Summary Ancient history lecture (4/5/6) notes

Lecture 4
The rise of Rome

Archaic period known for colonization

Tension in the Polis
 Rise of the middle class
 Population growth
 Changing warfare tactics (hoplite phalanx)
 Aristocracy rivalry
 Impoverishment of small scale farmers (leads to period of reforms, f.e Athens with
Solon)

Classical period (5th/4th century BCE)
Democracy in Athens
 A radical democracy in which the common man has something to say and the
ultimate vote in the people’s assembly in all decisions.
 Why does the common man have so much influence?  because they are essential
for the defense of the polis (hoplites navy, the rowers)

Hellenistic period
 Alexander conquest of the East
 And its successor
 The foundation of polis in the middle east
 But.. meanwhile in Rome??

Rome was first ruled by kings (7) during the 6th century. Rome was a polis, not a Greek polis
but had a system of a polis. The last 3 kings were Etruscan kings. Do to the settlement of
Rome, it was influenced by various cultures such as Greek and Etruscan culture. (example of
temple)

Chronology of Rome:
 753-509 monarchy
 509-27 Roman republic (res publica)
-509-287 Early republic
-287-133 Middle republic
-133-27 late republic

The early republic

In 510/09 -revolt against last king led by L. Junius Brutus
 Start of Roman republic
(Myth: Had to do with the rape of Lucretia by the son of the last king Superbus.)

After the revolt the ‘Libera res publica’ was founded (509/508 BC)

,  Introduction of two annually elected magistrate (patricians) (later called consuls)
elected by the patricians (patricians = the heads of the aristocratic families in the city
of Rome aka patres)
 Political influence unevenly divided  because the roman population, the populus
romanus, those who have roman citizenship (men over 18) consisted of partly of
patricians but mostly of plebeians.
 Aristocratic large landholders (patres) have the greatest influence
 Populus romanus: patricians and plebeians
 But.. patricians versus plebs Plebeians wanted influence because they were a far
bigger group with no influence.  The struggle of the orders

Republic tot 3rd century BC
Characterized by two long processes:
1. The struggle of the orders (464-287 BC)  Plebeians wanted more political
influence.
2. Expansion of Rome in Italy (500-280 BC)

The struggle of the orders (494-287)
 Populus romanus: patricians + plebeians
 Patricians, wealthy people who also made up
the senate of Rome.

Plebeians;

 Not clearly defined group, but included:
 Wealthy -nut not aristocratic: large landowners
 Moderate farmers
 Merchants, craftsmen, day laborers
 Small farmers
 Urban Proletariat (poverty level)

Issues:
 Politics: wealthiest plebeians want to join in political power
 Economy: poor plebeians want relaxation of debt laws
 Judicial: all plebeians oppose unclear judicial situation, demand recognition of
Concilium plebis. They wanted equal chances and organized themselves in the
Concilium plebis  an assembly of their own which became very powerfull.
Plebians did much more such as the tribunes, which will be discussed in the next page!

Pyramid explained

 On top; patricians
 Then; rich plebeians
 Then; poor plebeians
 Then; slaves, that do not belong to the populus romanus
 But… slaves could be freed by their owner  freedmen. And then the got their
citizenship.

, Phenomena of clients
 Important for understanding roman history
 A client: a wealthy patrician or plebeian had people who were depended on them,
and these people were called clients. A lot of poor farmers, were the clients of
wealthy people and they received protection. Judicial protection for example, and in
exchange for that protection they votes for their wealthy protector in elections.
 Informal network, of interdependent relationships between all kinds op people
 Less wealthy patricians/plebeians could also be depended on wealthier patricians or
plebeians.

1st thing the plebeians did ( Concilium plebis)

Nominate people who would protect them; Tribunes

Tribunes (tribune plebis)  organized themselves in the Concilium plebis and also essemble
the Concilium plebis. The plebs also protect these plebeians during their years of office.
 449 recognition of people’s tribune
 Sacrosanct (inviolate)
 Assemble the plebeians (Concilium plebis)
 May intervene in plebeian affairs (intercessia)
 Right to veto against proposals by the senate or actions of magistrates.
Why could they do that?  the plebeians were a huge part of the population. But also
the Secessio Plebis. That the plebeians could withdraw themselves out of the city. This was a
powerful thing because, the citizens are the ones that protect the city. (soldiers, hoplites)

494 secessio plebis
plebeians organize themselves with an assembly of their own
(Concilium Plebis) and elect their own magistrates (aediles and tribunes) --.

451/449 XII TABLES
first codification of laws (FIRST SUCESSES!)
367/6 leges Liciniae Sextiae (Licinian-Sextine Laws)
(wealthy) plebeians now admitted to consulate: creation of praetorship
• 2 Consuls (patrician & plebeian) - command armies (imperium)
• Praetors - administration of justice (imperium)
• Both have imperium, you can command armies!
Abolition of debt bondage. (no more bondage due to dept)

287 Lex Hortensia  Marks the end of the struggle of the orders.
Concilium Plebis – legal recognition. so laws did not require sanction by Senate
> Senate now only advises on legal proposes prior to assembly vote
Comitia Tributa – included patricians and plebeians
2 types of aediles – 2 curules (patrician) and 2 plebeian

XII TABLES (examples)