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Introduction To The Roman Empire
We have often heard the proverb ‘Rome was not built in a day,’ which makes us wonder how the kingdom of Rome was built and who built it. The kingdom of Rome was one of the most sophisticated kingdoms of its time. Many concepts that we know today as governance models were started by the Roman Empire. The concepts of elected rulers, an executive government and the judiciary were observed in Rome way back in 735 B.C. One such prominent feature was the Senate.
The Roman Senate
The Senate was a governmental institution and an advisory body to the Roman Emperor. It was an ancient version of the bureaucracy in many ways. The laws declared by the king as the law of the land would be drafted and deliberated by the Senate. It consisted of noblemen known as the Senators.
Senate Structure And Responsibilities
The senators were the indirect rulers. This was just like the governance structure today, as in the present-day government, the PM, the de facto head of the state, is aided by a ministry in exercising his/her power. It is astounding to realise that Rome was so ahead of its time that most countries still follow the governance model it developed centuries ago. In fact, the US assembly is known as the senate, and all its members are known as senators.
Contribution To Present Day Politics
The institution was surely magnificent in the way that political power was delegated to this permanent body for the smooth transition of governance. When a king died or was dethroned in some other manner, it was their responsibility to find the new king.
This was the most important function of the Senate. It means that the elections were fair, and the theory of divine right according to which kings can only be born through a royal bloodline was not followed. Democracy as we know it today originated in the Greco-Roman era.
The Roman Empire And Senate Through The Lens Of “Gladiator,” The Film
The famous story behind the superhit movie Gladiator, released in 2000, was based on Roman history. The story paints a picture of life in Rome during the time of Caesar. Slavery was a way of life.
The storyline follows the protagonist, Maximus, who is chosen to be the next king. He is betrayed by the last king’s son, Commodus. Commodus gives an order to kill Maximus, but he escapes. Maximus, being a refugee, is no longer a nobleman. This part of the film portrays the struggle of the life of slaves.
Life Of A Roman Slave Gladiator
Gladiators were enslaved people who chose to fight for entertainment. Gladiator fights were extremely popular among the Roman gentry. The senators often judged prisoners or those accused of crimes and sentenced to be killed in a gladiator fight.
The more gruesome the fight, the bigger the crowds. Gladiators would be made to fight wild animals especially brought in for this purpose of entertainment. The system would often be corrupt. Whatever the senators would say with the king’s approval would be the rule of law. This was a contradictory image of the senators being corrupted by political power. Maximus, instead of Commodus, was declared as ‘Regent’ in the hope that, unlike his son, Maximus would rescue Rome from corruption.
Conclusion
The story is a famous example of how the Roman Empire would treat their citizens and slaves, what would be the role of the emperor and Senators. We derive much of the democratic setup today from the Roman Empire and its senate.
FAQs
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Where is the Roman Empire today?
The Roman Empire was located in present day Europe. It includes parts of France, Germany and Italy.
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Who is the most famous ruler of the Roman Empire?
The most famous ruler of the Roman Empire was the founder himself, Augustus Caesar.
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Who were the Senators of the Roman Empire?
Senators were elected officials who had a minimum amount of wealth in the form of land or gold.
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What was the role of Senators in the Roman Empire?
The role of the senators was to govern the Roman people and advise the king on governmental matters.
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Was the king more powerful than the Senators in the Roman Empire?
The king had ultimate power in the Roman Empire, but if he did not have the approval of his senate then he was vulnerable and could be overthrown.
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