3.3 ROMAN SOCIETY Flashcards
Benefits of being a citizen
- Free entry to public games
- Free use of public baths
- Free corn out of public funds
Requirements to be a citizen
- Male
- Over 17
- Not a freedman
How many senators are there
600
How could you become a senator
- Born into seneotorial class - father a senator
- Own property over 1million sesterces
- Promoted to senetorial class by emperor
How did senators make money
Property
Benefits of being a senator
- Reserved seating at public games
- Wore a broad purple stripe on their toga
- Only citizens who could stand for election as magistrates
Restrictions of being a senator
- Not allowed to engage in trade or commerce
- Not paid
Type of magistrate - consul
- 2 elected each year
- Most important figures after emperor
Type of magistrate - praetor
Responsible for law courts and imperial administration
Who could become an equite
Anyone with property over 400,000 secterses
Benefits of being a equite
- Could be appointed to govern small provinces
- Wear narrow purple stipe and gold finger ring
- Could be promoted to senetorial class if met respobsabilities
- Could engage in trade and commerce
How to become a slave
- Born a slave - slave mother
- Captives of war
- Exposure
- Kidnapping
- Criminals
How were slaves sold
On platforms with placards around thier neck illustrating their characteristics (age, origin, education, health)
Types of slave
- Domestic - educate children, serve paterfamilias and domestic chores
- Industrial - strong males to work in mines, factories and large estates
- Public - upkeeps baths and public buildings, scribes in civil service
Restrictions of slaves
Couldn’t marry or own property
What power did masters have over slaves
- They were their legal property
- Had power of life and death
- Some masters branded their slaves
How could a slave become a freedman
- Buy their freedom
- If they served well or served them especially well
- Often cheaper to free the elderly slaves rather than look after them
Restrictions of freedmen
Couldn’t run for public office, or become members of senetorial/equites class
How would freedmen symbolise their liberty
Wear a felt cap
Who built the tomb of Naevoleia Tyche
Munatius built it for himself and his wife
What was the tomb of Naevolia Tyche made of
Marble
