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
Role of: Military Tribune
- serves a commander in a legion
- gains military experience
- commands troops
- min 20yrs
Role of: Quaestor
- first official post
- 20 positions
- min 30yrs
- financial administration
- 2nd in command for governors in provinces
- can also be pay master
- given membership to senate FOR LIFE
Role of: Tribune of Plebs
- made up of Plebeians ONLY
- 10 positions
- council created to protect the rights of common people
- granted sacrosanctity (divine protection against crimes)
- could ‘veto’ have the final decision for laws
Role of: Aedile
- optional
- 2 curile (Patricians ONLY)
- 2 Plebeians
- min 36yrs
- administrative office
- maintenance of public buildings/festivals/feasts
- good for their reputation
Role of: Praetor
- 2nd highest office
- 8 positions
- min 39yrs
- judicial roles
- were Judges in court
- held IMPERIUM
- could command army/be governor after 1 year
Role of: Consul
- highest role
- 2 positions
- most prestigious
- min 42yrs
- IMPERIUM
- supreme commanders in the army
- only be consul after 10 year interval
Role of: governor
- ex-consul/praetor (known as pro-praetor/consul)
- controlled a province
- had IMPERIUM IN PROVINCE
- responsible for taxation/finance
- controlled military in province
- earned money back through taxes/land
Role of: censor
- 2 positions every 5 years
- must have had consulship
- hold censors
Role of: dictator
- only 1
- in an emergency to be appointed
- usually great army commander/ex-consul
- IMPERIUM
What were the two factions?
optimites:
- politicians who wanted Rome run by only the aristocracy
Populares:
- politicians who were favourable to benefit of the people
what were the two assemblies and held what?
Assembly of the Centuries:
- elected consuls/praetors/censors
- declared war
- court appeal for citizens
- had IMPERIUM, important decisions
Assembly of Tribes:
- elected other magistrates
- voted yes of no in laws
- not important
What is imperium?
- legal authority to make decisions as he saw fit
- lead armies
- no passing law first
What is a lictor?
- personal bodyguards who carried axes to protect magistrates with imperium
who was the senate and role?
- permanent body of government
- ex-magistrates
- controlled state admin, finances, foreign affairs
- debate is possible