Classical republic
Encyclopedia
A classical republic, according to certain modern political theorists, is a state of Classical Antiquity
that is considered to have a republic
an form of government, a state where sovereignty rested with the people rather than a ruler or monarch. These include states like Sparta
, Athens
, and the Roman Republic
. The Romans used the term res publica
to describe their state, but the most common sense of that term is closer to body politic
or commonwealth
. The phrase was coined, it seems, to distinguish the post-Tarquin
political system with the previous monarchy, the res privata.
The idea of republicanism was a creation of the Renaissance
. The Renaissance scholars, most prominent among them being Niccolò Machiavelli
, looked back on the ancient period with great interest and reverence. They defined republic as any state that was not headed by a monarch - thus including the Spartan diarchy
, the Athenian democracy
, and the Roman res publica. The Italians, themselves living in Republics like Florence
and Venice
(although note that the doge
was an elected monarch), looked back on these states as models of social organization. They looked to the history of the classical republics and attempted to emulate their model. In particular, they saw the mixed government
of Rome and Sparta as the secret to stability and the pursuit of civic virtue
as the key to the citizens' well being. The theory of government based upon this Renaissance study of the past is known as classical republicanism
. Other elements the classical republics shared was the central importance of citizenship
. The percent of the population that were citizens was quite limited, but they also had important burdens such as military service
. The focus on civil virtue also meant that little attention was paid to individual liberties
in these states.
The term classical republic is also sometimes used to describe those later states that are argued to follow the classical model. Thus the United States
is sometimes called a classical republic.
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
that is considered to have a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
an form of government, a state where sovereignty rested with the people rather than a ruler or monarch. These include states like Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. The Romans used the term res publica
Res publica
Res publica is a Latin phrase, loosely meaning "public affair". It is the root of the word republic, and the word commonwealth has traditionally been used as a synonym for it; however translations vary widely according to the context...
to describe their state, but the most common sense of that term is closer to body politic
Body politic
A polity is a state or one of its subordinate civil authorities, such as a province, prefecture, county, municipality, city, or district. It is generally understood to mean a geographic area with a corresponding government. Thomas Hobbes considered bodies politic in this sense in Leviathan...
or commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
. The phrase was coined, it seems, to distinguish the post-Tarquin
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was the legendary seventh and final King of Rome, reigning from 535 BC until the popular uprising in 509 BC that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic. He is more commonly known by his cognomen Tarquinius Superbus and was a member of the so-called Etruscan...
political system with the previous monarchy, the res privata.
The idea of republicanism was a creation of the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. The Renaissance scholars, most prominent among them being Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
, looked back on the ancient period with great interest and reverence. They defined republic as any state that was not headed by a monarch - thus including the Spartan diarchy
Diarchy
Diarchy , from the Greek δι- "twice" and αρχια, "rule", is a form of government in which two individuals, the diarchs, are the heads of state. In most diarchies, the diarchs hold their position for life and pass the responsibilities and power of the position to their children or family when they...
, the Athenian democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, and the Roman res publica. The Italians, themselves living in Republics like Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
(although note that the doge
Doge
Doge is a dialectal Italian word that descends from the Latin dux , meaning "leader", especially in a military context. The wife of a Doge is styled a Dogaressa....
was an elected monarch), looked back on these states as models of social organization. They looked to the history of the classical republics and attempted to emulate their model. In particular, they saw the mixed government
Mixed government
Mixed government, also known as a mixed constitution, is a form of government that integrates elements of democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy. In a mixed government, some issues are decided by the majority of the people, some other issues by few, and some other issues by a single person...
of Rome and Sparta as the secret to stability and the pursuit of civic virtue
Civic virtue
Civic virtue is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be important for the success of the community. The identification of the character traits that constitute civic virtue have been a major concern of political philosophy...
as the key to the citizens' well being. The theory of government based upon this Renaissance study of the past is known as classical republicanism
Classical republicanism
Classical republicanism is a form of republicanism developed in the Renaissance inspired by the governmental forms and writings of classical antiquity. The earliest examples of the school were classical writers such as Aristotle, Polybius, and Cicero...
. Other elements the classical republics shared was the central importance of citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
. The percent of the population that were citizens was quite limited, but they also had important burdens such as military service
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
. The focus on civil virtue also meant that little attention was paid to individual liberties
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
in these states.
The term classical republic is also sometimes used to describe those later states that are argued to follow the classical model. Thus the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is sometimes called a classical republic.