1. THE ORIGINS OF ROME -
According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 BC in the centre of the Italian Peninsula. People who lived on the Italian Peninsula came from different origins:
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Etruscans: lived in the north and centre of Italy Latins lived in central Italy and they founded Rome Greeks established colonies in the south, which was called Maegna Graecia. SOCIETY
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It was hierarchical. There were several groups: Patricians: They belonged to powerful families They claimed to be descendants of Rome’s original aristocracy. They were landowners and had important political positions. Plebeians: They were the majority of the population. They were free In the early Republic they did not have the same political rights as patricians. Later, they achieved equal rights, after many disturbances a tribune of the plebeians was created to represent them. Slaves: They were: - prisoners of war - People who could not pay their debts - The children of slaves They had no rights Fred slaves , called liberti, did not become citizens and they continued to work for their old owners.
1. THE ORIGINS OF ROME THE MONARCHY -
Early Rome was a monarchy (753 BC – 509 BC) There were four Latin Kings followed by three Etruscan Kings. Kings had political, military and religious authority. they were advised by the senate, which was formed by the heads of aristocratic families. There was a comitia, or assembly, which elected the king. The Romans deposed the last Etruscan king in 509 BC and established a new system of government the Republic. POLITICAL ORGANISATION ON THE REPUBLIC
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Rome was a Republic from 509 BC to 27 BC INSTITUTIONS: 1. The Comitia: - assemblies where all citizens participted - they voted laws. - They elected magistrates 2. Magistrates: - they were elected each year. - the most important were: - Consul: He led the army and called the assembly - Praetor: He supervised justice - Censor: He controlled the promotion of patricians to the senate. 3. Senate: - it had 300 members, who were former magistrates - it had great power - it controlled the magistrates, the army, religion and foreign policy