Roman Republic
The earliest stage of Roman political structure was the Roman Republic, established in 509 BC. The Republic was governed by several leaders, each appointed for specific lengths of time. The two most important leaders were the Consuls, two officials elected every one to two years who were tasked with overseeing all aspects of the Republic. The Republic also had a Senate made up of 300 of the most influential families in Rome. This was an appointed position and was only filled by men of great wealth and influence. Additionally, the Republic had a Senate which was initially made up of 100 leaders from all the Patrician families who had the power to approve or reject legislation.
The Senate was the most important institution in the Republic and all of its decisions had to be approved by the people in order to become law. This was accomplished through a popular vote called the ‘raptus’ where the people would vote for or against a particular decision that the Senate proposed. The Senate also had the power to appoint oligarchs, supreme leaders of the Republic simply known as the Censors.
The Censors were given the power to approve or deny the election of Consuls, Senators and other officials in the Republic. They had the right to appoint religious officials, censor books, and elect magistrates. This gave them a tremendous amount of power and their decisions were held in the highest regard. In addition, they had the ability to call a Senate meeting, approve or reject proposals and assess the wealth of Roman citizens.
Roman Empire
After the fall of the Republic in 27 BC, Julius Caesar became the leader of Rome and ushered in the Roman Empire. As the first Emperor, Julius achieved many feats during his (relatively) short time as ruler. His reign was marked by conquests and reforms that enhanced the government and economy of Rome, as well as expanding its influence throughout the Mediterranean. He famously extended the Roman Empire from the British Isles to the Rhine river and made sweeping reforms to the Roman Senate.
The Roman Empire was a massive and complex government, though it was ultimately ruled by an Emperor. Other important members of its structure included the Senate, Praetorian Guard, and Praefects, who had mainly administrative and military roles. Augustus, Julius Caesar’s adoptive son, is widely credited with stabilizing the Roman Empire and ushering in an era of imperial stability. He was able to achieve this through the establishment of various reforms, including the granting of legal rights to all Roman citizens.
In addition to Augustus, several other prominent Roman Emperors had great influence on the Roman Empire. Augustus’ successor, Tiberius, is known for expanding Roman control westward, pushing the borders of the empire from the Rhine River to the Black Sea. His successor, Caligula, is renowned for instigating a period of religious unrest and political chaos. Meanwhile, Claudius is remembered for expanding Roman power even further to include large parts of Britain.
Nero is perhaps the most notorious of all the Roman Emperors. He is best known for his extreme repression and brutality, as well as having been the last of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. After Nero, there were several short-lived emperors, such as Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, who were all largely unimportant in the grand scheme of the Roman Empire.
Late Roman Empire
The Roman Empire eventually fell into decline during the 4th and 5th centuries, but it remained a dominant power in the Mediterranean for centuries to come. In particular, the later years of the Roman Empire saw a number of significant leaders, such as Constantine the Great. Constantine is best known for having converted the entire Roman Empire to Christianity and is considered the founder of the city of Constantinople (later renamed Istanbul).
Justinian the Great is another famous leader of the Late Roman Empire. He reigned during the 6th century and is credited with having restored stability to much of the Roman Empire. His most important achievement was the Corpus Juris Civilis, a code of Roman law that heavily influenced the legal systems of Europe in later centuries.
In the 7th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, emerged. Led by Justinian II, the Byzantine Empire was a formidable power in the Mediterranean, though eventually it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. Nevertheless, the Byzantine Empire and its rulers left a deep imprint on the history of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Fall of the Roman Empire
The fall of the Roman Empire is one of the most significant events in European history. The reasons for Rome’s collapse are complex and varied, although the main causes can be primarily attributed to a lack of strong, centralized leadership, economic issues, and the influence of Christianity and barbarian invasions. The political systems in place during the Roman Empire were unable to adequately adjust to the changes that occurred and as such, Rome eventually fell.
The 5th century saw a period of civil unrest and chaos in the Roman Empire and this ultimately led to the fall of Rome in 476 AD. By the 6th century, the Roman Empire had effectively dissolved, leading to a period of European history that is known as the “Dark Ages”. The legacy of the Roman Empire continues to shape European and world politics, economics, and culture to this day.
Legacy of Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome left a significant impact on the world, from its language and culture to its politics and art. Latin, for instance, is still used in many languages today, including English. Similarly, the city of Rome and its complicated set of laws were fundamental to the formation of the legal systems of many European countries. Rome also established the military system that is still in use today, in which the army is organized into a hierarchy of commanders.
The city of Rome is especially notable for its art and architecture. Ancient Rome was truly ahead of its time in terms of architectural feats, with the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Parthenon all iconic examples of this. These monuments serve as lasting reminders of the grandeur and power of Ancient Rome.
The culture of Ancient Rome was also an important part of its legacy. Events such as gladiatorial fights and chariot races were common throughout the city. The Ancient Romans also invented many of the games that are still enjoyed today, such as dice, checkers, and many other board games.
Social System of the Roman Empire
In addition to its political and economic systems, the Roman Empire also had a unique social structure. The core of this structure pivoted around the concept of patronage, in which wealthy families such as the Julii, the Claudii, and the Flavians controlled the government and had influence in all aspects of Roman life.
Within the Roman Empire, there were three main social classes. The highest class was comprised of the Patricians, the descendants of the original citizens of the city-state of Rome. Below them were the Plebians, the general population of Rome. The lowest class was the Slaves, a group of people who were taken as captives during the various wars and were then sold into bondage. Slaves were treated as property and had no legal rights.
In addition to these three classes, there was a fourth class, the Equites. These were individuals primarily from the Patrician class who earned a certain level of wealth and influence. They had access to certain government posts and were allowed to vote in the Senate, although their decisions had to be approved by the people.
The social structure of the Roman Empire was extremely stratified, with a clear divide between the wealthy and the poor. This structure was largely in place until the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD.
Conclusion
The leaders of Ancient Rome had a profound influence on the formation of the Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar’s consolidation of power to Constantine the Great’s conversion to Christianity. These leaders were responsible for the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, as well as its lasting legacy in the world. Their decisions and actions were deeply consequential, impacting the future of Europe and the Mediterranean for centuries to come.
