readed the Plebians [who were striking].... How long could itbe supposed that the multitude which had seceded would remain inactive? And whatwould be the consequence if in the meantime a foreign war should break out? No glimpseof hope could they see left except in concord between the citizens, which must bere-established in the state on any terms." (Nardo 28) In 494 BC, the Patricians gave upand allowed the striking Plebs their own council, called the Popular Assembly, whichexcluded Patricians. This assembly couldn't make laws, but they elected ten tribunes eachyear who had the power of veto. The Patricians pronounced the validity of decisions madeby the assembly. As the Republic grew older, it became more complicated. The Assemblyhad to elect officials to help. They elected eight praetors, or court judges, four aediles,who managed public streets and buildings, two censores, who took censuses, admittednew senators and collected taxes, and twenty five quaestores, or financial officers. In 450BC, the Plebs demanded that the laws of Rome be written down so that the praetorscouldn't twist the law in their favor. They were written down on the Twelve Tables. Anexample of a law from the Twelve Tables was, "If plaintiff summons defendant to court,he shall go. If he does not go, plaintiff shall call witness [to this]. Then only shall he takethe defendant [to court] by force." (Nardo 28-29) The Tribunes of the Plebs protected thePlebs from unjustness, and the Plebs protected them by threatening to strike. As time wenton, Patrician control over Plebians gradually decreased, until in 366 BC, the Plebs wereallowed to become consul. Soon it became a custom to elect one Pleb and one Patrician(Nardo 28). In 287 BC, the Popular Assembly gained the right to make laws. Rome wasever expanding. In 496 BC, Rome conquered Latium. In 449 BC, the Sabines fell, and in396 BC, the Etruscans. Instead of trying to oppress conquered tribes and peoples, Romeabsorbed t...
