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Essay / The Rise and Fall of Rome - 1421
The rise and fall of one of the greatest empires known to man, the Roman Republic, was caused by several key factors. Three of these were the decline of the monarchy within the empire, foreign conquests and expansion of the growing empire, and political battles between powerful officials. The decline of the monarchy which caused the rise of the republic was brought about by the expulsion of the last Etruscan king. An ancient Roman tale tells how the last Etruscan king, Tarquinius Superbus, was driven from his fall. The story tells how, after his son, Sextus, raped a beautiful and virtuous woman, Lucretia. After being raped, she told her husband what had happened, after which she committed suicide, rather than allowing even force to excuse the dishonor. Lucretia's suicide outraged almost all Romans. The Romans revolted against Tarquinius Superbus and were led by Lucius Junius Brutus, they succeeded in driving him from the fall. Now that the last Etruscan king had fallen, it was time for the Roman Republic to rise to power. The republic developed when the Senate handed over power to two consuls, originally called praetors, after the revolt against Tarquinius Superbus. Consuls had power in the Senate for a year, new consuls were elected by the Comitia Centuriata and confirmed in their Imperium by the Comitia Curiata. The consuls, like the kings before them and by custom, were advised by the Ogiony 2, the senate, the assembly of the notables of Rome. The consuls were assisted by lower magistrates, they were appointed by the consuls themselves until their functions became more independent of the consuls, and more important politically that they were soon no more than elected. In some cases, functions solely administered by consuls could be assigned to n...... middle of paper ...... at Actium off the coast of northwestern Greece. Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra then fled to Egypt where, in 30 BC, they both committed suicide. The rise and decline of the great Roman Republic was largely caused by corruption and political unrest. For example, during the Decline, when Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Pompey the Great were fighting for power over the Senate and citizens of the Roman Republic, the republic began to break up and collapse. Also during the Rise, when Tarquinius Superbus and the citizen rebellion led by Lucius Junius Brutus were fighting for power over the city. Another factor, Rome's expansion and foreign conquests, played a key role in the decline of the Republic. Ultimately, the decline of the monarchy contributed to its rise by creating the need for a new system of government which was quickly met by the Senate and consuls..