Can you say super sweet Roman Politics?!
By: Cassie Hack, Cierra Lawson, and Kendall Miller!
Roman politics in the beginning
were a little bit different than they are
now. Although the politics of Ancient
Rome are still quite similar in ways
today, some of their politics are even
like America's politics!
Here is a Roman patrician,
with the heads of his
ancestors, showing that power
runs in the family.
Nature of Roman Politics
The conduct of political affairs
was heavily dominated by the
senatorial class, particularly by a
small number of noble families.
The upper classes generally followed
one of two informal political factions:
Populares and Optimates. The
Populares were "the party of the
people." The Optimates were "the
party of the best men" or the
aristocrats.
Personal wealth was an essential
for the political office. This was
because the campaigning was very
expensive. Also showmanship was
an essential as well. During the last
century of the Republic, bribery
during a campaign was quite
common.
Ancient Roman Law
As the empire developed the emperor
was at the top of the administrative
system. He served as military commander
chief, high priest, court of appeal, and
source of law. The emperors took over the
Senate's political and legislative power,
although they still needed the help of
Senators who had experience in
diplomacy, government, and military
command.
Since the emperor chose candidates for
all the government positions, senators had
no other way to be in high office except
through loyal service. The Senators
always remained loyal to the emperor's
because that was their only chance at
success.
Ancient Roman
Politics
People used money (above) as
bribery to raise their chances
of entering political office.
The rich and powerful people
of ancient Rome were the
patricians, who governed the city
from the Senate. The Senate was
Rome's governing body while the
republic was being voted into
office once a year by an
Assembly of citizens. Most of the
political power was in the hands
of a few ancient families:
Cornelli, the Julii (the family of
the Caesars) and the Aemilii.
The Senate lost most of its
power under the emperors, but
the patrician families still had the
public opinion.
Emperors would meet with
Senators to discuss political
matters.
Fun Fact!
“Senate” comes
from the Latin
word for old
men!
Roman Senate
The Senate goes way back to a time
before there was an accurate written
history for Rome. The senate was
composed of leading citizens who were
members of the original aristocratic
families in the old Republic. The
original purpose of this group was to
advise the King. This worked well
during the first two centuries of Rome.
Of course this was when Rome was a
city-state built on seven hills and ruled
by a king.
The Senate originally had one
hundred members chosen from the
patrician class; but the early kings soon
increased the number to three hundred
members. After the expulsion of the last
Tarquin, Tarquinius Superbus, the
Senate formed the main governing body
of the Roman Republic.
The Roman Senate
Functions of the Roman
Senate
Originally an advisory board
composed of the heads of patrician
families came to be an assembly of
former magistrates. They were the most
powerful organ of republican
government and the only body of state
that could develop a consistent longterm policy.
They took care of all public matters.
The most important areas were in
foreign policies (such as the conduct of
war) and financial administration. They
also had a division of executive,
legislative and judicial branches.
Julius Caesar
Meeting of the Roman
Senate
The Roman Kings
First of all, the historical details
are still too obscure for any definite
records of Rome under the Kings, it
all remains "half mythical." There
was said to be seven kings of Rome
covering a period of over two
hundred years.
The first recognized king was
Romulus. He is attributed for the
foundation of the Senate. He is
also said to have expanded the
cities boundaries and the
population.
Once Romulus died, Numa
Pompilius came to power. Unlike
Romulus, Numa was not a warrior
king, but a religious, cultural
figure. After Numa died, Tullus
Hostilius took over Ancus.
Marcius was the fourth ruler,
Lucious Tarquinius Priscus the
fifth, and Servius Tullius was the
sixth. The final king of Rome was
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.
Interesting Tidbit!
Romulus’s reign was also
known for the "Rape of the
Sabine women.” This was
when Rome was short on
women, so they invited
Sabine women to a festival
where the women were
raped and forced to be
brides!
He was a Roman military and
political leader. He is supposedly one
of the most influential men in world
history. He played a critical role in
the transformation of the Roman
Republic into the Roman Empire. His
conquest of Gaul extended the
Roman world all the way to the
Atlantic Ocean. He assumed control
of the government and began
extensive reforms of Roman society
and government. He was proclaimed
dictator for life!
Julius Caesar!
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