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Rise of the Roman Republic

  • 616 BCE

    Etruscan Rule

    Etruscan Rule
    The Etruscans ruled Rome and divided social classes into two:
    - Upper - class citizens called patricians
    - Lower - class citizens called plebeians
  • 509 BCE

    Republic

    Republic
    A group of patricians rebelled and drove out the last Etruscan king. They created a republic in which a senate (a group of 300 men the patricians elected) ruled.
  • 494 BCE

    No Plebeians

    No Plebeians
    The plebeians were angry because of their lack of power so they decided to march out of the city and camp on a nearby hill until they have met their demands. Patricians feared that the army
    would be helpless if an enemy struck at Rome so they decided to make changes.
  • 451 BCE

    Twelve Tablets

    Twelve Tablets
    The patricians agreed to change the law in order for the plebians to have power but they always changed the law. Plebeians protested and finally on 451 B.C.E, the laws were written down in tablets called the Twelve Tablets.
  • 287 BCE

    New Assemblies

    New Assemblies
    The plebeians gained the right to pass laws for all Roman citizens and, there were assemblies in which all Roman citizens could approve or reject laws.