The Roman Society The changes in the Roman government affected the social classes and rights gradually became more equal among the people of Rome. New laws and new leaders tried to make society become closer in equality through reforms. It was long and difficult process to be freed or to become a citizen of Rome and not many accomplished it. Plebeians and woman were thought of as worthless citizens in society, but through time they gained more rights. To show that this is true, I will be addressing four topics: plebeians versus. patricians, women, merchants and artisans, and slaves and non-citizens.
When Rome established a republic in 509 B. C. , two major classes developed. The patricians controlled the government with a Senate, made up of 300 elected officials. The senate chose two consuls to administer the laws of Rome. The only power that plebeians had in the government was with a popular assembly, which approved the choice of consuls.
Plebeians could not hold public office or marry into a patrician family. During the time of the Republic to the time of the empire, plebeians, who fought in many wars to help Rome gain power, demanded more rights. The government slowly began to change to appeal to plebeians who out-numbered everyone else in population. Around 494 B. C. , an Assembly of Centuries and an Assembly of Tribes Centuries and an Assembly of Tribes replaced the popular assembly.
The Essay on Religion People Government Society
accomplishments and success of civilizations are closely linked to their religious outlook and the role of religion in their governments and society. Throughout history rulers have used the influence of religions to control their populations and provide the justification for their power. A society with a greater degree of separation between religion and government promotes a superior level of ...
The Assembly of Centuries represented the Roman Army and all the classes that were included in it and they elected the consuls. The Assembly of Tribes was made up of ten elected plebeians and spoke for the plebeians interests, but had little influence on the government. In 445 B. C, plebeians won the right to marry patricians.
The Assembly of Tribes gained the right to pass laws and veto any government action that threatened the rights of the plebeians. By about 300 B. C. , plebeians had earned the right to hold all major political and religious posts. In 366 B. C.
, they won the right to consulship. When Rome took over the control of an empire, the discrimination between the classes became indistinct. Julius Caesar was one of the many emperors that tried to bring the rich and poor closer to the poor by limiting the wealthy peoples’ land ownership. During the early republic, the woman of Rome had few legal rights. Amale was always responsible for the care and support of the family’s women. Thequestion of women as heirs was irrelevant.
Like all plebeians, even women patricians could not vote or hold public office. They were usually married off around the age of 14 to be housewives. Even though women didn’t have many rights, the the poor by limiting the wealthy peoples’ land ownership. During the early republic, the woman of Rome had few legal rights. Amale was always responsible for the care and support of the family’s women. Thequestion of women as heirs was irrelevant.
Like all plebeians, even women patricians could not vote or hold public office. They were usually married off around the age of 14 to be housewives. Even though women didn’t have man Rome, especially if their husbands or fathers held public office. Examples of these women would be Messalina (wife of emperor Claudius), Livia (second wife of Augustus), and Julia and Julia (daughter of Augustus and granddaughter of Augustus).
During early Rome, the Merchants and artisans were included among the common people. But, as the republic changed to an empire, it helped them out a lot.
The Essay on Romans And Greeks Roman Plebs Rome
The Romans, like the Greeks, initially relied on a citizen-soldiery. In the course of the Punic Wars (3 rd and 2 nd century BC), the Roman army became a professional force. Drill and discipline were the keystones of Roman military power; the individual foot soldier was skilled in the use of heavy javelins and the short sword. Roman siege techniques were highly developed and the supply service well ...
With the empire expanding and the need to spread the Roman culture, merchants and artisans became more important than ever. The artisans spread the Roman culture by sending their many crafts and ‘masterpieces’ to the newly conquered lands. The merchants, with all of this new land under Roman power, were free to trade along any route as Rome controlled most of them. Most of this rising of the merchants and artisans status happened during the Pax Romana.
Grn Ron Rome, especially if their hu 0 A class and some rich merchants and artisans joined the upper class. At the bottom of all of the classes were the slaves and non-citizens. Neither of them had very many rights. Slaves were usually prisoners of war from countries that the Roman empire had taken over. They were used as gladiators along with criminals (some freedmen did volunteer, though, for these ‘murderousGames’ also).
In addition, slaves were used as actors in early Roman plays and were owned by the managers who produced the plays.
Some laws even specified that only slaves might be tortured. But later, freemen could also be tortured in cases of treason. It was the right of the master to offer his slaves for torture in order to prove his own innocence or to discipline them. It was also his right to free any slaves that he owned if they showed their honor to him ina time of crisis, which he would have to prove.
The right to torture slaves was not removed in Roman law until in 240 A. D. Many non-citizens were also treated as if they were slaves. Theyusually were from some land conquered by the Romans, and were trying to make abetter life in one of the cities. Intermarriages among the citizens and non-citizens of Rome were not allowed. The only way people were granted citizenship was if someone of high power use slaves was not removed in Roman law until in 240 A.
D. Many non-citizens were also treated as if they were slaves. Theyusually were from some land conquered by the Romans, and were trying to make abetter life in one of the cities. Intermarriages among the citizens and non-citizens of Rome were not allowed.
The only way people were granted citizenship was if someone of high power gave it to them. Soon the lands surrounding Rome under Roman Power were considered provinces of Rome, therefor the people that lived in them were rights among the people of Rome through long and difficult processes, became closer to equality. All of the social classes went through individual changes. Some, like the patricians, lost more in the end than what they started out with.
The Essay on Atlantic Slave Trade Africa African People
Atlantic Slave Trade When most people talk about or think about slavery, they look at how it effected the US. The Atlantic Slave Trade had a huge effect on the US but there are no words or expressions that can describe the effects it had on Africa and its family? s. It is estimated that between 1450 and 1900, there were 11, 698, 000 slaves exported from Africa. (Atlantic Slave trade, pg. 170) To ...
Others, like non-citizens gained more rights with laws that affected them. Overall, they each were effected by the government of the Roman empire. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1) World History, Patterns of Civilization. New Jersey: Burton F. Beers, 19932) Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.
, 19933) The World Book Encyclopedia Chicago, London, Sydney, Toronto, 1985.
