Roman Forum Activity Board by Olivia Cucinotta

Roman Forum Discussion Topics

ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 10:21:58 UTC

Is the death penalty just in cases of treason?

Should the Roman religion be maintained or should the Romans embrace other foreign religions?
Should Rome invest more resources into the army or into infrastructure?
Should new taxes be imposed onto landowners and merchants?
Should we increase/decrease trade with [nation]?
What does the government/people have to say about rebuilding the temple of Saturn?

**this list is not exhaustive --> feel free to make your own topic, just discuss this with me first!

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ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 10:29:27 UTC

Senators facts/interests sheet

ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 11:15:11 UTC

In the Roman Republic, senators were important and powerful men who gave advice to, helped make decisions for, the government. They were usually from rich and noble families, and many had been army leaders or held other important jobs.

Key Interests of Senators:

Power and Influence – They wanted to be respected and have a say in how Rome was run, and cared about winning public support
Land and Wealth – Many senators owned large farms and wanted to protect their riches, beause wealth = power.
Family and Fame – Senators cared about their family image and tried to win glory for their children, as well as allies in order to 'make a name' for themselves
Control of Provinces – Some wanted to govern new lands conquered by Rome, which made them even richer.

Merchants facts/interests sheet

ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 11:15:49 UTC

In the Roman Republic, merchants bought and sold goods. They were very important because they helped keep Rome’s economy strong and brought in products from all over the world. Merchants helped make Rome rich and connected it with many other places around the world.

Key Interests of Merchants:

Making money – They wanted to earn profits by selling goods.
Expanding trade – Respectful international relations made their routes safe to travel, meaning they could trade more and make more money.
Gaining status – Some rich merchants were able to gain the respect of powerful people, even though they were not part of the noble class. This allowed them to sell more goods.
Avoiding high taxes – They didn’t want the government to take too much of their money.

Priests facts/interests sheet

ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 11:16:24 UTC

In the Roman Republic, priests were responsible for maintaining the religion of Rome. They made sure the Gods were happy, as Romans believed that their successes were dependent on keeping the Gods pleased. Many priests were also senators or nobles, so they had both religious and political power. They also gave advice to leaders based on signs from the gods (reading omens).

Key Interests of Priests:

Keeping the gods happy to protect Rome and its people. This also included upkeep of chuches and other religious buildings
Gaining respect and influence, as religion was closely connected to politics.
Helping leaders make decisions by interpreting the will of the gods.
Maintaining traditions and rituals that were seen as important for Rome’s future.

Plebeians facts/interests sheets

ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 11:17:56 UTC

In the Roman Republic, plebeians were the common people. They made up most of the population and included farmers, builders, soldiers, shopkeepers, and craftsmen.

Key Interests of Plebeians:

Fair treatment – They wanted equal rights and protection under the law.
Better living conditions – Many were poor and wanted more land and better access to food.
Freedom from debt and unfair rules – They wanted laws that protected them from being treated poorly by the rich.

Noblemen/patricians facts/interests sheet

ocucinotta — 2025-05-28 11:18:15 UTC

In the Roman Republic, patricians (also known as noblemen) were wealthy and powerful families, and often owned large areas of land. Patricians had the most power in early Rome and had much influence over the government by serving as senators, judges, military leaders etc, and owning farms worked by slaves and plebeians.

Key Interests of Patricians:

Keeping their power and staying in control of politics.
Protecting their land and wealth. This meant trying to reduce taxes on land, but increasing taxes in other areas like goods.
Passing on their status and ensuring their children would have wealth and power
Keeping plebeians in a lower class to maintain their power and further their own interests. They did this through their political power and owning land (charging rent)