Society and Status Flashcards
Awareness of Status:
Quote: “At last we can sit more comfortably, knightly dignity is now restored…”
Focus: Illustrates the societal importance of status; even seating arrangements are a reflection of social hierarchy. The quote is from Martial, emphasizing the significance of class distinctions.
Tria Nomina:
Info: Roman names consisted of three parts - praenomen, nomen, and cognomen. The praenomen was the personal name, the nomen indicated the family, and the cognomen often represented a branch of the family or personal characteristics.
Example: Examples include Publius Ovidius Naso, where “Publius” is the praenomen, “Ovidius” is the nomen, and “Naso” is the cognomen.
Status and Clothing:
Info: The toga was a symbol of Roman citizenship and social status. Different toga variations indicated various ranks - magistrates, equestrians, candidates for office, etc.
Hierarchy: Magistrates wore a toga with a broad purple stripe, while equestrians had a narrow purple-striped tunic. The toga candida was worn by candidates for office. Working-class and slaves typically wore tunics, and these dress codes were enforced by law.
Clientela:
Info: Clientela refers to the relationship between patrons and clients. Clients received support, both financial and otherwise, while patrons gained loyalty, political support, and advocacy.
Roles: The relationship often went beyond a mere transaction; clients were expected to show public displays of deference, like salutatio.
Paterfamilias and Patria Potestas:
Info: Paterfamilias had absolute control over sons until his death. This control extended to matters like marriage, property, and even life and death.
Duration: Lasted until the death of the father; this concept was deeply ingrained in Roman culture, as noted by Dionysus of Halicarnassus.
Familia and Slavery:
Info: The Roman familia encompassed family members, slaves, and freed slaves. Slaves were integral to households for various tasks.
Dependence: Society and the economy were highly dependent on enslaved labor, with Pliny describing households having over 4,000 slaves.
Definition:
Quote: “The status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised.”
Criteria: Orlando Patterson’s criteria include limitless violence, alienation, and “social death.” It succinctly captures the harsh reality of slavery.
Social Death:
info: Social death involves the loss of identity, altered names, and a reduction to a representation of the owner.
Example: A funerary inscription serves as a poignant illustration of social death, highlighting the loss of individual identity.
Enslavement in the Roman Economy:
Info: Slaves played diverse roles in the Roman economy, from agricultural and civic labor to mining. They were often used for brutal tasks and could even accumulate wealth to buy their freedom.
Example: Cicero’s slave Tiro was involved in intellectual labor as his secretary.
Cicero to Tiro:
Quotes: Cicero expresses deep concern for Tiro’s health, emphasizing the importance of Tiro’s well-being. Cicero urges Tiro to prioritize his health for both their sakes.
Concern: Cicero’s letters showcase a caring and paternal concern for his slave Tiro, indicating the complex relationships that could exist between owners and slaves.
Liberti:
Info: Manumission encouraged obedience, but it also emphasized the freedman’s status, wealth, and moral virtue.
Example: Horace’s words reflect the pride of a freedman who acknowledges his flaws but asserts his dignity and virtue.
Social Borders:
Info: Social borders were strictly enforced but occasionally became porous. This is evident in relationships like fathers and sons, patrons and clients, and masters and slaves.
Examples: Relationships were hierarchical, and individuals were vividly aware of their positions, fostering a society marked by both anxiety and hypocrisy.
Saturnalia:
Info: Saturnalia was a festival that temporarily reversed social roles, allowing slaves to be served by masters. It provided a unique outlet for social tension.
Practice: The festival allowed for a brief period of role reversal, demonstrating the societal acknowledgment of class distinctions.
