How Democratic Was The Roman Republic

Introduction

The Roman Republic was established in 509 BCE, after a long struggle against kingship. The Roman Republic was characterized by elements of democracy, such as the election of officials and the creation of a representative government. However, the Republic was also marked by undemocratic practices, such as the exclusion of plebeians and women from political power. This paper will discuss the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic, the democratic elements of the Republic, and the undemocratic practices that made the Republic questionable.

Circumstances that Led to the Establishment of the Roman Republic

According to legend, Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a she-wolf.

The Etruscans introduced the idea of the monarchy to the Romans, and the Romans initially had kings as their rulers. However, over time, the Roman aristocracy began to resent the absolute power of the kings, and they sought to limit their power. This led to a series of conflicts and ultimately the overthrow of the last Roman king, Tarquin the Proud. In his place, the Romans established a republic with two consuls as the highest officials. The establishment of the Roman Republic was thus a result of a long struggle against the excesses of monarchical

The Roman Senate was composed of 300 members, who were chosen from the most prominent families in Rome. The Senate was responsible for making laws and advising the consuls, and its members served for life. In addition to the Senate, there were also other assemblies of the people, such as the Comitia Centuriata, which was responsible for electing consuls and passing laws.

Undemocratic Practices of the Republic

While the Roman Republic was characterized by democratic elements, it was also marked by undemocratic practices. One of the most significant of these was the exclusion of plebeians from political power. In the early years of the Republic, only patricians, who were members of the noble families, were allowed to hold political office. This led to a long struggle by the plebeians to gain political power, which was eventually granted through the creation of the office of the Tribune of the Plebs.

Another undemocratic practice of the Republic was the exclusion of women from political power. Women were not allowed to vote or hold political office, and they were generally relegated to the domestic sphere. This exclusion of women from political power persisted throughout the history of the Republic, and it was not until the late Republic that women began to play a more prominent role in Roman