Intro
In primitive Rome, the massive exploitation of slaves is not yet the dominant fact. The fundamental opposition is that of patricians and plebeians. In the 5th century BC. The first appeared to us as great landowners, the latter as small peasants, artisans or merchants. The patricians, organized in great families, had the monopoly of political functions and of justice. However, in order to support the perpetual wars, which they delivered to their neighbors, they had to appeal to the plebeians. The latter soon imposed conditions on them.
The opposition between the two great classes composing Roman society is inseparable from the history of the Republic: it broke out a few years after the advent of the Republic and went from rhythmic to its institutions. …show more content…
The idea of family is founding for the patricians since they define themselves as descendants of a divinized ancestor, to whom they worship, sacra gentilica. Families recognizing the same ancestor form a people. In the royal palace, the patricians constitute an aristocracy, which tends to strengthen itself in the political, religious and military spheres: it has asserted to the federal council a right to heredity, it cumulates the religious priests (like the major Flamines ) and frames the army. The royal Rome thus saw the birth of a hereditary nobility, which no longer designated itself solely by the term patres, but also by that of patricii, that is to say,
"descendants of patres." But this nobility takes abhorrence of the Etruscan monarchy, which has been built above it. It will precipitate the advent of the Republic, taking an active part in the revolution of 509 BC. J.-C. who chases the last of the Tarquins.
The nobility of the patricians set up the republican constitution of their origins; it is a perfect model of oligarchy (type of government where power is in the hands of a
In primitive Rome, the massive exploitation of slaves is not yet the dominant fact. The fundamental opposition is that of patricians and plebeians. In the 5th century BC. The first appeared to us as great landowners, the latter as small peasants, artisans or merchants. The patricians, organized in great families, had the monopoly of political functions and of justice. However, in order to support the perpetual wars, which they delivered to their neighbors, they had to appeal to the plebeians. The latter soon imposed conditions on them.
The opposition between the two great classes composing Roman society is inseparable from the history of the Republic: it broke out a few years after the advent of the Republic and went from rhythmic to its institutions. …show more content…
The idea of family is founding for the patricians since they define themselves as descendants of a divinized ancestor, to whom they worship, sacra gentilica. Families recognizing the same ancestor form a people. In the royal palace, the patricians constitute an aristocracy, which tends to strengthen itself in the political, religious and military spheres: it has asserted to the federal council a right to heredity, it cumulates the religious priests (like the major Flamines ) and frames the army. The royal Rome thus saw the birth of a hereditary nobility, which no longer designated itself solely by the term patres, but also by that of patricii, that is to say,
"descendants of patres." But this nobility takes abhorrence of the Etruscan monarchy, which has been built above it. It will precipitate the advent of the Republic, taking an active part in the revolution of 509 BC. J.-C. who chases the last of the Tarquins.
The nobility of the patricians set up the republican constitution of their origins; it is a perfect model of oligarchy (type of government where power is in the hands of a