The Roman Republic: The Rise Of The Roman Empire

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The sacking of the wealthy Etruscan city of Veii in 396 B.C.E., the Romans were able to throw off their Etruscan oppressors and begin to establish themselves on the peninsula. This led to the founding of their own independent kingdom, which would last until the establishment of the Roman Republic around 509 B.C.E. The Roman distain for the Etruscans and their rule had increased as Rome began to establish its own social and economic dominance. By the time the Romans had overpowered the Etruscans, they had come to an understanding that the basic principles of law were necessary to curb the ambitions of the powerful, whether they be Etruscan kings, or rulers of their own making. Their further concern was with that of overwhelming personal power in the hands of the few.
The government they developed would look to address and restrain these problems. The Roman Republic would therefore develop under a system of government that would divide power among two consuls, a Senate, and the Plebeian Assembly. Republicanism therefore came to embody the idea of representative government. This would last for over 450 years until its ultimate demise resulting from a series of civil wars and subversions. By …show more content…

Established as an act of compromise between the patricians and the plebeians after a military revolt, the Plebian Council had the power to pass laws and deal with civil litigation until Sulla, as dictator, established permanent courts in the first century B.C.E. The assembly would meet at the request and under the supervision of a Tribune, an elected magistrate who served for one year and was responsible for monitoring judicial decisions made by the assembly. The Plebeian Assembly would eventually become the favored legislature of the Roman Republic. By 287 B.C.E., its legislation would become binding over the entire Republic and would come to influence actions taken by the

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