Class 4/16, Plebians

Notes:

• The people's shock at this horrible family and their terrible behavior made them NEVER want to be subject to the rule of kings EVER again- this was an attitude that lasted for centuries
• Three governments rolled into one
• Rule by kings is replaced by rule of two consuls
• Consuls were elected officials
• Term of office: one year
• Always aristocrats (patricians)(Roman term for aristocrats)
• Patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor, pater ("father")
• Duties: dealing justice, making laws, commanding the army 
• One consul could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual)
• Fifth century BCE- patrician dominance of government was challenged by the plebeians (plebs or the regular people)
• Plebs were 98% of the population 
• How did the patricians dominate?
• Plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office 
• Plebs were threatened with debt slavery 
• Plebs had no legal rights
• Plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial traits
• Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs 
• Patricians could interpret these to their own advantage 
• Plebs refused to serve in the military until... 
• Laws were written out (the Law of the Twelve Tables)
• These laws (on tablets) were posted in public (in 450 BCE)
• Tribunes- ("tribal leaders") were elected 
• SPQR- Senatus Populusque Romanum, designers any decree or decision made by "the Roman Senate or People"