The Founding of Rome and Early Republic

课文

1. According to legend, Romulus founded Rome on Palatine Hill in 753 BCE after killing his brother Remus.

   据传说，罗慕路斯于公元前753年在帕拉丁山杀死其弟雷穆斯后建立了罗马。

2. By 509 BCE, Romans replaced kings with elected consuls and created the Senate to represent patrician families.

   到公元前509年，罗马人废除王政，改由选举产生的执政官执政，并设立元老院代表贵族家族。

3. Plebeians gradually won rights like legal codes, assemblies, and tribunes who could veto unfair laws.

   平民逐步争取到成文法、平民大会及可否决不公法律的保民官等权利。

4. Roman law emphasized fairness, evidence, and citizen protection—principles still visible in modern systems.

   罗马法强调公正、证据和公民保护，这些原则至今仍见于现代法律体系中。

5. Farmers formed the backbone of the army, serving without pay but expecting land after victory.

   农民构成军队主力，义务服役但战后期望获得土地。

6. Conquests in Italy brought wealth but also widened gaps between rich landowners and poor veterans.

   意大利半岛的征服带来财富，却也加剧了大地主与贫困退伍军人之间的贫富差距。

7. The republic balanced power carefully, yet internal tensions kept growing over centuries.

   共和制虽精心平衡权力，但数百年来内部矛盾持续加剧。

8. This fragile system lasted nearly 500 years before giving way to imperial rule.

   这一脆弱体制延续近五百年，最终让位于帝制。