Social structure Flashcards
Name the social classes from highest to lowest
Patrician, Equites, Plebeian, freedman, slaves and women
Outline social class: Patrician
highest class, aristocracy, comes from the original families of Rome, noble
Outline social class: Equites
rich Plebeians, businessman, could afford a horse
Outline social class: Plebeian
normal citizens, majority, lower class,
Outline social class: Freedman
slaved who has been freed
Outline status of social class: Slaves
very low/no status was treated as property, owned by someone else, no rights both legally and human
Outline status of social class: women
had low status (generally from the same class as family) less than men, no political right, however participated in religious ceremonies, under the power of guardians (male), unless widow who is able to inherit fortunes and own property/land etc.
Outline role of social class: slaves
did domestic (housework, cooking, grocery shopping, maintaining needs of masters, tutors), economic (accountant, physician), and administrative (secretary, archives).
Also did manual labour (mines, farming)
Outline role of social class: women
oversee the domestic maintenance (the servants, food) and raise the children, very restricted by Pater familias, yet can be influential to men
Features of Gens and Familia
refers to the family, Gens is the family lineage, bloodline
Role of Pater Familias
manage the Familia, held manus and potestas, responsible for all aspects of religion (offerings, lararium), private (family members, slaves) and public affairs (patronage). Eldest male could also punish as he saw fit, legally (twelve tables)
What were twelve tables?
twelve bronze tablets found in Roman forum which held all the laws to be obeyed by all Romans
What did the patron-client relationship offer the client?
- economic, social and political dependance
- somewhere they were able to borrow/receive an allowance/money/loans/food
- legal protection and education
What did the patron-client relationship offer the patron?
- symbol of high status/wealth/power (more clients, more influential)
- influence/chance to climb cursus honorum
- votes
- pay respects (salutatio)
What was the cursus honorum? and name all from lowest
Sequential particular order of public office in Rome
- Military tribune*
- Quaestor
- Tribune of the Plebs*
- Aedile*
- Praetor
- Consul
- Governor
- Censor*
- Dictator*
*optional
