The Roman Republic: A Comparative Analysis

once the romans overthrew the Italian conquerors in 509 B.C.E, they were free then established a republic. that meant that they could(citizens) elect representatives on their own behalf. In their Republic each national play a active role in governing the state. Whoever was elective were known as “consuls”. Consuls solely ruled for a year. If they didn't meet their expectations, they might be kicked out of successive election. Like our government our president governs for four years and is merely allowed 2 terms. similar to our government that they had a senate that will discuss and projected new laws. conjointly issued monetary problems touching

The Roman government was democratic when it came to the citizens. The citizens could elect their own officials, and the officials were supposed to represent every level of Roman society. There were many types of officials. The two consuls were the chief officials of Rome. Once elected, they served for two years (Trueman, Chris). One of their most important powers was controlling the army (Government under Roman Republic). When they were unsure of a course of action, they were advised by the Senate, a council of around six hundred male citizens (Trueman, Chris). Those six hundred men were usually from wealthy patrician families and were the ones in charge of making the laws and controlling the spending. Contrary to the election of the other officials, the Senate was appointed by the current Consuls. Once they were appointed, they served for life. When one member died, another was chosen in their place (Government).

Carthage had two magistrates called suffites who were like the Roman consuls. Carthage had a council of elders called hundred just like the Romans had the senate. Carthage also had trading colonies just as Rome had her colonies around Italy. Rome was rich and Carthage was rich; Rome was rich thanks to the taxes that conquered colonies paid to her. Carthage was rich because of trade between the West and the East that is why Carthage was called the great merchant of the Mediterranean. Even in the end of the Carthage Empire, both Rome and Carthage had similarities. The sons of some of their best soldiers were the leaders of their armies Pablius Scipius

The Imperial Senate was also elected for life. But their job was to advise the emperor. Augustus eventually had the imperial Senate dissolved.

Only the highly educated and wealthy class made up the Senate. The Concilium Plebis only consisted of representatives for the Plebeians, and the Comitia Centuriata represented most of the landowning class. Both the popular assemblies were given pre-discussed debates, and any disagreements with the Senate were rare. Furthermore, the Consuls, who were the most prestigious magistrates and “the military and political heads of state” were also advised by the Senate (Gwynn, 20).

According to (www.forumromanum.org),1as a result of second Punic War, Carthage was abridged to the rank of a client state losing all the power of endorsing its own diplomacy and treaties. Carthage was forced to recompense a tribute of 10,000 and all the warships. Carthage was also prohibited to raise an army unless given permission by Rome. Reparations and Grain for lost deliveries similarly had to be delivered to Rome together with the responsibility of collecting slaves and returning them.

Rome and Carthage shared many aspects when the two first clash. Carthage had two chief magistrates referred to as Suffetes, which compared to the political power of the Roman consuls, a council of elders named the “hundred,” which was similar to the Roman senate, and there was a Carthaginian assembly, the consistency resembled the Roman comitia (Morey, 1901). This is where the similarities end for Carthaginian, ruled by a few wealthy families, the Carthaginians did not integrate their subjects into the state, and they did not have the great loyalty of its citizens that Rome enjoyed. By placing its army under the command of a single permanent leader, Carthage created an overwhelming advantage to Rome, which had its armies controlled by the ever-changing civil magistrates and consuls (Morey, 1901).

The centers of political power were the two consuls and the Senate. In practice, the Senate made laws and governed.

The Roman senate was a political institution in ancient Rome. It was the governing and advisory council that proved to be the most permanent element in the roman constitution. It contributed to the fall of the roman republic in a couple of ways; first, the Roman law forbade any senator from holding the same office multiple times in a row since this would be dangerous

It had two chief magistrates (called suffetes), corresponding to the Roman consuls. It had a council of elders, called the “hundred,” which we might compare to the Roman senate. It had also an assembly something like the Roman comitia. But while the Carthaginian government had some outward similarity to the Roman, it was in its spirit very different. The real power was exercised by a few wealthy and prominent families. The Carthaginians, moreover, did not understand the Roman method of incorporating their subjects into the state; and hence did not possess a great body of loyal citizens, as did Rome. But one great advantage of the Carthaginian government was the fact that it placed the command of the army in the hands of a permanent able leader, and not in the hands of its civil magistrates, who were constantly changing as were the consuls at

To begin with, the two states have been identified as republics, although, their roots and influences of government were vastly different. Carthage became independent from the long ruling of the Phoenicians who were the commercial hub for sea trading along the African Sea. The Phoenicians had a powerful navy to guard their business, and so naturally the Carthaginians inherited their sailing and trading skills, it’s also no surprise that they too created a superior experienced naval fleet. (Van Loon, 2003, para. 1). Rome’s influence stemmed from the Greeks who began trading with them after they kicked the Etruscan's out. The Greeks shared their knowledge of trading and religion, which later

The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire both made advancements in the way of life, but both ended with their own conflicts and civil wars. Both kingdoms lasted about the same amount of time making it difficult to distinguish which one was greater. They both show times of great conquest and demolishing civil wars. The two were similar in their expansion of land, language, and resources. At the same time, they were very different with their views on government, religion, and leaders (Compare and Contrast the Roman Republic with the Roman Empire).

Initially, when looking back at the Roman Republic there are a plethora of elements to observe that made it up. The main thing that the Republic had since it has risen was its senate. The senate played a vital role in the political dimension of the Republic itself as one whole. Made up of roughly around three-hundred men, they had adjusted the Roman society to fit the needs it had to have to stay afloat. Senators had taken on jobs specifically preparing legislation, handling finances, managing foreign relations, and supervising the state religion (Lassieur 15). This all tied together in what led to orderly conduct and harmony. SPQR:Senatus Populusque Romanus, better known as the senate and people of Rome, have been found on Roman carvings (Chandler, Taplin, Bingham 21). Just this piece of evidence shows that they really did play an important part in the Republic. All of the senators came from being a magistrate elected by the 4 assemblies (Lassieur 15-17). The four assemblies; Canitia Centuriata, Concilium Plebis, Comitia

Some time later the Roman government became a Republic and split itself into three segments. There was the Senate, which was made of Patricians and unusually wealthy Plebeians.The Assembly was the second part of this government. It was made of the Plebeian class and It elected Consuls, the leader of the Assembly. They choose who is elected in the Senate and to become one, you must be popular in the Assembly, or Plebeians. The Consuls also led the army into battle whenever Rome got into war or to suppress a rebellion.

The next governmental institution, which represented the democratic element of the Roman Republic, are the Assemblies. These Assemblies were theoretically made up of all adult male Romans (the only exception is that they had to be present at the meetings). Their primary functions were the annual elections of consuls, approving or rejecting laws, and deciding issues of war and peace. One great flaw of this body was that the wealthier citizens voted first and thereby had a great influence on how the rest of the Assembly voted.