican

1. Palatine Hill- Where Romulus founded Rome

2. Aventine Hill- Known for where the Plebians (commoners) lived

3. Capitoline Hill- Religious and Political Center

4. Quirinal Hill-Early Roman Settlers

5. Viminal Hill- Smallest Hill/Residential

6. Esquiline Hill- Wealthy

7. Caelian Hill- Military

400

What lessons should modern governments learn from Rome?

  • Governments need strong laws that apply fairly to everyone.
  • Leaders should respect limits on their power.
  • Checks and balances help prevent one person from becoming too powerful.
  • Citizens should stay active and involved in government.
  • Political corruption can weaken a country over time.
  • Large gaps between rich and poor can create unrest.
  • Personal ambition should not come before the good of the country.
  • Constant political fighting can divide and weaken a government.
  • A strong republic depends on trust, cooperation, and civic responsibility.
400

How did personal ambition contribute to the fall of the Roman Republic?

  • Powerful Roman leaders began putting their own ambition above the good of the Republic.
  • Generals like Julius Caesar gained loyal armies and enormous influence.
  • Political leaders competed for power, wealth, and control instead of cooperating.
  • Civil wars broke out between rival leaders and factions.
  • The Senate became weaker as military leaders gained more authority.
  • Fear, corruption, and violence increased in Roman politics.
  • Eventually, the Republic collapsed and Rome transitioned into an empire under Augustus.
500

Should leaders ever have emergency powers? Why or why not?

  • Some people believe leaders should have emergency powers during wars, disasters, or national crises so they can act quickly to protect the country.
  • Emergency powers can help governments respond faster when normal processes may take too long.
  • However, too much emergency power can become dangerous if leaders abuse it or refuse to give power back.
  • In the Roman Republic, leaders were sometimes granted temporary emergency powers, but Romans feared this could lead to dictatorship.
  • A strong government needs checks and balances so emergency powers do not threaten freedom or democracy.
500

Could the Twelve Tables be considered the beginning of democracy in Rome? Why or why not?

The Twelve Tables could be considered the beginning of democracy in Rome because they gave plebeians more protection and made laws public for all citizens to see. This limited the power of the patricians and helped create greater fairness. However, Rome was not a full democracy because women, enslaved people, and many lower-class citizens still had little political power.

500

If you were a Roman senator on the Ides of March, would you have warned Julius Caesar about the assassination plot, joined the conspirators, or stayed out of it? Defend your choice.

ANSWERS VARY

500

How did the Roman Republic inspire the United States government?

  • Both governments use a system of representative democracy, where citizens elect leaders to represent them.
  • The idea of checks and balances was inspired by Rome’s separation of powers among consuls, the Senate, and assemblies.
  • The U.S. Senate was modeled partly after the Roman Senate.
  • Both systems feared giving too much power to one ruler.
  • Written laws, civic duty, and citizenship were important in both governments.
  • Roman ideas about republicanism influenced the writers of the United States Constitution.
500

What connection exists between political violence and the fall of the Republic? How does this effect or connect to how we handle our government today? 

  • In the late Roman Republic, political disagreements increasingly turned violent instead of being solved through debate or law.
  • Riots, assassinations, intimidation, and civil wars weakened trust in the government.
  • The assassination of Julius Caesar showed how dangerous political hatred and division had become.
  • Violence made the Republic unstable and helped powerful military leaders gain control.
  • Eventually, many Romans accepted one ruler because they wanted order and stability after years of chaos.

Modern Connection

  • Governments today rely on peaceful debate, voting, laws, and compromise rather than violence.
  • Political violence can weaken democracy by creating fear and division.
  • Citizens and leaders must respect elections, laws, and different viewpoints to keep a republic stable.
  • The fall of Rome reminds modern societies that democracy can weaken when people stop trusting institutions or use violence to gain power.
M
e
n
u