Birth of the Republic
Before becoming a republic, early Rome was ruled by kings from this neighboring region in northern Italy.
Etruscans
This wealthy, landowning upper class made up the ruling class and held almost all the power in the early Roman Republic.
Patricians
In 494 B.C.E., the plebeians forced the patricians to compromise by doing this drastic action.
marching out of Rome (and refusing to work or fight)
This powerful group of 300 patrician men served for life, advised the consuls, and had decisions that were treated as law.
Senate
The political ideal and responsibility of citizens to participate in and help look after their government.
Civic duty
This is a form of government where citizens elect leaders to represent them, vote on issues, and govern on their behalf.
Republic
Making up about 95% of the population, this group included Rome's common people, such as peasants, laborers, and shopkeepers.
Plebeians
These officials were elected by the plebeians to speak for them in the Senate and protect their rights.
Tribunes
These were the two chief leaders of Rome who shared command of the army and ran the government.
Consuls
This system gives each branch of government the power to block or change the actions of other branches so no single group gets all the control.
checks and balances (Accept Separation of Powers)
In 509 B.C.E., this Roman leader led a successful revolt to overthrow the last Etruscan king and set up the republic.
Lucius Junius Brutus
The name for the long political struggle between the plebeians and patricians over rights and equality.
Conflict of Orders
This vital power was given to Tribunes, allowing them to refuse or overrule government actions.
Veto
Published around 451 B.C.E., these were Rome's first written laws, which stopped patricians from changing unwritten laws at will.
Twelve Tables
Meaning "The Senate and People of Rome," this official four-letter motto and symbol was stamped on Roman coins and buildings.
SPQR
The primary reason the upper-class Roman patricians revolted against their early rulers.
They resented being ruled by a monarchy
A miserable trap for many early plebeians, this situation forced a poor person to become a servant to someone they owed money to until their debt was paid off.
Debt bondage
The patricians panicked during the 494 B.C.E. revolt because they were terrified of this happening to Rome.
Left defenseless
This major compromise in 367 B.C.E. stated that one of the two Roman consuls had to belong to this group, which automatically allowed them to join the Senate later.
plebeians
The final breakthrough compromise in 287 B.C.E. that established full political equality allowed the Council of Plebs to do this.
pass laws that applied to all Roman citizens
This specific period of history (c. 616–509 BCE) marks the era when early Rome was not yet a republic, but was instead under the control of foreign monarchies.
While open to all citizens, this specific lawmaking group was organized by wealth—meaning the richest citizens' votes carried the most weight when electing consuls or voting on war.
Assembly of Centuries
Before the revolt of 494 B.C.E., plebeians were intensely frustrated by this specific patrician behavior regarding Rome's unwritten legal system.
changing or interpreting unwritten laws to benefit themselves
This powerful Roman official was given the massive responsibility of counting the population, tracking everyone's wealth, and making sure citizens behaved morally.
Censor
Adopted by modern leaders, this core foundational principle of republicanism states that the government's ultimate purpose is to rule for the good of the community.
"The people's good is the highest law"