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The Roman Republic's Rise and Fall

Before the Roman Republic

medallion with Romulus and Remus inscribed on it
A medallion found at the base of Certosa
di Pavia, a monastery in northern Italy.

According to ancient Roman legend, the city of Rome was founded on the Tiber River around 753 B.C. (B.C.E.) by twin brothers named Romulus and Remus. The location chosen by the twins proved strategically sound as it was halfway between the Alps Mountains in the north and Italy's Mediterranean coast in the south.

Between the time of its founding and the rise of the Roman Republic, a succession of tyrannical kings ruled Rome. Romans grew to despise monarchical governments, and in 509 B.C. (B.C.E.), they overthrew their king and formed a republic.

A republic is a form of government in which citizens hold the power to vote and select their leaders. Romans believed that by having a republic, no one individual would gain too much power.

Foundations of the Roman Republic

Roman Social Structure Interactivity

Because Roman citizens had a duty to vote, defining what was meant by citizenship proved essential to the development of the Roman Republic. In this interactivity, you will discover how Romans categorized citizens and slaves. Click the player button to begin.

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Limitations of Citizenship

a comparison of citizens and non-citizens in ancient Rome

As the Roman Republic expanded over time, selected foreigners were also granted citizenship. Similar to citizenship in the United States, Roman citizenship came with a set of responsibilities like paying taxes and serving in the military. Even with this growth, citizenship was limited. Women, most non-Roman residents, and slaves were excluded from citizenship and voting. In modern times, these may not seem like reasonable limitations for voting and participating in government. Today, the United States no longer limits voting rights based on gender, race, or the ability to pay taxes; however, this was not always the case. The Roman Republic laid the foundation for the representative democracy that exists in the United States today. A representative democracy is defined as a form of government in which elected individuals represent the people in making policy decisions.

Hover your cursor over the image to review which people in the Roman Republic were citizens and which were not.

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Roman Officials and Assemblies

Roman Officials and Assemblies Interactivity

The structure of the government in the Roman Republic included several different positions and groups. In this interactivity, you will learn about the government of early Rome. Click the player button to begin.

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The Twelve Tables

a depiction of a Centuriate Assembly
Cicero Denouncing Catilina, a depiction of a Centuriate Assembly
In 450 B.C. (B.C.E.), the laws of Rome were codified into the Twelve Tables. These laws were inscribed on twelve bronze tablets and hung publicly in Rome's Forum, or central plaza. The Twelve Tables were written to protect the rights of all Roman citizens, and laid the foundation for the future development of Roman civil law. Moreover, the Twelve Tables served as a model for the American legal system. The principle of "innocent until proven guilty," for example, originated with the Twelve Tables.

The Roman Republic's Rise and Fall Review

The Roman Republic's Rise and Fall Review Interactivity

review iconNow that you have examined the foundations of the Roman Republic, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player button to get started.