When reading this paper, it is important to keep in mind that many of the sources that were used were written after the events had already occurred. With saying that, one should still take into consideration that these pieces of written history are valuable and can shed some light on Roman history, culture, ideologies, and beliefs. Most of the information in this paper comes from the works of Polybius, who lived between 200 and 118 BCE, Livy, who lived between 59 and 17 BCE, and the Twelve Tables, which was supposedly created around 450 BCE. Through the works of these authors we can conclude that Rome was so successful at international expansion due to their ability to adapt and adjust to certain situations when a new threat arose, their
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As stated before, the Twelve Tables are thought to be constructed around 450 BCE. Similar to the Articles of Confederation in the United States, the Twelve Tables, not actual tables, were Rome’s first form of written law. The tables consisted of twelve main laws that were broken down in to subtopics, which each varied by what the laws discussed. The Twelve Tables were supposedly carved into tablets by a commission of 12 men, in 451-450 BCE, then were ratified by the Centuriate Assembly in 449 BCE, making them the first written laws in Rome (Twelve …show more content…
As a result of the tension, the twelve tables were created which adds to the fact that the Romans were able to adapt to dangerous circumstances. By creating the Twelve Tables, it put all the laws in writing, which gave the Plebeians an actual set of laws to go by instead of just hearsay. The Patricians knew that if they could not control the Plebeians it could potentially lead to civil unrest within Rome. With this in mind, when the Patricians made the Twelve Tables, they made some of the laws somewhat reasonable for both parties. For example, Table 2 sub-topic 2a states, “It shall be argued by solemn deposit with 500 asses, when the property is valued at 1,000 asses or more, but with 50 asses, when the property is valued at less than 1,000 asses” (Twelve Tables). This law takes into consideration the fact that many plebeians cannot afford higher costs, so they adjust laws to meet the lower class’ financial abilities. This in turn keeps the lower classes somewhat under control, which keeps the plebeians from going in to civil unrest that could internally destroy
As stated before, the Twelve Tables are thought to be constructed around 450 BCE. Similar to the Articles of Confederation in the United States, the Twelve Tables, not actual tables, were Rome’s first form of written law. The tables consisted of twelve main laws that were broken down in to subtopics, which each varied by what the laws discussed. The Twelve Tables were supposedly carved into tablets by a commission of 12 men, in 451-450 BCE, then were ratified by the Centuriate Assembly in 449 BCE, making them the first written laws in Rome (Twelve …show more content…
As a result of the tension, the twelve tables were created which adds to the fact that the Romans were able to adapt to dangerous circumstances. By creating the Twelve Tables, it put all the laws in writing, which gave the Plebeians an actual set of laws to go by instead of just hearsay. The Patricians knew that if they could not control the Plebeians it could potentially lead to civil unrest within Rome. With this in mind, when the Patricians made the Twelve Tables, they made some of the laws somewhat reasonable for both parties. For example, Table 2 sub-topic 2a states, “It shall be argued by solemn deposit with 500 asses, when the property is valued at 1,000 asses or more, but with 50 asses, when the property is valued at less than 1,000 asses” (Twelve Tables). This law takes into consideration the fact that many plebeians cannot afford higher costs, so they adjust laws to meet the lower class’ financial abilities. This in turn keeps the lower classes somewhat under control, which keeps the plebeians from going in to civil unrest that could internally destroy