Quiz 3 Flashcards
Describe the role of Greco Roman women in their household.
-managers of household:
-Households often included extended family and servants/slaves.
-household operations
-Women usually work alongside men in the trade.
Describe mothers roles in children’s lives.
-Most women are married by late teens and have children. Women didn’t typically nurse their children. They needed to recover from childbirth and form other relationships with other adults.
Describe women’s ability or inability to own property and to participate in commercial, religious,
military, and political affairs (Greco Roman)
-Women have the same rights for property arrangements.
-Political affairs and military affairs were the only things exclusively for men.
Explain how marriage worked in the Greco Roman world.
-There is no state licensure. That is why dowry arrangements were so important. Women were entitled to have dowry returned.
-There were a lot of widows because of age expectance and age gap.
-Either spouse could initiate divorce (Roman)
o Adultery for women: If they had relations with anyone that was adultery.
o Adultery for men: Only if they had relations with other wives (not considered adultery for single women)
o Can not remarry (unchaste)
What was considered adultery for Greco-Roman Women?
If they had relations with anyone
What was considered adultery for Greco-Roman Men?
Only if they had relations with other wives (not considered adultery for single women)
Describe divorce for Greco Roman people.
Under Jewish law, only men could initiate divorce
-Couldnt remarry because they is unchaste
Describe: how (newborn) children were recognized by, and accepted into, a Roman family.
-When a child is born it is up to the father to decide whether or not the child would be accepted into the family. If they were not accepted the child would be left outside to die.
What are different ways people could become enslaved in the Roman Empire?
-sell themselves or sell other people
-Born into slavery
What was the extent of slavery as a social institution in the Roman Empire?
about 16-20% were slaves (closer to 20%)
How did Roman slavery and later New World slavery differ?
-Origins and Justification:
Roman slavery: prisoners of war, debtors, criminals, and children born into slavery. generally justified by social and economic factors
New World slavery: primarily based on race, driven by European demand for labor in colonies, particularly in agriculture.
Scope and Scale:
Roman slavery: was widespread but was not the dominant labor system. Many worked as domestic servants, artisans, or in various other roles
New World slavery: central aspect of the economy, particularly in agricultural production such as sugar, cotton, and tobacco.millions of Africans forcibly transported across the Atlantic.
Treatment and Conditions:
Roman slavery: varied widely depending on the individual owner. some slaves were treated well and even given opportunities for freedom or advancement, others endured harsh conditions and cruel treatment.
New World slavery: brutal and dehumanizing. harsh labor conditions, physical punishment, and sexual exploitation. considered property rather than human beings, with little to no legal rights or protections.
Legal Status:
Roman slavery: had some legal rights, such as the ability to own property, marry, and even file complaints against their masters in certain cases. New World slavery: had few, if any, legal rights. considered property and had no legal recourse against mistreatment or abuse. Laws and social norms denied them basic human rights.
End and Legacy:
Roman slavery: gradually declined over centuries, partly due to economic changes and the spread of Christianity. largely disappeared in Europe with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century CE.
New World slavery: persisted until the 19th century, with the abolition movements gaining momentum in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Where did slaves “fit” the Roman Empire’s social hierarchy?
some slaves could earn a degree of respect or freedom through exceptional service or luck, but in general, they were treated as a disposable and exploited labor force
What was the broad meaning of oikonomia in ancient times
economy; not only financial matters but also the management of a household or community’s resources, including land, labor, and goods. referred to the organization and administration of the household or community’s affairs, covering everything from agriculture and trade to household management and social relationships. It included the allocation of resources, distribution of goods, and the overall functioning of society’s productive activities. Thus, in ancient times, economy was more closely tied to the holistic management of resources within a societal framework, rather than just financial transactions or market dynamics as it is often understood today.
What are taxes?
Taxes: compulsory payments imposed by a government or ruling authority on individuals, households, or businesses. generally used to fund government operations, infrastructure projects, military expenses, and other public services. could be levied on various aspects of economic activity, such as income, property, goods, or trade.
What was the specific role of tax-collecting publicans?
private individuals or companies contracted by the government to collect taxes and tolls on behalf of the state. manage the collection of various taxes, including land taxes, taxes on goods and merchandise, and other levies imposed by the Roman government. corruption, extortion, and exploitation of the local population. They would sometimes use aggressive tactics to ensure compliance and maximize their profits, leading to widespread resentment among the populace.
Graeco-Roman religion’s non-doctrinal, non-theological, non-spiritual, non-moral nature
-Differences between pagan and Christianity:
-No “orthodox” writings/scriptures
-No coherent view of an afterlife
-No centralized authority for any cult
-No seminaries
-No sense of personal relationship with the divine
-No need for conversion
-No focus on ethics or morality
Describe Graeco-Roman religion’s integration in civic and political affairs.
The temples had the following: Religious aspects, banking function, tourist function (museums), political (appointments of those who habituate (priests): seen as a civic honor)
Describe the non-centralized nature of the cults and the priesthoods of the various gods and goddesses.
Multiple temples for different gods and goddesses, not one
What are Lares?
Roman-specific spirits of ancestors; intermediate entity; also venerated
What are Daimones?
other spirits that existed but became more negative -> NT portrays as bad whereas before they were kind of neutral. The modern church accepts demons and angels as creations of gods. Ancient church said if other gods and goddesses existed, they were demon
What are Heros?
Semi-divine- They were treated as if they were gods sometimes; sometimes regional admirable people who died and gained status because of their good works during life
Explain the origins of the imperial cult.
The origins of the imperial cult can be traced back to the traditions of ancestor worship and the deification of rulers in ancient Rome. However, it became a formalized institution during the Roman Empire, particularly during the reign of Augustus
Describe the similarities and differences between the imperial cult and earlier Hellenistic ruler cults.
-Similarities: Both the imperial cult and Hellenistic ruler cults involved the veneration and deification of rulers, elevating them to a status akin to gods or semi-divine beings. served to legitimize their rule and reinforce their authority.
Both the Roman imperial cult and Hellenistic ruler cults were integrated into the state religion, with temples, priesthoods, and religious festivals dedicated to the worship of the ruler. They were official state-sponsored cults. Both cults served to reinforce the ruler’s image as a benevolent and divinely ordained leader.
-Differences: The Hellenistic ruler cults emerged in the context of the successor kingdoms following the conquests of Alexander the Great, with rulers such as the Ptolemies and Seleucids being deified during their lifetimes or after death. The Roman imperial cult, on the other hand, developed later during the Roman Empire, with Augustus being the first emperor to actively promote his own cult.
Extent of Worship: While Hellenistic ruler cults primarily focused on honoring specific monarchs, the Roman imperial cult expanded to encompass a broader dynastic worship, including not only the reigning emperor but also his predecessors and even members of the imperial family.
Cultural Influences: The Hellenistic ruler cults were influenced by Greek traditions of hero worship and divine kingship, which had deep roots in Greek religion and mythology. In contrast, the Roman imperial cult blended elements of Roman state religion with Hellenistic concepts of ruler worship, creating a distinctively Roman form of imperial cult that incorporated both Roman and Greek religious practices.
Political Function: While both cults served to legitimize the ruler’s authority, the Hellenistic ruler cults were often more overtly political, with rulers actively promoting their divine status as a means of consolidating power and exerting control over their subjects. The Roman imperial cult, while still serving political ends, was also tied to broader concepts of Roman religious and civic identity, emphasizing the emperor’s role as the protector and benefactor of the Roman people.
Describe the differences in various Emperors’ enthusiasm for, and promotion of, the imperial cult
-Augustus, the first Roman emperor, was instrumental in the establishment and promotion of the imperial cult. He actively promoted the cult of Divus Julius (deified Julius Caesar), his adoptive father, as a means of legitimizing his own rule and emphasizing his connection to the legendary founder of the Roman Empire.
Describe Said’s distinction between the concepts of imperialism and colonialism.
imperialism’ means the practice, the theory, and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan centre ruling a distant territory; ‘colonialism’, which is almost always a consequence of imperialism, is the implanting of settlements on distant territory”
What are the Historical-critical methods?
- Multiple attestation: if there are several people attesting to an event, the chances of the event occurring are better
- Consistency: If the accounts are consistent then it is more relaible
Why were the voices of the ruled (but not the rulers) are often silent in history
didn’t have the basic knowledge to write, they might be considered resistant and did not want to draw attention. basically putting a target on yourself
Describe Public transcripts of power vs. hidden transcripts.
Public Transcript of Power: The idea that people in authority want others below them to know. Justification of their exercise use of power
Hidden Transcripts (note: plural): Both the rulers and ruled. rulers: ulterior motives for their actions
What are the characteristics of Bryan’s notion of the biblical-prophetic tradition
strong view on government
inapplicability of certain standard postcolonial methodologies to the first-century context
-Postcolonial Insights and methodology
oBig Difference #1
-Shared values of ruler and ruled 33:20
oBig Difference #2
-Prevalence of brutality
-How Rome Prepares
how and why pagans in the Roman Empire could perceive Christians as a “security threat”
Exponential growth. Pagan view: a lot of people are not giving the gods and goddesses offerings so they view it as a threat because then the gods/goddesses would not gift them with blessings
-Pax deorum-> Pax Romana (peace of the gods)
-Romans care about actions not threat
reasons why the Roman Empire does not have to be considered “a bad thing” for its subject
peoples (even if one does not perceive it to be “a good thing”)
.
Transubstantiation and incest
changing of bread to body-> viewed of cannibalism
all humans as brothers and sisters
What are tithes?
Tithes: Tithes were religious obligations, typically consisting of a portion of one’s income or produce, mandated by religious doctrine or tradition. often required to support religious institutions, clergy, or charitable causes.
Tithes were commonly associated with organized religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. often collected by religious institutions or clergy.
What are tributes?
Tributes: payments or offerings made by one political entity (such as a conquered nation or vassal state) to a dominant power or conqueror. were a form of acknowledgment of submission, loyalty, or protection to the ruling authority. could take various forms, including monetary payments, goods, or services. often extracted through coercion or force and were intended to maintain the dominance of the ruling power over subordinate territories.
What are tolls?
Tolls: were fees or charges levied on travelers, merchants, or goods passing through specific routes, crossings, or points of entry. typically collected for the use of roads, bridges, ports, or other infrastructure maintained by the governing authority.
a means of generating revenue for the maintenance and improvement of transportation and trade routes.
