UNESCO Workshop (Presentation)

Material Culture and History: Roman Republic

Rome overthrew monarchy in late 6th century BCE and created a republican government. It represented its citizens’ wishes, and it went ahead to conquer the whole of Italian Peninsula and better part of Mediterranean. After five centuries, the republican government was wrecked by civil wars, transforming into a Principate under emperors. Different political bodies created in the republican period endured but had power reduction, for example the Senate (Wasson 2).

Myth and Legend

Before history was recorded, it was based on oral, myth and legend accounts. It is believed that transformation of monarchy to republic took decades, maybe centuries (Wasson 4). Before Tarquinius Superbus or Tarquin the Proud, the last king, was overthrown in 510 BCE, the city’s history was mired in war and valor stories. The city is founded on mostly legend, and many prefer myths over fact. Romans had an admiration of Hellenistic Greek culture, embracing Aeneas’ story. The mythical story is about Aeneas and his disciples, who were assisted by goddess Venus to escape Troy when it fell to the Greeks in the Trojan War. Juno, Jupiter’s wife, interfered with Aeneas throughout the story. Aeneas stayed briefly in Carthage, going to Italy and Latium later, seeing the fulfillment of his destiny. Remus and Romulus were his descendants; they were twins, sons of Mars and princess Rhea Silvia, daughter of Alba Longa. Romulus defeated his brother in battle and founded Rome, and became the first king.

Early Years

According to Wasson, Rome had internal and external conflicts after exit of Tarquin. Rome emerged victorious against its enemies at the time. Republic’s political structure of Rome continued to evolve as it continued to expand its territories. The new government that was created then dominated North Sea through Germania and Gaul, west to Hispania, east to Greece, North Africa and Syria. The Mediterranean became a Roman lake. These areas were under the Roman Empire.

Republic’s Government

Great families (patricians) took over the control after monarchy fell. The rest of the citizens who were poor had no political authority. The two classes (patricians and the poor) had tension that continued to grow (Wasson 4). This was majorly because the poor were recruited in the army to fight for the rich. The poor gathered around Rome in strike, and they could not move until a representation was granted. They won and were rewarded with their own assembly, the Council of the Plebs.

Officials and Magistrates

Praetor was a lesser magistrate, and served as a judicial officer with provincial and civic jurisdiction. A Quaestor was the financial administrator. Urban maintenance was supervised by aedile. Censor reviewed the citizens’ list and their property. The final and the topmost position was Caesar that had complete authority, only named during emergencies. The renowned one was Julius Caesar (Trimble 6), a dictator for life (Wasson 5).

The Gracchus Brothers

In the second century BCE, two brothers, Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus attempted and failed to bring changes. Tiberius suggested the giving of land to small farmers and the unemployed. The Senate objected vehemently as they were large landowners (Steel 5). Afterwards, there were riots and Tiberius, and other 300 people, were killed. Gaius presented the same land distribution idea, and it was rejected jut as his brother’s. He chose suicide after 3000 of his followers were murdered (Wasson 7). This was an indicator that Rome would soon fall. It fell in the hands of Sulla and his army. He purged the Roman Senate and brought various reforms, he retired in 79 BCE.

References

Steel, Catherine. “Introduction: The Legacy of the Republican Roman Senate”, Classical Receptions Journal, Volume 7, Issue 1, 1 January 2015, Pp 1– 10, https://doi.org/10.1093/crj/clu011

Trimble, Jennifer. “The Rhetoric of Physical Appearance in Suetonius and Imperial Portrait Statuary. Roman History. Princeton/ Stanford Working Papers in Classics. Pp 1-40.

Wasson, Donald L. “Roman Republic.” Ancient Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Republic/