Bellringer Explain the differences between Patricians & Plebeians in Roman society.

Bellringer

Explain the differences between Patricians & Plebeians in Roman society.

Patricians Plebeians

• Wealthy, powerful citizens

• Nobles• Small minority of the

population• Once controlled all

aspects of government

• After 218 BC, not allowed to participate in trade or commerce

• Common People• Peasants, crafts-

people, traders, other workers

• Majority of the population

• Gained right to participate in government

• Only Romans, who could be traders, so many became wealthy

“I can understand and explain how Rome’s tripartite government and written laws helped create a stable society.”

ROMAN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER 10 SECTION 2

KIM Vocabulary Words•Magistrates- powerful, elected officials in Rome’s Government•Consuls- the two most powerful magistrates in Rome•Roman Senate-Council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city’s leaders.

KIM Vocabulary Continued•Veto- power to prohibit actions by other officials granted to the Tribunes. •Latin- Roman Language•Checks and Balances-method to balance power to keep one part of the government from becoming stronger than another•Forum-Rome’s public meeting place- center of life of Rome.

Roman Government•Because the plebeians complained about the Roman government in the 400s BC, the patricians made changes to Rome’s government.•They created new offices that could be held by the plebeians. •The people who held these offices protected the rights and interests of the plebeian class.•As a result of the changes, Rome would develop a tripartite government, or a government with 3 parts.•Each part of the government had its own powers, rights, and privileges.

Magistrates•The first part of Rome’s government was made up of elected officials called magistrates.•They were elected annually. Each one had their own duties ranging from being judges to managing finances, or organizing games/festivals.•The two most powerful magistrates were called consuls. •They were elected annually. The power was split between the two so one person would not become too powerful.•Consuls jobs were to run the city and lead the army.

Senate•The second part of the Roman government was the Senate.•Council of wealthy and powerful Romans who served for life- advised the city leaders. (First Kings- then Consuls)•By the time the Republic was created it consisted of 300 members. At first members were only patricians, but eventually wealthy plebeians became senators too.•Magistrates would become senators upon completing their terms in office. •By 200 BC the Senate had great influence in Rome because they influenced the magistrates and gained control of financial affairs.

Assemblies•The third part of Rome’s government was the part that protected the common people, it had two branches.•The first branch was made up of assemblies. Both patricians and plebeians took part in these assemblies. •Their primary job was to elect the magistrates who ran the city of Rome.

Tribunes

•The second branch was made up of a group of elected officials from the plebeian class called tribunes.•They held the power to veto or prohibit, actions by other officials.•Veto means, “I forbid” in Latin.•The veto power made tribunes very powerful in Rome’s government.•Served only for one year to prevent abuse of power.

Comprehension Check•What are the three parts of Rome’s government?

1.2.3.

Civic Duty•Rome’s government would not have worked without the participation of the people due to civic duty.•That civic duty included doing what they could to make sure the city prospered. They were expected to do the following:•Attend assembly meetings •Vote in elections•Voting in Rome was a complicated process, and not everyone was allowed to do it.•Wealthy and powerful citizens also felt it was their duty to hold public office to help run the city. These citizens were respected and admired by other Romans.

Checks & Balances• In addition to limiting terms of office, the Romans put restrictions on their leaders’ power.•They did this by giving government officials the ability to restrict the powers of other officials.•For example, one consul could block the actions of the other.•Laws purposed by the Senate had to be approved by magistrates and ratified by assemblies.•These are examples of checks and balances.

Why have these?

•These measures prevented any part of the government from becoming more powerful than the others. •Checks and balances made Rome’s government very complicated.•Sometimes quarrels would arise when officials had different opinions.•However, when compromise was used and the officials worked together Rome’s government was strong and efficient.

Written Law

•At first in Rome the laws made by the patricians were not written down- they were only known by the officials responsible for making and enforcing the city’s laws.•This made people unhappy because they did not want to be punished for breaking laws they did not know existed. •As a result- the laws began to be written down.

Make an Inference!

•Why did many people want a written law code?

The Twelve Tables•Rome’s first written laws code was produced in 450 BC on 12 bronze tables, or tablets. •These tables were displayed in the Forum- Rome’s public meeting place.•These were called the Twelve Tables.•Over time, Rome’s leaders would pass many new laws.• The Twelve Tables would be looked upon as a symbol of Roman law and of their rights as Roman citizens.

Impact Today•Just as the United States took democracy from Ancient Greece- we also took many elements of the Roman Republic as well.•Elect our leaders•Our government has 3 branches- the President (Executive), Congress (Legislative), and the Federal Court System (Judicial).•The power of these branches are explained in our constitution, just like Roman officials were.

Impact Today Continued•We have a system of Checks and Balances to prevent any branch from becoming too strong.•Like Tribunes in Rome, the President of the USA has the power to veto actions by other government officials.

•Americans also believe in civic duty to participate in government to keep it as strong as it can be.•The Twelve Tables are similar to our Bill of Rights.

Analyze It!•Why do you think the founders of the United States borrowed elements from the Roman government?

The Roman Forum•The Forum was the center of life in Ancient Rome.•It housed the city’s most important religious temples and government buildings.•Housed Important government documents were stored in the Tabularium, such as the Law of the Twelve Tables•Roman citizens would be dressed in togas, lose fitting garments wrapped around the body- symbol of citizenship.•The word forum means public place.

The Roman Forum Ruins

The Forum

•Located in the center of Rome, between two major hills•One side was the Palatine Hill, where Rome’s richest people lived.•Across the forum was Capitoline Hill, where Rome’s grandest temples stood.•The Temple of Jupiter stood atop the Capitoline Hill.•The Senate met here in the curia, or Senate House.•Leaders would use the Forum as a speaking area, delivering speeches to the crowds.

Entertainment•Romans meet there to talk about the issues of the day, as well as to shop, chat, and gossip.•Many attractions could be found in the Forum•Shops lined the open square, and fights between the gladiators were sometimes held there. •Public ceremonies were commonly held in the Forum as well.•As a result the forum was typically packed with people.

Generalize It!•How was the Forum the heart of Roman society?

Homework:

•Write at minimum a ½ page response explaining how Rome’s tripartite government and written laws helped create a stable society. Use specific evidence from your notes to provide support. •Due 3/26.