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Development
Latins - Settled the middle of Italy called Latium
Etruscans settled in North Italy
800 B.C. - Greek Colonization of south and east italy.
-influenced roman art and religion and language.
Rome is founded in 753 B.C. On the Tiber river.
Falls under Etruscan rule. Inherited dress & military organization
509 B.C. - Latins overthrew Etruscan kings & Establish Republic
Structure of the Republic
509 B.C. - 31 B.C.
Political organization:
Social Structure:
Patricians - Wealthy, land owning
Plebeians - Poor Farmers, urban poor
Finally Slaves
Senate of 300 members - All Patricians
The 300 members elect the Centuriate (12 members)
The Centuriate elected 2 consuls (military leaders) and 1 praetor (keeping law & makes judgements)
In 471 B.C. - The Plebeians (majority of population) formed a council.
They struggle for power, in 287 B,C, - do get power to pass some laws - never as powerful as the senate.
Roman Law
12 Tables of Roman law
Roman law applied to all Roman Citizens
Innocent until proven guilty
During the first 300 years of the Republic - they were at war
During this time the confederation developed
They granted conquered people citizenship in return for military service.