The Roman Republic: Social and Political Groups, Institutions, and History

The Roman Republic

It was the 2nd period in Roman history from 509 B.C to 27 B.C. It was a result of a revolt which removed the Etruscan king.

Social and Political Groups

There were 2 important social and political groups:

• Patricians: They were descendants of the aristocratic families that founded Rome. They were a minority of the population and had important functions such as judging, controlling the land, holding public office, and governing the city.
• Plebis: They included anyone who arrived in the city after its founding. They were the majority of the population. At first, they didn't have political rights and property. After, they achieved 2 important things: the plebeian to represent their interest in politics and the law of 12 tables to enable plebeians to hold public office.

Political Institutions

There were 3 important political institutions:

• The Assemblies: They were formed by a group of citizens and had two functions: voting on laws and choosing magistrates.
• Magistrates: They governed the city and there were different types, with the most important being the consul.
• The Senate: It was formed by 300 magistrates and had different functions, including controlling foreign politics.