BC510-491 Junius Brutus of Rome
In the twenty years from 510-491 BC Junius Brutus (pictured) overthrew the monarchy in Rome establishing the Roman Republic in 509 BC, and Cleisthenes established the world's first democracy in Athens in 500 BC.
After the Tarquin monarchy was overthrown, the Roman Republic carried on all of the traditions, institutions and laws of the previous monarchy. Power was merely transferred from the king to the patrician class, and from its inception in 509 BC the Roman Republic instantly produced resentment among the plebeians who, angry at being denied social and political equality, began a 'struggle of the orders'.
In 494 BC the plebeians withdrew from Rome and occupied the Sacred Mount. There, they declared an alternative government, formed a tribal assembly, modelled after the Roman assembly, which would be headed by tribunes, who could veto any decision by the Senate, a Roman magistrate or an official.
With the expulsion of the monarchy and the establishment of the Republic, Rome turned its attention to regional dominance and expansion.
The Latin League was formed to provide mutual protection, but also shared common interests such as religious worship, commercial treaties inter-marriage and settlement of citizens. It was these rights that formed the basic of the Latin rights that were to play such an important role in later Roman politics and treaties.
Rome's primacy in 509 BC was recognized by Carthage -- which signed a treaty with Rome in that year -- but the states of the Latin League vied with Rome for dominance leading in 496 BC to war when Lavinium broke its alliance with Rome and members of the League united with Lavinium and Tusculum to move against Rome. At the battle of Lake Regillus, Rome claimed victory but by 493 BC the war drew to a close, with the Latin League claiming independence from Rome.
The Treaty of Cassius ensured this independence but placed Rome virtually on equal status with all the members of the Latin League combined.
In Athens, when the Pisistratids were overthrown, Cleisthenes established the world's first democracy in 500 BC. Power was held by an assembly of all the male citizens. However, only a minority of the male inhabitants of Athens were citizen. Slaves, freedmen and non-Athenians were excluded.
After the Tarquin monarchy was overthrown, the Roman Republic carried on all of the traditions, institutions and laws of the previous monarchy. Power was merely transferred from the king to the patrician class, and from its inception in 509 BC the Roman Republic instantly produced resentment among the plebeians who, angry at being denied social and political equality, began a 'struggle of the orders'.
In 494 BC the plebeians withdrew from Rome and occupied the Sacred Mount. There, they declared an alternative government, formed a tribal assembly, modelled after the Roman assembly, which would be headed by tribunes, who could veto any decision by the Senate, a Roman magistrate or an official.
With the expulsion of the monarchy and the establishment of the Republic, Rome turned its attention to regional dominance and expansion.
The Latin League was formed to provide mutual protection, but also shared common interests such as religious worship, commercial treaties inter-marriage and settlement of citizens. It was these rights that formed the basic of the Latin rights that were to play such an important role in later Roman politics and treaties.
Rome's primacy in 509 BC was recognized by Carthage -- which signed a treaty with Rome in that year -- but the states of the Latin League vied with Rome for dominance leading in 496 BC to war when Lavinium broke its alliance with Rome and members of the League united with Lavinium and Tusculum to move against Rome. At the battle of Lake Regillus, Rome claimed victory but by 493 BC the war drew to a close, with the Latin League claiming independence from Rome.
The Treaty of Cassius ensured this independence but placed Rome virtually on equal status with all the members of the Latin League combined.
In Athens, when the Pisistratids were overthrown, Cleisthenes established the world's first democracy in 500 BC. Power was held by an assembly of all the male citizens. However, only a minority of the male inhabitants of Athens were citizen. Slaves, freedmen and non-Athenians were excluded.
Labels: athens, bc510, Cleisthenes, first democracy, Junius Brutus, Pisistratids, republic of rome, tarquin monarchy
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