Show many republics before that of united states probably the first government which can be considered republican in form was the ancient commonwealth or republic which lasted from about 1491 B C to log 1095 R B C about three centuries after this the greek states of which athens was chief set up what gradually came to be democratic republics ancient carthage and rome nome were for a short period republics during the middle ages many of the free cities of italy and germany set up republics san marino in italy Is ig now the oldest existing republic while switzerland has existed as a republic since 1291 1201 according to an article in the american cyclopedia the degree of popular sovereignty in republics has hag varied very widely in the past most of the so called republics having been ruled by an aristocracy which jealously guarded its own rights but treated the n multitude I 1 ul kg as little bettor better than slaves real republican go government may be said to date from the american declaration la ration of independence a nod a d even in the united states the government was largely ime of class until about the second quarter of 0 the elith century when suffrage barriers began to brenk break down |