Do now: Write in agenda Take out “Patricians and Plebeians” packet Take out a pencil

Patricians and Plebeians Under Etruscan Rule The Etruscans ruled Rome from 616 - 509 B.C.E. Roman society was divided into two classes. Plebeians: peasants, laborers, artisans, shopkeepers (95% of the population) Patricians: wealthy landowners (5% of the population) According the Roman records, there were seven kings who ruled the city. Not all of them were Roman. The last three kings were Etruscan who ruled Rome from 616 - 509 BCE.

II. The Patricians Create a Republic 509 BCE: a group of patricians rebelled and drove the Etruscan king out of the city. **Lucius Junius Brutus was one of the heroes of the rebellion. He supported the new republic.

II. The Patricians Create a Republic Only patricians could participate!!! The new government was a republic, where elected officials work for the interest of the people. Roman Senate- 300 men Elected by other patricians Create laws and served as judges Served for life Consuls- 2 elected leaders Shared command of the army Listened to the Senate How democratic was the Roman Republic?

II. The Patricians Create a Republic How democratic was the Roman Republic? What are some reasons plebeians would be unhappy with the government? Total pop.: 40,000 Plebeians: 38,000 Patricians: 2,000 300 Senators 2 consuls How democratic was the Roman Republic?

Hammurabi’s Code was the first example of laws being written down. What are the benefits of having written laws?

III. The Plebeians Rebel Patricians took advantage of the fact that laws were not written down. Plebeians grew increasingly unhappy and demanded more political rights. The struggle between the plebeians and the patricians was known as the Conflict of Orders

Your city passes laws that you don’t like Your city passes laws that you don’t like. You believe it is hurting the community. What are some ways you can protest?

III. The Plebeians Rebel 494 BCE- Rome’s population was 25,000 - 40,000 people. Angry over the lack of power, the plebeians marched out of the city and camped on a nearby hill. They refused to come back until the patricians met their demands. Patricians had no choice but to compromise in the end. Why do you think this was an effective strategy?

IV. The Plebeians Gain Political Equality The plebeians’ revolt led to a major change in Roman government. Tribunes represented the plebeians in the Senate. Had the power to “veto,” prohibit, actions by the Senate Rome’s laws were written down on on tablets called the Twelve Tables One of the consuls had to be a plebeian. Watch Brainpop: Roman Republic

Homework: due Monday Summarize. How was the struggle between patricians and plebeians important to the government of Rome? Watch Brainpop: Roman Republic