Unit Six Block Three Lecture Roman Social Structure World History I Unit Six Block Three Lecture Roman Social Structure

What!?! This is Roman!?! How so Mr. Ross? Make sure that you are viewing this in “Slide Show” format. Click on “Slide Show” and push “from beginning”. Move through the presentation by pushing on the “up” and “down” arrows” on your keyboard Click me What!?! This is Roman!?! How so Mr. Ross?

Who are the Romans? (and why don’t they like each other) Click Here Rome is split into three classes of people. Patricians: the male nobility (aristocrat) and male ruling class (including gov’t and religious leaders) Plebeians: the male majority including landowners, townspeople, merchants, and small farmers Slaves: Men and women forced into involuntary servitude based on conquest There is always tension between the Patricians and the Plebeians!

Who is a Roman “citizen” and what are their rights? Citizens Click me Patricians Plebeians Slaves Citizenship was held by all patrician and plebeian men and extended to a few foreigners as a privilege (usually local leaders and aristocrats of a conquered people) Citizens could vote, but were responsible to pay taxes and serve in the military. Slaves were not citizens Not so much

Republic versus Empire Click me The Roman Republic is a representative democracy that lasts from 509 BCE/BC until 60 BCE/BC Rome is a dictatorship under Julius Caesar from 60 to 44 BCE/BC Rome is an Empire from 44 BCE/BC until 476 BCE/BC We are here!

The Roman Republic Click Here Roman representative democracy is the foundation for modern representative democracy There are three branches of government in the Roman republic: The two consuls (co-presidents) The Senate (like the US senate) and assemblies (House of Representatives) Magistrates (Judges) Two rules help Patricians keep power Only a Patrician can be a Counsel For a long time only Patricians could be in the Senate (this changes after the Council of Orders (300 BCE/BC) when plebeians revolted to get more power).

The Power of the Counsels Click Here Counsels are the most powerful men in government Two Consuls who represent the power of the old Roman monarchy Elected by the Senate to a one year term and then made a senator for life Lead the army, serve as judges, and represent Rome in foreign affairs One consul can veto the other counsel, Counsels have emergency power: in times of war the senate can appoint a counsel as dictator for six months More powerful than these guys!

The Senate and Assembly Click Here The Roman Senate is very powerful during this time They appoint and advise the Counsels No money is spent by the government without their consent They have no lawmaking powers but what they say is enforced They are not elected by the citizens but were picked for service The Roman assemblies are democratically elected members (citizens) who make or reject laws and decide issues of war and peace The government must follow the “Twelve Tables” Created in 455 BCE/BC to stop another plebian revolt Represents a codification (writing down) of Roman law that provides an understanding of legal and social protection and civil rights between patricians and plebeians