Why Romans Had Such A Prolific Faith - 1359 Words

By 264 BCE the groundwork had been laid for an unprecedented empire to expand it’s reign across the Mediterranean. Ancient Rome is lauded for the strength of its republic and its unparalleled military prowess but the reason for its domestic and foreign success was the confidence Roman citizens had in their state. In order to determine why Romans had such a prolific faith we must look to the flexible political structure they developed during the early Republic. The governmental system they crafted was incredibly malleable and allowed for modification whenever it couldn’t meet the needs of the people it was designed to serve. Because of the Rome’s economic reliance on war, their need for soldiers, and the stratification of the patrician†¦show more content†¦It was decided the soldiers would vote and the senate, which was at this time an advisory committee to the king, would ratify their choice. Thus, military campaigns carried on, led by elected officials, backed by the power of the people. This method became Roman custom and the idea that politicians were made by the people and were tasked with fulfilling their most basic needs, was woven into the identity of Rome. Eventually these elected monarchs morphed into two consuls, heads of state meant to lead armies into war and protect the interests of the people. Another theme that runs through Roman history is their tendency for warfare. It originated because of the precarious physical location Rome had for enemies surrounded them, a position that demanded they fight. Unfortunately, this meant a large part of their armies were pulled away from cultivating the land in order to go to war. This is the first area we will look at to determine how the systemic political flexibility became one of Rome’s greatest assets during the Republic period. Rome’s ferocity in the regal period began a cycle of war they would eventually become infamous for. Their soldiers came from all bu t the poorest of social classes and a large chunk of the Roman army was dependent upon the revenue war brought in. Any land won would be given to the wealthiest of Romans, usually patricians, who would use it as a means to control the poorer classes, usually plebeians. During