5/4

Today in class we took notes.

Patricians

Rule of Kings is replaced by rule of two consuls

-Consuls are elected officials

-Term of office: one year

-Always aristocrats (patricians)

-Patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor or “pater” (father)

-Duties: dealing justice, making law, commanding the army

-One consul could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual)

Plebeians

-Fifth century BCE – Patrician dominance of the government was challenged by the plebs (“people”)

-Plebs were 98% of the population

-How did the Patricians dominate?

            -Plebs had to serve in the army

            -But could not hold office

            -Plebs were threatened with debt slavery

            -Plebs had no legal rights

-Plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials

-Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs

-Patricians cold interpret these to their own advantage

So, plebs refused to serve in the military until…

-Laws were written out – The Law of the Twelve Tables

-These laws (on tablets) were posted in public (in 450 BCE)

-Tribunes “tribal leaders” were elected