Question

According to Polybius (Doc. A), why could the Roman Republic be considered an aristocracy?

A. The senate proposed laws and had the control of the treasury.

B. A consul had the power to control the military.

C. The people had the final say on whether or not to go to war.

D. The people had a say in which laws are passed.

Answer 1

The Roman Republic was considered an aristocracy as per Polybius due to the Senate's power to propose laws and control the treasury(option A) , which allowed aristocratic families to hold significant influence over Roman governance.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Polybius, the Roman Republic could be considered an aristocracy because of the significant power and control held by the Senate. Specifically, the Senate, which was initially an advisory body composed of aristocratic administrators, later gained substantial law-making authority. By 133 BCE, the Senate proposed legislation, could veto the legislation of the consuls, and had significant financial control, as it was able to designate funds for various governmental activities, including wars and public building projects. This enabled the Senate, and thus the aristocracy, to exert a strong influence over the actions and priorities of the Roman government.