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A group of patricians (the wealthier people of early Rome) lead by Lucius Junius Brutus rebel against the Etruscan rule. Since they had become tired of not having any power, they drove out the Etruscan kings and formed a republic.
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After the end of Etruscan kings, a new type of government was needed to rule the Romans. Appropriately, a republic was created, as the Romans greatly disliked all the power in the hands of one person. There were many elements to the Romans republic. The government officials were elected by the people. Most of the power was in the hands of the Senate, a group of about 300 men. Two elected consuls were in charge of the army. However, the people who voted in the republic were only the patricians.
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A republic is created for equality, yet the plebeians were unhappy. They couldn't vote or take place in the republic the patricians created. Eventually, they rebelled. The plebeians protested and protested for their rights. Then, they went up on a hill and refused to come down until the patricians met their demands. This was bad for the patricians, because they relied on the plebeians for many things, including defense. If a force attacked Rome, Rome would be doomed. Soon, a deal was made
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After a long struggle between the patricians and plebeians over rights, the plebeians finally gained some equality. Their share of the power was in the Tribune of the Plebs. The tribunes spoke for the plebeians to the Senate and the consuls. Then, they gained the power to veto the Senates decisions. However, the patricians still had more power. Even though the plebeians could pass laws, only these laws applied to the plebeians.
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After 200 years of series of protests, one of the plebeians demands were met. Laws had to be written down. Laws were written down on tablets called the Twelve Tables.
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A new law was created. It said one of the Roman consuls must be a plebeian. This gave more power to the plebeians, making Rome more of a republic.
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Finally, after 200 years of struggle, the plebeians get what they want the most- equality. The plebeians could now pass laws that applied to all Roman citizens, veto laws, and mostly, work in the Senate with the patricians.
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The 100s was at the height of Rome's power.
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At this time, Rome was lead by a series of weak, dishonest, and overall bad leaders. This partially caused the fall of Rome
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In the 300s, Rome's borders were being attacked by Germanic Tribes. Rome was too big to defend, and therefore was being invaded.
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Constantine made a huge change that affected Rome greatly. He moved his capital 850 miles to the east, and named it Constantipole . Then, after Constantine's reign, emperors tried sharing the power in Rome- one ruler in Constantipole, and one in Rome. Rome was now the capital only of the western part of Rome. Rome was virtually divided.
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At this time, the last Roman emperor is driven from his throne. However, only the western part of Rome divided into many different tribes and kingdoms. The eastern part of Rome continued for about 1000 years, yet it was never able be like the old and powerful Roman Empire.
