Was rome a true democracy

Answer 1

Rome had three forms of government over the 1,200 years of her history: a monarchy for 244 years, a republic for 482 years and rule by emperors for 506 years. The monarchy was not a democracy. The emperors were absolute rulers. During the period of the Roman republic there was a degree of direct democracy. Today' s democracy is called indirect democracy because the people elect representatives who votes on laws. In the Roman Republic, instead, the people voted on laws themselves (directly). They did so by gathering in popular assemblies to vote. The people also elected the officers of state (the consuls, praetors, censors, curule aediels and quaestors). However, it cannot be said that the Roman Republic was a true democracy. The voting structure of the popular assembly was stacked heavily in favour of the rich. The most powerful political body was the unelected senate which was dominated by the aristocracy and the rich entrepreneurs. Almost all the policy decisions passed through the senate. Therefore, the Roman Republic is usually seen as an oligarchy, rather than a true democracy.

Answer 2

No it was a Dictatorship, run by many dictators, like the senate as a body, this was the reason Julius Caesar was murdered, he wanted to run the whole show by himself and wanted to be Holy Roman Emperor (Like a god!)

Answer 3

ancient Rome was not a democracy as we would understand the term. An aristocratic elite, the Patricians, formed the senators from whom the leaders (consuls, quaestors etc.) were chosen. The less aristocratic Plebeans had a separate council presided over by the Tribunes. The powers of the Tribunes and the senate were balanced against each other in a complicated and even convoluted way. People who did not own land did not have a say of any kind.

This system evolved over time and had reached the above stage by the time of Caesar. Within 100 years of his death, the powers of the senate and the tribunes were all vested in the person of the Emperor.

Answer 4

Rome was never a democracy. During the period of the Roman Republic (which came after the 244-year the period of the monarchy and was followed by the 506-year period of rule by emperors) three popular assemblies elected the officers of state and voted on bills. However, Roman politics was dominated by the patrician aristocracy which controlled the (unelected) senate, which was the most powerful political body of the Republic. The candidates for election to public office were members of the elites (patricians or wealthy men). The rich entrepreneurial class (the equites, "equestrians") also had a powerful political influence. Thus, despite these democratic aspects, the Roman Republic is usually described as an oligarchy. Patrician dominance of Roman politics was one of the key factors which led to the series of civil wars which tore Rome apart and led to the fall of the Republic. One strand of these conflicts was the rift between the populares, politicians who championed the cause of the poor and wanted reforms which would help them, and the optimates, politicians which favoured the interests of the aristocracy and resisted these reforms. When Julius Caesar waged war on the forces of the senate (and thus, the aristocracy), defeated them, and seized power, he became the hero of the people. The people turned against the aristocracy and saw Caesar as the man who had the guts to challenge the aristocracy and the power to defeat it. The Republic was replaced by the absolute rule of emperors who controlled the state and elections were abolished.

Answer 5

The Roman Empire was a republic, also known as a representative democracy. Today, this is the form of government for most countries.

Answer 6

yes