CLASSICS 2LW3 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Plebeian Council, Class Conflict, Ager Publicus
28 Jun 2018
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INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT ROME
Importance of Roman Legal History
Rome developed the most fully articulated legal approach issues of justice in the ancient
world. More material is left as evidence for historians, demonstrating complex legislative
processes, extensive codification, professional representation, jurisprudence, and legal
philosophy.
A profound impact on the legal systems of later historical states includes: influences on the
civil codes of continental Europe and the USA, republicanism and liberalism, suspicion of
participatory democracy in modern constitutional republics, and Latin terminology in model
legal literature.
Complexity of Roman Legal History
Rome's long history, from 753 BC - May 29, 1453 AD as a successful state necessitates
studying their dynamic legal systems over time.
Dual tradition from Virgil's Aeneid from Greek tradition and the Roman myth of
Romulus and Remus
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Leads to establishment of City across from the river Tiber on the Palatine hill
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April 21, 753 BC - Foundation of Rome
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Characterized by an elected, monarchical form of government with 7 traditional kings
over 250 years
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Senate senex from a body of wise old patricians
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Division of Roman population into 3 tribes consisting of 10 curiae each by
Romulus, creating a primitive assembly
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No hereditary right of succession leading to adoption of clientage clientela
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Senate is always going to be powerful in Roman government
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No hereditary right of succession, so patronage clientela adopted by patricians
in return for material and social assistance; patricians would offer clients legal
assistance
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Romans traced important institutions to the legendary kings:
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Instituted military reform making it available to all citizens and pushed
for military expansion
▪
Established the comitia centuriata, the 100-man basic tactical unit of the
military
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Divided legal and trial procedures into private ius privatum and public ius
publicum
▪
Servius Tullius, second-to-last King was of Etruscan heritage and:
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575 - 535 BC - Late Regal Period
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753 - 509 BC - The Regal Period and the Roman Kingdom
509 BC - Overthrow of the Roman Monarchy
Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) was the legendary final king of Rome
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His son Sextus Tarquinius raped the noblewoman Lucretia who committed suicide
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Lucius Junius Brutus and other Roman nobles gained support from the patricians and
plebeians to expel the monarchs and institute a republic
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The expulsion of the Tarquins from Rome speaks to the diminishing of Etruscan power
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Brutus and Collatinus became the first consuls
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The trope that kings start off benevolent, installing public works and expressing military
leadership, and successively become more arrogant is prominent in historical narrative.
No single authority, with patrician executive magistracy and popular assemblies
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Popular assemblies had power to elect, vote on proposals; not to initiate or amend
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Like Athenian eponymous archons in that their names were given to the year
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Elected annually by the comitia centuriata and held veto power
Consuls were chief magistrates and leaders of the military with kingly authority fasces
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509 - 27 BC - Res Publica Romana, the Roman Republic
Introduction to Ancient Rome
November 7, 2017
4:26 PM
Ancient Law Page 1
Document Summary
Rome developed the most fully articulated legal approach issues of justice in the ancient world. More material is left as evidence for historians, demonstrating complex legislative processes, extensive codification, professional representation, jurisprudence, and legal philosophy. Rome"s long history, from 753 bc - may 29, 1453 ad as a successful state necessitates studying their dynamic legal systems over time. 753 - 509 bc - the regal period and the roman kingdom. April 21, 753 bc - foundation of rome. Dual tradition from virgil"s aeneid from greek tradition and the roman myth of. Leads to establishment of city across from the river tiber on the palatine hill. Characterized by an elected, monarchical form of government with 7 traditional kings over 250 years. Romans traced important institutions to the legendary kings: Senate senex from a body of wise old patricians. Division of roman population into 3 tribes consisting of 10 curiae each by.
