Aristocracy

Question 1

Roman Social Class

Answer 1

changeable, mobility up and down
decline of patricians, but needed to rise of equitaes
equitaes could become senators, who could become patricians
aristocracy of service - cursos honorum, meant to produce competent leaders
new tensions in social order created
acceptable vs unacceptable mobility (freedmen)

Question 2

Senatorial Order

Answer 2

absorbed as a semi-hereditary aristocracy
major reorganisation under augustus - hugely reduced
fama- development of moral expectations
rise in provincial senators
good name/family important due to short bloodlines
on average families in senate for 1/2 generations

Question 3

Equestrian Order

Answer 3

lower of aristocratic orders, a lot more of them
empire-wide elites and landowners
equestrian commander in every legion
use as administrators
rise in provincial representation
new roles in government , fill important position
majority happy being local aristocrats

Question 4

`Republican Monarchy?

Answer 4

symbiotic relationship - cooperation from emperor and senate
legitimacy in what was demanded of senate
erosion of senatorial power, shift to private arena
yet also expansion of senatorial powers/privileges - basically just ceremony
imperial and senatorial provinces
senate weakens emperor - source of potential rivals
measures to limit threats posed by senators - trails, types of provinces, dispersing of army etc

Question 5

Empire

Answer 5

emperors depend on local groups with locally given special privileges
therefore inclusiveness of elites very important
military consume large portion of tax revenue
tolerant of local cults
outer ring of client kings - bound to emperor through obligations and patronage
frontier governors usually appointed directly by emperor

Question 6

Types of Province

Answer 6

Imperial 
 - governed by imperial legate 
 - chosen by emperor, serve at his leisure 
 - open end appointments 
Senatorial 
 - governed by proconsul
 - selected by lot 
 - serves 1 year but could be renewed

Question 7

Governors

Answer 7

governed from a central base usually
lack of mediterranean urbanisation in ares eg gaul
persuasion of local aristocracy to create urban centres
often autonomous units, own senate etc
greek constitution adapted to roman influence
unified approach to education, culture etc attempted

Question 8

Local Elites

Answer 8

gained wealth by entering into empire
could join cursos honorum
low taxes, political power etc
increasing number entering into equestrian/senatorial rank rather than italians
trajan/hadrian both from spain
severus from africa - julia domna from africa

Question 9

cultural integration

Answer 9

‘romanisation’
changes in terms of demographic and recruitment
spread of urbanisation and latin
2 way process- barbarian culture not necessarily bad
open to trade culture from other powers eg amber from balkans and sub-saharan trade

Question 10

Sources

Answer 10

most literary sources were written by/show the view of the aristocracy!!!!
physical forms of patronage
buildings eg ciceros house
Agricola - attitudes between elites and emperors