Introduction
Thousands of years ago, Ancient Rome (founded in 753 BC) was a monarchy, a government ruled by a single ruler. This ruler, usually a king or emperor, held absolute power over their subjects. For centuries, Rome was one of the great centres of power and accomplished many great achievements in art, literature, engineering and politics. But by the end of the Republic in the 1st century BC, Rome had changed dramatically and was on the brink of disintegrating into chaos. This marks the dawn of a new era, and the foundation of the Roman Empire. Amid widespread disaffection and political turmoil, a wave of democracy slowly replaced the monarchy, ushering in a new, more powerful form of government. But who, exactly, changed Ancient Rome into a democracy? In this article, we’ll explore how democracy came to Rome and its lasting impact on the world.
Military Action
The change from a monarchy to a democracy began with a series of military campaigns known as the Social War, which began in 91 BC. At the time, the Roman Republic was in desperate need of reform, and the people of Rome were looking for a leader to help them effect this change. Enter the famous Roman general, Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Sulla overthrew the Roman Senate, dissolved the Republic and declared himself dictator in 81 BC. Sulla had been a prominent leader in the Social War and was an advocate for democracy. He used his power as dictator to bring about sweeping democratic reforms, including the establishment of a new code of laws, which established the rule of law in Rome.
Democracy in the Early Republic
Though Sulla was a strong proponent of democracy, the reality was that democracy had been present in the Roman Republic long before him. In 509BC, the Roman Republic was born, and the Roman people cast off the oppressive rule of the Etruscans and began building their own democratic government. The ongoing conflict of the Roman Republic was between the ‘patrician’ class (the upper aristocracy) and the plebeians (commoners). This conflict reached a climax in 287BC with the passing of the ‘twelve tables,” written laws that recognized the rights of the commoners. This marked a major shift in the Roman Republic, with the plebeians gaining greater rights and privileges.
Julius Caesar & The End of the Republic
Though democracy had been growing throughout the Republic, it wasn’t until Julius Caesar straddled the political and military world of Rome that it truly gained ground. Julius Caesar was a clever politician, and his reforms, most famously the Lex Iulia, granted certain rights to the Roman plebeians and established a division of power between the two classes. Additionally, Julius Caesar further expanded the power of the Roman people through his conquest of Gaul, and he eventually became the sole ruler of Rome. This marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
Augustus & The Creation Of The Empire
Following Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44BC, it was his nephew Augustus who emerged as the first Emperor of Rome, who founded the great Roman Empire. Augustus brought about sweeping changes to Roman society, and much of Rome’s democracy was eroded as he sought to consolidate his absolute power. He increased the power of the Senate, which he used to further consolidate authority, and this all but ended the democracy that had been steadily creeping into Roman society under Julius Caesar.
The Rise of the Principate
Despite the end of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, there was still a significant element of democracy within Rome’s political structure. This was the principate, a term used to describe the position of the emperor. Augustus had changed the Roman government from a democracy to a monarchy, but he also introduced a new system of government, where the emperor was appointed to the role and held absolute power, but had to earn the support of the people to maintain that power. In this way, democracy had not been completely eradicated from Rome, but had instead been adapted to suit the new Roman Empire.
Conclusion
The change from a monarchy to a democracy in Ancient Rome did not occur overnight as many believe, but rather occurred over centuries. From the Social War to the Lex Iulia, Julius Caesar and Augustus, a number of events and individuals contributed to the eventual transition to democracy. Though Augustus is often credited with ushering in the democracy, it was in fact a form of democratic government that had been slowly developing throughout the Roman Republic, and it is this system that informed the structure of the principate under the Empire. Ultimately, democracy reached its full potential under the Roman Empire and its legacy continues to shape modern politics around the world.
Religion in Ancient Rome
Religion was an important part of everyday life for the people of Ancient Rome. Religion was deeply ingrained in all aspects of society, from politics to law, and it provided the glue that held the city-state together. Religion, from the very start of Roman history, was a way of life, with early Roman gods believed to be the guardians and protectors of society.
Religion in the Republic period (509BC–27BC) revolved around a complex system of gods and goddesses all of which were linked to a specific domain. As the Republic grew stronger, Rome was able to absorb new gods and ideologies from conquered regions, with new cults such as Christianity and Mithraism emerging. Religious ceremonies also became major public events and political tools, with processions, sacrifices, festivals and comitia serving as major instruments of communication and bonding between the people of Rome and their rulers.
Under the Empire (27BC–476AD), religion in Rome took a new turn, with a more standardized form of worship being imposed by the state. Imperial cults emerged around the major cities, worshipping the Emperor and key deities associated with them. Worship of the classical gods declined, with the newer cults and religions gaining popularity. Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, began to make Christianity the official religion of Rome, although traditional religions were still allowed to practice. Despite the changes, religion still remained at the heart of Roman life, and it continued to provide a spiritual bridge between the people and their rulers.
The declining Roman Empire saw a resurgence of paganism with “Romanized” versions of Eastern religions such as Mithraism and the Mysteries of Isis supplanting Christianity as the most popular belief system. This period was marked by several strong religious figures such as Augustine and Boethius who sought to re-establish Christianity as the leading religion. By the 5th century, Christianity emerged as the dominant religion in the Empire and it would remain so until its fall in 476AD.
Political Structure in Ancient Rome
The Romans developed a complex political structure that greatly contributed to their success as a society and nation. Politically, Rome was divided into two main sections: the Republic (509BC – 27BC), which had its own government and political system, and the Empire (27BC – 476AD), which was a more authoritarian form of government. This political structure enabled Rome to become the dominant force in the Mediterranean region.
During the Republic, Rome was a representative democracy, with the citizens divided into two classes: the patricians (upper aristocracy) and the plebeians (commoners). Representation fell to the Senate, who were elected by the citizens. The Senate was comprised of 300 members and was the highest authority in the state, overseeing all decision making and passing laws. In addition to the Senate, there were other important political institutions such as the Comitia, military tribunals, and the Assemblies.
The Empire brought about a more autocratic form of government, with the Emperor having absolute power. The Senate lost much of its power and became largely a symbolic body. Other bodies such as the Praetorian Guard and the Imperial Court were created to carry out the will of the Emperor. While the Senate still existed and held some influence, the focus of politics shifted from the people and their representatives to the Emperor and his court.
Impact of Ancient Rome on Modern Politics
Today, many of the political concepts and systems developed by the Romans are still in use in modern politics. The concepts of a republic and a representative democracy, which originated in Rome, are still the basis upon which many modern states operate. Additionally, many of the same political divisions are still in place, with the Senate and Congress being two examples of this. In addition to these direct influences, modern politics has also been influenced by Rome’s innovations in the fields of law and military strategy.
The Codex Iuris, the legal code developed by the Romans, is the basis for much of the law in both Europe and the United States. Furthermore, Rome’s great military conquests have been studied for centuries and have had a significant impact on military strategy and tactics. The Roman Empire put in place a vast military infrastructure and outposts, many of which are still in use today. These innovations in warfare continue to shape the way wars are fought today.
Lastly, Roman politics has had a lasting impact on international relations. The concept of diplomacy, which involves using negotiation and compromise to resolve international disputes rather than resorting to war, was developed by the Romans. This has been used ever since and still influences the way countries and territories approach and resolve conflict with each other today.
Economics in Ancient Rome
The Roman economy was closely intertwined with their politics and culture, and was a driving force behind their success as a superpower. Rome’s economy was based largely on agriculture and trade, and it was divided into two parts: public and private. The public economy was controlled by the state and largely funded by taxes, while the private economy was driven by private citizens and businesses. There was also a large slave class, which was essential to the city’s economy, as slaves provided labor in the fields and performed tasks such as carpentry and masonry.
Trade played a major role in the Roman economy. Rome’s geographical position enabled them to become an important trading hub for goods such as wine, oil, and wheat. Additionally, Rome was also able to obtain large amounts of precious metals, jewels, and other luxury goods. Roman traders developed sophisticated trading networks, which extended as far as India and China, and served to bring wealth and power to the city of Rome.
Finance was largely in the hands of wealthy private citizens, who used moneylending and investment banking to help fund public projects. The Roman banking system allowed for the development of a flourishing currency market, and the use of gold coins became commonplace. Romans also used a complex system of taxation to fund public services and the military, which was essential in funding the massive infrastructure projects carried out during the reign of Julius Caesar and Augustus.
The Roman economy was incredibly successful, and its influence can still be felt today. Many of its fundamental principles, such as trade, banking and taxation, are still in use, and its legacy is still evident in the modern world.
