What was the Roman cursus honorum?

The cursus honorum, meaning 'course of honors,' was the standard order of elected offices in Roman political life. A Roman aristocrat would usually begin with lower offices such as quaestor, then move upward through positions like aedile, praetor, and consul. Age limits and minimum intervals were often required, especially during the late Republic. The system was meant to organize competition among elites and ensure experience before the highest offices. It became one of the defining structures of Roman republican government.