classics - roman politics

what were the positions (in order) that you had to become before you could be a consul

quaestor —> curule aedile —> praetor

what did quaestors deal with

finances

at what age could you become a quaestor

30

how many quaestors were there at a time

20

what did the curule aedile deal with

games, building, grain supply

at what age could you run for curule aedile

34

how many curule aedile were there at a time

2

what did praetors deal with

being judges and military commander

at what age could you run for praetor

37

how many praetors were there at a time

8

what did consuls deal with

day to day running of Rome

at what age could you run for consul

40

how many consuls were there at a time

2

when would a dictator be instilled

in emergencies

how long would a dictator run for

6 months

what did censors do

conducted a census and remove senates

how many censors were there at a time

5

how long were censors in there position for

18 months

when were there censors

every 5 years

what was the tribune of plebs equivalent to

quaestors

at what age could you run for tribune of plebs

27

what did the tribune of plebs do

introduce laws to the peoples assembly

what did the tribune of plebs have the power to do

veto anyone

how many tribune of plebs were there at a time

10

what comes after the tribune of plebs

plebeian aedile

how many plebeian aedile were there at a time

2

what was the roman social hierarchy

patricians

equites

plebeians

who were the patricians

people who could trace there lineage back to patres ( one of Romulus’ 100 friends)

who were the equites

the roman middle class

what were politicians banned from being involved with and why

trade and business, to prevent them acting for there own gain and not Rome’s

who were the plebeians

someone who’s not a patrician

quote from Polybius on the roman constitution

‘it was good because it combined the strengths of monarchy and aristocracy’

where and when were elections held

in the summer and mainly outside

ways people got elected

bribery

name (status)

military accomplishments

relationships

what were the 2 type of assemblies

tribal and centuriate

why was the system of who voted when faulty

it was based on wealth centuriate assembly was literally based on wealth the rich voted first, suggesting that there opinion was more important. And for tribal assemblies those who lived closest to the city voted first and of course the richest lived closest.

who are the optimates

traditionalists, conservative factions in the senate. Mainly concerned with the good of the elite and the senate rather than the people

who are the populares

faction of the senate that were on the side of the people. Often used the common man to advance their own careers

who were the Gracchi

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus