History Of The Ancient Roman Republic
The history of the ancient Roman Republic dates back to c. 509 BC, when the Roman kingdom was overthrown and replaced by a republican government. During this period, the kings of early Rome established a council called the Senate to rule over them and advice them in state matters. |
A consul was appointed by the Senate to rule the country like a Roman Emperor for one year. The Roman Republic lasted for 482 years (510 BC -23 BC) until several civil wars caused its insurrection into the Roman Empire with a Principate form of government.
The society in the ancient Roman Republic was categorized into 4 different classes of people -- Slaves, Plebeians, Equestrians, and the Patricians. The real wealth and power of Rome was held by the Patricians, which included the noble clans of Rome. The equestrians were mainly the knights and soldiers who fought for the country on the battlefields. Plebeians were free people with a little say in the state matters. The lowest class was that of slaves who were owned and made to work by people from other classes.
The most significant event in the history of ancient Roman Republic was the invasion of Italy by the Carthaginian General Hannibal. Carthage was an essential city of North Africa and was completely devastated by the Roman military during the latter half of 146 BC. The geographical boundaries of the Republic extended from central Italy to the farthest ends of the Mediterranean by the time the first two centuries came to an end. During the 3rd century of existence of its existence, the Roman Republic managed to expand its territory to North Africa, Greece, Southern France, and the Iberian Peninsula. In the last two centuries, the Republic grew further and went on to extend its control over East and remainder of France. At this stage, the Republic was getting ready to collapse.
The exact event that triggered the downfall of the Roman Republic and its transformation to the Roman Empire is highly debatable. By the time the Republic came to an end, a group of Roman leaders began to dictate the politics to an extent that they went beyond the restrictions of the Republic as a rule. Many historians believe that the main reasons and events that caused the downfall of the Roman Republic included the selection of Julius Caesar as a permanent autocrat in 44 BC, the defeat and subsequent death of Mark Antony in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, and Senate awarding of unusual powers to Octavian (Augustus) in 27 BC.
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