PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Government – The Republic
TEACHERS
N OTE
Rule of the Republic by consuls and the senate lasted for nearly 500 years. Originally the senate had 100 members
but this grew to 600 by the first century BC. Senators usually held positions for life and as senators, consuls and
generals came from a small group of wealthy families power was in the hands of a few, i.e. government by an
oligarchy.
After their year in office consuls could become proconsuls—governors in the provinces, the conquered countries
of the Empire. Both consuls had to agree before something could be carried out so if one consul said ‘veto’ (I
forbid) the idea was dropped.
The patricians claimed that their ancestry gave them the right to rule. Even if a plebeian was as rich as a
patrician he was unable to hold a high position in the government structure. In the third century BC it was
decided that one of the consuls should be a plebeian. Eventually the struggles for power between supporters of
the senate and the people’s assembly led to bloody civil war.
Viewing Sample
Purple was the colour worn by people who held important positions.
The coastal waters of ancient Phoenicia contained two kinds of shellfish whose bodies contained sacs of yellowy
fluid which turned purple when exposed to light. The city of Tyre was famous for the quality of its purple dye
made from the shellfish. Archaeologists have found thousands of empty shells in ancient dye pits near the site of
ancient Tyre. Today the shellfish are almost extinct around the coast of modern Lebanon.
Suggested Activity
The children could discuss the point that Roman women should have had the right to vote and not have
been reduced to the same status as a slave.
– 26 – Ancient Rome Prim-Ed Publishing www.prim-ed.com