Roman Republic and Empire
Explain how Rome was first governed as a republic — with elected consuls, a powerful Senate, and a distinction between patricians and plebeians — before becoming an empire ruled by emperors like Augustus (who brought peace, the Pax Romana) and Nero, and compare republican government with Athenian direct democracy
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe the Roman Republic's structure: consuls, Senate, patricians, and plebeians
- Explain how Rome changed from a republic to an empire under Augustus
- Compare Athenian direct democracy (citizens vote on decisions) with Roman republican government (citizens elect representatives)
The lesson
For hundreds of years, Rome had no king. Roman citizens elected two leaders called consuls to run the government together, each serving just one year. A group called the Senate, filled mostly with patricians (Rome's wealthiest and most powerful families), advised the consuls and helped make the laws.
Most Romans were not patricians. They were plebeians: farmers, craftspeople, and soldiers who made up most of the city. Plebeians could vote, and over time they won the right to elect their own officials, called tribunes, who spoke up for their interests.
In 27 BC, a leader named Augustus became Rome's first emperor. Instead of two consuls sharing power for a year, one emperor now ruled, sometimes for life. Augustus governed carefully and brought about 200 years of peace called the Pax Romana. Not every emperor ruled so wisely. Nero, who came later, is remembered as cruel and reckless.
You already know that in Athens, citizens gathered to vote directly on their own laws. Rome's Republic worked differently: citizens elected representatives, like consuls and senators, to make decisions for them. Both let citizens have a voice, just in different ways.
Rome's Republic was run by elected consuls and the Senate, until Augustus became the first emperor and started the age of empire.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
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