The Road to a Republic I
1. Rome is a monarchy (753-509 BCE)
2. The Roman Republic (509-27 BCE)
3. The Roman Empire (27 BCE - 476 CE)
4. Roman Empire falls (476 CE)
Step 1: Monarchy
Rome was originally ruled by a group of people called the Etruscans (learn
more about them here). The Etruscans set up a monarchy, or government ruled by a
king. The last Etruscan King was Tarquinius Superbus, or "Tarquin the Proud," who
was known for being a terrible and cruel ruler. The Romans revolted, overthrew the
king, and swore to never have another king. Instead, they set up a new type of
government called a republic, or representative democracy
The United States followed a similar path to its democracy. Like the ancient Romans,
the American colonists in the 1700s also hated their king, King George III. Like the Romans,
the American colonists overthrew their king in a war known as the American Revolution. The
Americans then set up a representative democracy so they would never have another king.
1. What kind of government did Rome have before the republic?
2. Why do you think both the Romans and the American colonists started republics instead
of a new monarchy?
3. Predict/Guess: What do you think it was like to live in the new Roman republic? Who do
you think was included and who was left out?