The Roman Republic: Difference between revisions

After a time the Romans lost patience with living in [[The Kingdom]] and threw out Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud), and formed what they called a ''respublica'' (literally, "Thing of the People"), from which we gain the term "Republic." Rome was organized as an oligarchy with [[The Aristocracy]], called patricians, controlling the "Senate" (derived from ''senex'', meaning "old man"), though the public had some say on the issues through the tribunes<ref> This office was created about 250 years after the republic's founding. Details are at [[The Other Wiki]].</ref> (lit. Protector of the People, had veto power), as well as the less formal ability to beg favors from their patrons. This organization is reflected in the famous Roman slogan SPQR which stands for ''Senatus Populusque Romanus,'' or "The Senate and People of Rome." [[The Republic]] in social structure was quite family oriented with various clans becoming centers of webs of patronage, a patron/client relationship that has modern answers in political machines and [[The Mafia]]. While Rome's system was not democratic by modern standards it had [[Fair for Its Day|for its time]] a reputation for justice and stability and its elaborate checks and balances were often admired by Greeks whose cities were often troubled by [[We ARE Struggling Together!|chaos]].

 

 

[[The Republic]] expanded through Italy both through its [[Badass Army]] and its genius for [[You Will Be Assimilated|wooing conquered people]] from nearby cities who shared similar cultures. The extreme early myths such as the [[Abduction Is Love|Rape of the Sabine Women]] portray how much of Rome's early growth was due to both of these factors.

 

{{examples|Works depicting the Roman Republic include:}}

* ''[[Spartacus]]'' -- The 1960 movie starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

 

* ''[[Rome]]'': The HBO series (co-produced by the BBC), premiered 2005 and 2007 respectively.

* ''[[Spartacus: Blood and Sand]]'': Series by Starz, premiered in 2010.

 

* ''Lays of Ancient Rome'' by Sir Thomas Macaulay: A collection of poems about [[The Republic]]. They are imagined to be what early Roman literature would have sounded like if much of it hadn't been lost.

* In ''[[Over the Wine Dark Sea]]'' there are a few references to Rome, as well as a sea-fight with a Roman trireme. But it is otherwise agreed that it was one of those Barbarian cities [[Historical In-Joke|"that would never amount to anything."]].

* [[Republic of Rome]] is a game designed for people who consider [[Diplomacy]] to be too tame.

 

* A few plays of [[William Shakespeare]]:

** ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]''

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Ancient Rome]]

[[Category:Hollywood History]]

[[Category:Useful Notes/Italy]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Republic, The}}