The Power Structures and Expansion of Rome: A Comprehensive Guide to the Roman Republic

Summary

This article is a comprehensive guide to the power structures and expansion of Rome during the Roman Republic. It covers the major reforms made to the Roman calendar, the importance of ancestor worship and achievement, the tension between priest and political authority, and the roles of the Senate, people, and magistrates. It also discusses the reasons behind the Roman expansion within and outside of Italy, including the importance of Rome’s past and its dominant military forces.

Table of Contents

• The Roman Calendar: From Inefficacy to Reform
• Ancestor Worship and Achievement
• The Tension between Priest and Political Authority
• The Power Structures of the Roman Republic
• Roman Expansion: The Foundations and Territories
• Rome: The Dominant Military Force

The Roman Calendar: From Inefficacy to Reform

The Roman calendar, originally devised during the regal period, had major reforms made under Numa. These reforms included two new months and transforming January 1st into the beginning of the year, but it still remained ineffective until Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar in 46 BC. This calendar lasted for a thousand and a half years until Pope Gregory XIII ordered a reform in 1582 to deal with inaccuracies.

Ancestor Worship and Achievement

Elite families such as the Fabii and Scipios reinforced the roles of their ancestors by including their achievements in frescoes and inscriptions recounting warfare, physical appearance, and public office. The importance of male ancestors’ achievements was crucial to future generations, as illustrated by the inscription on the sarcophagus of Lucius Scipio, which appealed to the achievements of Barbatus.

The Tension between Priest and Political Authority

During the Roman Republic in Cicero’s time, political structures consisted of the Senate, people, and magistrates, but earlier periods saw tension between priests and the king or magistrate instead of balance between the three elements. Priests at Rome mostly came from the political elite, unlike Greece, where priests were not limited to that group, and women commonly held priestly office. The story of Tarquinius Priscus and Attus Navius emphasised the importance of consulting the gods through the practice of augury before political or military decision-making.

The Power Structures of the Roman Republic

Priests held supreme authority on religious matters but could only act when called upon by the Senate. The Senate was initially an advisory council for kings and later, consuls, and magistrates had powers like the auspicium and imperium, which continued from the kings’ powers. The people had important political roles, and the comitia consisted of formal voting instead of discussion or debate.

Roman Expansion: The Foundations and Territories

Rome’s expansion in Italy laid the foundations for the city’s overseas expansion, and the Latin League maintained unity through a shared sense of the past. The Roman city-states in the fourth century BC had a 2,350-kilometer territory, significantly smaller than Athens and Syracuse’s contemporary territories. The capture of Veii from Etruria marked a pivotal moment in Rome’s expansion, leading to a fivefold increase in territory by 264 BC. In addition to state-owned land, Rome established 29 Latin colonies and had alliances with over 125 allies with a total territory of 72,000 square kilometres.

Rome: The Dominant Military Force

By the middle of the third century, Roman territory had grown to 26,000 square kilometres, surpassing any Greek city-state’s territory. The region between the Apennines and the Po Valley was captured from the Celts in the 190s and 180s BC, and Rome continued expansion within and outside of Italy until the end of the second century BC. The Roman imagination started to include all of Italy, and the Roman Senate had the means to control the territories.

Q&A

1. What were the major reforms made to the Roman calendar, and when did they occur?
2. How did elite families reinforce the roles of their ancestors?
3. What was the tension between priests and political authority during the Roman Republic?
4. What were the powers of the magistrates during the Roman Republic?
5. How did the Roman expansion in Italy lay the foundations for the city’s overseas expansion?

In response to question 1: Major reforms were made to the Roman calendar under Numa, which included adding two new months and making January 1st the start of the year. However, it remained ineffective until Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar in 46 BC, which lasted for over a thousand years until it was reformed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.

In response to question 2: Elite families such as the Fabii and Scipios reinforced the roles of their ancestors by showcasing their achievements in frescoes and inscriptions recounting warfare, physical appearance, and public office. Male ancestors’ achievements were crucial to future generations, and the achievements of Barbatus, for instance, were emphasised in the inscription on the sarcophagus of Lucius Scipio.

In response to question 3: During the Roman Republic, there was tension between the priest and the king or magistrate instead of a balance between the three elements. Priests at Rome mostly came from the political elite and held supreme authority on religious matters. The story of Tarquinius Priscus and Attus Navius illustrated the importance of consulting the gods through the practice of augury before making political or military decisions.

In response to question 4: Magistrates held powers like the auspicium and imperium, which continued from the kings’ powers. The Senate initially served as an advisory council for kings and later for consuls. Priests had supreme authority on religious matters but could only act when called upon by the Senate. The people had important political roles, and the comitia consisted of formal voting instead of discussion or debate.

In response to question 5: Rome’s expansion within Italy laid the foundation for the city’s overseas expansion. The Latin League maintained unity through a shared sense of the past among allies. Rome captured Veii from Etruria, leading to an increase in the Roman territory by five times in 264 BC. In addition, Rome founded 29 Latin colonies and had alliances with over 125 allies with a total territory of 72,000 square kilometres.

Conclusion

The Roman Republic was characterised by the tension between priests, political authority, the Senate, and magistrates, alongside Rome’s significant expansion through Italy and outside. The story of Tarquinius Priscus and Attus Navius exemplified Rome’s belief in consulting the gods before making political or military decisions, while elite families reinforced the role of ancestors and their achievements within Rome. This article has provided a comprehensive guide to the power structures and expansion of Rome during the Roman Republic, demonstrating the significant influence of Rome’s past in shaping its present and future.