“I go to meet an army without a leader, and I shall return to meet a leader without an army” - Julius Caesar (Caesar's Civil War)
Panel 1: History of the Roman Government
Monarchy
Developed within Rome in the beginning of Roman Civilization.
Republic
Once the Kings were driven out, the Roman Republic started to develop.
Unfortunately, the Senate was jealous of its own power. Commonly, the Senate would block its own land reforms.
The First and Second Triumvirate were to establish control - once ransoming the Senate. The Second Triumvirate was not as successful as the first, more secretive triumvirate, as we can tell by the civil wars that broke out.
Empire
Lead Rome to be permanently split into western and eastern portions.
Decline
Possible causes include the imbalance of government power, lack of citizen reliability (perhaps due to the developments of Christianity), etc.
Panel 2: The Various Government Institutions of Ancient Rome (Structure)
Monarchy
Also known as the “Roman Kingdom”
Kings were elected by the people to serve for life.
Some historians believe Kings had powers much like the Consuls.
Republic
Internal strife was the biggest threat to the Roman Republic. See the next panel for more information on the classes of people involved in the Roman Republic.
Three men took control of the Republic through the First Triumvirate. The First Triumvirate ended up allowing those three men to control Roman politics.
Empire
During the reign of the Roman Empire, emperors would appoint co-emperors.
The appointing of co-emperors commonly lead to civil wars.
Although the civil wars were a problem, the borders of the Roman Empire remained fairly stable.
Famous Emperors include: Augustus, Julio-Claudian dynasty emperors, Flavian Dynasty emperors, the Adoptive emperors, Severan dynasty, and on up to the “Christian empire”.
Panel 3: Classes of the People within the Roman Government (Both Political and Social)
Senators
Usually around 300 Senators at any one time.
These were the people that officially sent ambassadors to and from cities.
Not legislatures.
Senators operated under certain religious restrictions.
Senators could be put up under investigation if some people believe that they are “against the public morals”.
Participated through Debate, and at other times, through a show of hands (voting).
Consuls
Highest elective office in the Roman Republic.
Two were elected each year, with power to veto each other's rule.
If a consul died during his term, another consul would be elected called the suffect consul.
Military Tribunes
Shared by officers in the Roman Empire.
Originated from the tribi, wherein there was a group for voting and a group for military purposes.
Patricians
Rich. Very, very: Rich.
Originally referenced those of an elite class, however, later referenced somebody of much higher political power in parallel with the decline of Rome.
The position of patrician was inherited.
Later, in parallel with the decline of the Roman Empire, patrician could have meant one who performed some service worthy of honor for the Roman Empire.
Plebeians
Member of the plebs.
Could become Military Tribunes
Could serve in the military.
Plebeians were not allowed to perform intermarriages.
In British English, pleb is used to denote inferiority, ignorance, etc, such as somebody who could be described pebby.
Dictators
Elected
Served terms of six months.
Sometimes served for longer than six months.
Panel 4: Civil War and Imbalance
During the time of the empires, the emperors would commonly appoint co-emperors. This practice, however, commonly lead to civil war.
Civil wars ultimately lead the Roman government to be split up into the western and eastern portions. (A.D. 395)
Caesar versus Pompey; these two men generated an important civil war
Pompey had the Senate's army, making the event a stand off between Julius Caesar and the Roman Senate.
The result of the civil war was a reformation; Although Caesar refused title of king, he accepted dictatorship for life.
Panel 5: Influence of Roman Government on Future Governments
To the west, the Byzantine Empire was directly influenced by Rome and the fall of the massive Roman Empire.
The Holy Roman Empire claims to have developed from the remains of the empire of the West.
Russia also claims a similar “Roman legacy”.
Latin was the official language of Rome. Latin continues to influence historians, writers, and other scholarly people to this day.
The use of a senate was later adopted by other developing governments. Rome housed the original formation of a senate.
Senates currently exist in: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the United States.
Panel 6: Bibliography (Warning: Not to be eaten or served with corn.)
"Ancient Rome." Wikipedia. 13 Oct. 02005. Wikimedia Foundation. 13 Oct. 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org>.
"Caesar's Civil War." UNRV History. UNRV. 13 Oct. 2005 <http://www.unrv.com/fall-republic/caesars-civil-war.php>.
Shaw, Brent D. "Roman Government: The Republic." Arts and Sciences. 12 Jan 2004. University of Pennsylvania. 11 Oct. 2005 <http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~ekondrat/Rome_Govt.html>.
Bryan Bishop Ancient Roman Government Oct. 02005
Michael Haynes