week 8 questions Flashcards
Explain the concept of “Cursus Honorum” in the Roman Republic. How did the progression through public offices contribute to the development of virtuous leaders in Roman society? Provide examples of individuals who followed this trajectory.
“Cursus Honorum” was the sequential path of public offices in the Roman Republic. Elite males progressed through positions like quaestors, aediles, praetors, and consuls. This progression aimed to instill experience and virtue. An example is Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, who, contrary to conventional Roman political careers, returned to farming after fulfilling his duty as a dictator, exemplifying the Republican virtue of selfless service.
discuss the “conflict of the orders” during the Roman Republic. How did social class divisions between patricians and plebeians evolve over time, and what were the key milestones in expanding the rights of the plebs? Explore the role of the “Novus Homo” in this social transformation.
The “conflict of the orders” was a socio-political struggle between patricians and plebeians. The gradual expansion of plebeian rights, including a written code of law and access to public roles, marked key milestones. The emergence of the “Novus Homo” disrupted the closed patrician class, showcasing the evolution of social structures and the integration of new individuals into political power.
Examine the role of slavery in the Roman economy. How did enslaved individuals contribute to various economic activities, and what impact did slavery have on the social fabric of Roman society? Discuss the potential for manumission and the resulting status of freedmen.
Slavery in the Roman economy was multifaceted, encompassing agricultural, civic, and intellectual labor. Enslaved individuals were essential to household management, and their contributions shaped the socio-economic landscape. Manumission, the act of freeing slaves, allowed some to become liberti, with a status akin to clients. This dynamic highlights the nuanced role of slavery in both economic and social spheres.
Examine the role of slavery in the Roman economy. How did enslaved individuals contribute to various economic activities, and what impact did slavery have on the social fabric of Roman society? Discuss the potential for manumission and the resulting status of freedmen.
Slavery in the Roman economy was multifaceted, encompassing agricultural, civic, and intellectual labor. Enslaved individuals were essential to household management, and their contributions shaped the socio-economic landscape. Manumission, the act of freeing slaves, allowed some to become liberti, with a status akin to clients. This dynamic highlights the nuanced role of slavery in both economic and social spheres.
Define slavery
Slavery in the Roman context can be defined as the status or condition of a person over whom the powers of ownership are exercised. Orlando Patterson’s concept of “social death” captures the limitless power, alienation from family and justice, and reduction to a mere representation. Slaves played diverse roles in the economy, and manumission offered a pathway to freedom, albeit with limitations on citizenship rights.
