De Anza College The History of Rome Discussion

One of the defining characteristics of the Roman state is its willingness to incorporate
non-Romans into its citizen body while maintaining a political structure that gave all
Romans a voice in who leads the state. Rome was never a state that gave all citizens an
equal voice in choosing leaders or making decisions, but it always tried to ensure that
these citizens participated politically to some degree. For this essay, answer the following
question:
How did the nature of political decision making and the manner of political
participation change for Romans during the period between Servius Tullius’s sixth
century seizure of power and the conclusion of the end of the Conflict of the Orders
in 287 BC?
In your answer you should consider how 1) the coup of Servius Tullius 2) the
creation of the Republic and 3) the Conflict of the Orders changed who chose the leaders
of the Roman state and altered the balance of power between patricians and plebeians.
NB— Although this essay asks for your opinion, your answer must be supported by
ancient evidence. Because it has been prepared in advance, your answer should contain