How Did The Roman Empire Prior To The Founding Of The Roman Empire?

Reading Guide #2
Question 1: Prior to the founding of the Roman Empire, Rome was a republic. Roman citizens elected officials in order to represent the common interest of the people. It had a powerful legislative body called the Senate, and “it advised on policy within the republic and members held virtually all executive offices in the Roman state”. (Stearns, Adas, Schwartz, and Gilbert 90) However, the highest elected position in the empire was the consul. Only two consuls were elected by an assembly, and both shared executive power. The Roman Republic maintained order by introducing its first set of laws, the Twelve Tables. Rome changed from a republic to an empire, and it was founded by Augustus (Octavian). After Rome became an empire, the Senate was preserved but became insignificant, and the emperor became the central authority of the government.
Question 2:
Confucianism was a religious philosophy by a man named Confucius. In a way, Confucianism is connected to humanism in that it stressed importance in the human rather than the divine. “Confucius was not a religious leader; he believed in a divine order but refused to speculate about it. Chinese civilization was unusual … in that its dominant values were secular rather than religious.” (Stearns, Adas, Schwartz, and Gilbert 48) Confucianism believed that each person has a special role in each relationship: “ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, elder brother to younger brother, and friend to friend” (Five Relationships of Confucianism). In addition, it was a system of ethics for everyone to follow (not only for the people, but for the rulers as well). The Han emperors saw Confucianism as useful and incorporated it in literature into the training of