The political system that governed the Roman republic was essential to its success. However, as the Romans expanded their territory, the republic was not able to effectively govern due to the influx of land, wealth and citizens that it now presided over.
As the Republic of Rome expanded quite rapidly, the system in which it governed with became less and less viable. Between 284 and 44 BCE, the map in our textbook shows that the republic went from controlling solely Italy, to conquering Spain, Gaul, Macedonia, Anatolia, as well as parts of the middle east and northern Africa. And because their oligarchic political system only worked in the context of a simple city-state, the incredible amount of new land could not be effectively controlled.
As the Republic of Rome expanded quite rapidly, the system in which it governed with became less and less viable. Between 284 and 44 BCE, the map in our textbook shows that the republic went from controlling solely Italy, to conquering Spain, Gaul, Macedonia, Anatolia, as well as parts of the middle east and northern Africa. And because their oligarchic political system only worked in the context of a simple city-state, the incredible amount of new land could not be effectively controlled.