Unit 3: Roman Society and Its Organization - Terms Flashcards
Ager Publicus
Ager publicus was public land owned by the Roman state, often acquired through conquest. It was leased to wealthy Romans, leading to conflicts over land distribution. The Gracchi brothers (2nd century BCE) attempted reforms to redistribute it to the poor.
Agnatic
Agnatic descent refers to lineage traced exclusively through the male line. In Roman law, inheritance and family identity were based on agnatic relations, reinforcing the authority of the paterfamilias. This system shaped legal rights and obligations within families.
Censor
Censors were Roman magistrates responsible for conducting the census, overseeing public morals, and managing state finances. Established in 443 BCE, two censors were elected every five years. They had significant influence over senatorial membership and societal rankings.
Consul
Consuls were the highest elected officials in the Roman Republic, serving as chief executives and military commanders. Two consuls were elected annually to prevent tyranny. The office was established in 509 BCE, replacing the monarchy, and consuls held imperium (command authority).
Mos Maiorum
Mos maiorum, meaning “the custom of the ancestors,” was the unwritten code of Roman tradition and values. It emphasized duty, discipline, and respect for precedent, guiding Roman politics, family life, and military conduct. It was central to Roman identity and morality.
Nexum
Nexum was a form of debt bondage in early Rome where debtors became slaves to their creditors until repayment. It was abolished by the Lex Poetelia in 326 BCE due to abuses, shifting debt obligations to legal contracts rather than personal servitude.
Paterfamilias
The paterfamilias was the male head of a Roman household, holding absolute legal authority over his family. He controlled property, marriages, and legal matters within the familia. His power (patria potestas) extended over children and slaves, often for life.
Patria Potestas
Patria potestas was the legal power a Roman father held over his descendants, including the right to discipline, arrange marriages, and control property. It lasted until the father’s death unless the son was legally emancipated. This authority reinforced the patriarchal structure of Roman society.
Patrician
Patricians were the aristocratic elite of early Rome, claiming descent from the city’s founding families. They monopolized political and religious offices until the Conflict of the Orders (5th–3rd century BCE) led to plebeian rights. Over time, their influence declined as wealth became more important than birth.
Plebeian
Plebeians were the common people of Rome, initially excluded from political power. They gained rights through the Conflict of the Orders, including access to the consulship (367 BCE) and the right to pass laws (Lex Hortensia, 287 BCE). Many plebeians remained poor, though some became wealthy landowners.
Praetor
A praetor was a Roman magistrate primarily responsible for administering justice. The office was established in 366 BCE, with praetors serving as judges and later governing provinces. They possessed imperium and could command armies in the absence of consuls.
Secessio
A secessio was a plebeian strike or withdrawal from Rome to protest patrician rule. The first secessio in 494 BCE led to the creation of the Tribune of the Plebs. These events were key moments in the Conflict of the Orders, forcing reforms in favor of plebeians.
Testamentary Adoption
Testamentary adoption allowed a man to name an heir in his will, even outside his bloodline. This was often done by wealthy Romans without male heirs to preserve the family name. It was a legal mechanism for inheritance and political continuity.
Tribune
Tribunes of the Plebs were officials elected to protect plebeian rights against patrician abuses. Created in 494 BCE, they had the power to veto laws and magistrates. Their sacrosanctity made it illegal to harm them, reinforcing their role as defenders of the people.
Senatus Populusque Romanus
The Senate and the People of Rome,” often abbreviated as SPQR
