april 16

Today in class we took more notes on Rome.


-  The people are shocked at this horrible family and their terrible behavior made them. Never want to be subject to the rules of kings EVER again.- this was the attitude that lasted for many centuries ( they ran them out of town, no more kings)

- Rule of kings is replaced by rule of two consuls
-consuls are elected officials
- term of service 1 year
- always aristocrats (patricians)
- patricians traced their descent from an famous ancestor, or pater (" father")
- duties; dealing justice, making law, and commanding the army
- one consul could veto the other ( reducing the power of an individual)
- 5th century BCE-patrician dominance of the government was challenged by the plebs ( " people or regular folks"
-plebs were 98% of the population
- how did the patricians dominant?
       -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 legal rights, just unwritten customs
- patricians could interpret these to their own advantage

So, 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
 -designates any decree or decision made by " the roman senate and people"

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