Western Civilization I / Unit 7 WC1 0627 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Republic and Principate Compared on Five Features
The idea
The exam's Republic-versus-Principate questions ask which statement fits which, and sample question five is one of them. The method is five features with paired answers: who holds imperium, what the Senate does, how the army is loyal, how office is gained, and where law comes from.
In practice
Imperium: in the Republic two consuls for a year, in the Principate one man for life through tribunician power and imperium maius. The Senate: in the Republic the controller of finance and war, in the Principate a facade that ratifies. The army: in the Republic citizen-soldiers then clients of generals, in the Principate professionals sworn to the emperor with pay and a bonus. Office: in the Republic by election within client networks, in the Principate by wealth thresholds and imperial favor. Law: in the Republic from assemblies and the Senate, in the Principate from the emperor's decrees, unappealable. Apply: a statement that republican institutions survived while one man held power is the Principate, the sample question's answer; a statement about a dictator expected to resign is the Republic.
Where people slip
The Principate kept every republican form, which is the point of the sample question. A statement that Augustus abolished the Senate or the consulship is wrong; he kept them and drained them. The change is in who decides, not in what exists.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it