local political life

Question 1

What is the board of four called?

Answer 1

quattuorviri

Question 2

What are the quattuorviri?

Answer 2

magistrates of the city. Voted in each year for one year terms. Two diff types of magistrates

Question 3

Who could hold the position?

Answer 3

men of honour and wealth. Required to make generous contributions to the city. One had to hold the office of Aedile before running for Duumvir.

Question 4

List the board of four:

Answer 4

• Duumviri/Duoviri (2 senior magistrates)
• Aediles (2 junior magistrates)

to make sure not too much power in one person
each have different responsibilities and decisions to make

Question 5

List the responsibilities of the Duoviri:

Answer 5

• administered the electoral vote
• responsible for criminal and civil cases
• make judgements about electoral candidates w/out required qualification and unworthy decurions (A member of a municipal senate in ancient Rome that ran local government.)

Question 6

What did the Duoviri do every 5 years?

Answer 6

there would be an election for magistrates called Quinquennales. they had the responsibility of taking census and controlling morality.

Question 7

responsibilities of Aediles?

Answer 7

• admin. scared and public buildings
• maintained roads and sewerage systems
• regulated town’s market
• maintained public order
• sponsored spectacles and theatre

Physical upkeep of land

Question 8

What is city Council called?

Answer 8

Ordo Decurionum

Question 9

Who could the position of Ordo Decurionum?

Answer 9

• distinguished and influential citizens, many ex-magistrates = experienced and wise regarding city and running of it.
• only freeborn citizens, except those unworthy e.g. actors

Question 10

How many members in Ordo Decurionum?

Answer 10

200 members (decurions)

Question 11

Responsibilities of Ordo Decurionum?

Answer 11

• debated and voted on issues affecting the admin of city(city finance, religious matters and public business) and advised the Board of Four.
• advised magistrates and helped make decisions
• every 5 years, list of decurions revised

Question 12

Who could the position of People’s assembly?

Answer 12

• city divided into voting precincts and members voted as individuals or as part of guild.
• voting by ballot

Question 13

How many ppl were their in People’s Assembly?

Answer 13

the whole city of men aged over 25

adult male citizens of city

Question 14

Responsibilities of People’s Assembly?

Answer 14

• elect magistrates -> annually in March/Spring
• vote by ballots: tablet placed on urn
• candidates for magistracies had to receive an absolute majority of voting precincts.
• not compulsory, done by interest

Question 15

What was the political life in P and H like?

Answer 15

self-governing in local matters and enjoyed considerable autonomy (independence/freedom)

Question 16

Who did P and H still have to answer to?

Answer 16

Rome and subject to imperial decree.

Question 17

When did the Emperor interfere?

Answer 17

rarely interfered, except when empire security and local order threatened.

Question 18

What were like about politics?

Answer 18

Most people were very politically aware and enthusiastic, evident in shrines and dedicatory statues, thousands of electoral notices painted on walls

Question 19

WHo could only hold high political positions?

Answer 19

Only male citizens could vote and hold positions

Question 20

When was political activity most intense?

Answer 20

before annual elections in March

Question 21

Evidence of intense political activity in Pompeii?

Answer 21

Ciero says that “competition was so fierce, that it was harder to gain a position in P than in Rome.”

Question 22

Who were the Duoviri and Aediles?

Answer 22

magistrates: men of wealth and honour, not paid but required to make generous contributed to city and keep ppl happy by sponsoring spectacular shows and dedicating building and statues, hence needed to be wealthy and free, mainly freeborn.

Question 23

What did the magistrates preside over?

Answer 23

the City Council and People’ Assembly

Question 24

Legislature: City Council (ordo Decurionum) how long in position?

Answer 24

seat on council was for life, only became available with death or disgrace of member

Question 25

What are the privileges of Quattuoviri?

Answer 25

• wear purple edged toga

- reserved seat at public performances : theatre and ampitheatre

Question 26

Priesthood?

Answer 26

• associated with emperor worship, e.g. Augustales, integral part of political life, many magistrates were a part of this body.

Question 27

How was elections and candidates promoted?

Answer 27

half of electoral manifesto and propaganda in P relate to election of March 79AD
never promote self, done by others. make electoral promises and boast about what they did in past.
Not everyone is always happy with elected magistrates, with some graffiti drew caricatures and gave advice on how to properly run city.

Question 28

How was votes for next election ensured for citizens of Pompeii?

Answer 28

the relationships with their clients

Question 29

what is patron?

Answer 29

a wealthy (usually male) citizen who gave time, money, connection to people of lower classes. Expected to help, write slogans/graffiti on buildings, talk to others = popularity increase. 
e.g. building of Eumachia

Question 30

What is Client?

Answer 30

someone who received money, time etc. from their richer patrons in return for political support. This might be done by word of mouth, writing graffiti etc.