• The Romans were great at ruling other people.
• Once Rome conquered other people….
– Rome built a permanent military base there
– Rome built roads from Rome to the conquered place
– Conquered people were treated fairly
– Some conquered people became citizens
– Would pay Roman taxes and be protected by Roman soldiers
– Conquered people were allowed to manage their own local affairs
• This was called the Roman Confederation

• Roman society was divided into two groups
• Patricians – ruling class, wealthy landowners, from
Rome’s oldest families
• Plebeians – not as wealthy, artisans, shopkeepers, small farmers, poor people
• Both patrician and plebeian men were considered citizens who could vote, pay taxes, and serve in the army
• Plebeians didn’t have certain rights – couldn’t marry patrician women, couldn’t hold political office, or lead religious ceremonies,

• Three branches – one made laws , one acted like judges , and one ran the daily affairs of the city
• It had checks and balances, but no separation of powers
• Two consuls – administrative leaders, head of the army, served only for one year, each consul could veto the other
• Praetors – judges, interpreted law, could lead the army
• Senate – made laws, 300 patricians , served for life
• Assembly of Centuries – elected consuls and praetors, made laws, controlled by patricians

• Plebeians were upset they had no power in government, so in 494 BC they went on strike
• Plebeians were allowed to create their own
Council of the Plebs
• The Council elected tribunes , who would voice their concerns to the Roman government, veto laws , and in 287 BC, they could start passing laws for Rome

• During times of crisis , the consuls could resign, and a dictator would take over
• Dictator – strong leader who had complete control over Rome ; they would give power back to the government once the crisis was over
• Cincinnatus – a famous dictator, took over Rome for
16 days, created an army, destroyed the enemy, returned to his farm once he won, inspired people like George Washington
• Civic duty – citizens have a responsibility to help their country/government

• Roman law has influenced many other legal systems, like the United States' legal system
• Roman law had to be written down for everyone to read
• Twelve Tables – Rome’s main laws , carved into bronze tablets and displayed in the marketplace
• Every citizen was treated equally by the law
• Law of Nations – rules for conquered people, applied to everyone else in the Roman empire
• Rule of law – law applies to everyone equally, legal system treats everyone the same way