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The conversion of the Roman Republic into an empire changed the course of world history. The founding fathers of the United States reflected deeply on the loss of representative government in Rome when designing the American republic.

Now it is your turn to contemplate the significance of the Roman Republic by writing a eulogy for its passing. A eulogy is a speech delivered at a funeral to commemorative the person who has died.

In your notes, write a two-paragraph eulogy for the death of the Roman republic. In your response, address the following questions:

What were the major accomplishments of the Roman Republic?
What happened that caused its decline and eventual death?

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Sample Eulogy

The Roman republic lasted from 508 BC to the crowning of Caesar Augustus in 27 BC. It was the preeminent example of representative government until the construction of the US Constitution in 1787.

Its government gave voice to the will of plebeians and patricians. Institutions such as the Senate and the Consulship embodied the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. When crises arose demanding power be invested in a dictator, leaders like Cincinnatus returned the power to the people when the strife had ended.

The republic proved that limited government was not weak government, as it conquered the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, a body of water the Romans referred to in Latin as "Mare Nostrum," or "Our Sea." Wherever it went, the Roman army spread its art, technology, culture, and its Latin language.

Unfortunately, in the long run, the Roman Republic's expansion became its undoing. Power was increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few people, especially the conquering generals. The spoils of war were not shared equally among the population and leaders of the poor like Gracchus clashed with the Senate, which sought to preserve its interests. Despite 400 years of tradition, its institutions could not forestall civil war.

Ultimately, Julius Caesar emerged triumphant, being declared "dictator for life" by the Senate in 44 BC. His assassination did not prevent Octavian from being crowned Caesar Augustus in 27 BC to formally start the Roman Empire. Its end does not tarnish its great accomplishment in making the title of "Civitas Romanae — Citizen of Rome" worthy of respect and admiration to this present day.