Rulers
Rulers and form of Government:
FROM MONARCHY TO REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE:
The first king of Rome was Romulus. Later, kings came from a people called
the Etruscans. One king called Tarquinius Superbus was violent and cruel. The
people threw him out in 509BC and the Romans never wanted to be ruled by
kings again.
Rome then became a republic – every man could vote for the people who
would rule them. This was called a democracy BUT only citizen men could
vote. And only RICH MEN could be rulers.
These rulers formed the Senate. The Republic ended with the assassination of
Julius Caesar. The Roman Empire from then on would be ruled by an Emperor,
although the Senate still kept its power.
THE REPUBLIC:
THE SENATE
• They senate met at a house called the Curia.
TWO CONSULS
The first king of Rome was Romulus. Later, kings came from a people called
the Etruscans. One king called Tarquinius Superbus was violent and cruel. The
people threw him out in 509BC and the Romans never wanted to be ruled by
kings again.
Rome then became a republic – every man could vote for the people who
would rule them. This was called a democracy BUT only citizen men could
vote. And only RICH MEN could be rulers.
These rulers formed the Senate. The Republic ended with the assassination of
Julius Caesar. The Roman Empire from then on would be ruled by an Emperor,
although the Senate still kept its power.
THE REPUBLIC:
- The Romans established a form of government called a republic (res publica is Latin for ‘public things’).
- Because the Romans dreaded one man becoming too powerful, they organised for powers and duties to be shared among an elected group of people.
- The Republic was divided into several areas.
THE SENATE
- 600 influential citizens of Rome called Senators, who advised the consuls. They were very powerful and ended up controlling Rome.
- They wore special shoes and had a broad purple stripe on their toga.
• They senate met at a house called the Curia.
TWO CONSULS
- They governed the city. They were elected for one year only and could not be elected again until 10 years had passed.
- They also commanded the army.
- They both had to agree before a decision could be made.