CLA233H1 Lecture 12: CLA233H1S.2013.Feb26.Amphitheatre.docx
Document Summary
Because of his shrewd understanding of political science, the emperor [trajan] gave his attention even to actors and other performers on stage or on the race track or in the arena, since he knew that the roman people are held in control principally by two things free grain and shows that political support depends as much on the entertainments as on matters of serious import, that neglect of serious problems does the greater harm, but neglect of the entertainments brings damaging unpopularity, that gifts are less eagerly and ardently longed for than shows, and, finally, that gifts placate only the common people on the grain dole, singly and individually, but the shows placate everyone. Requests were granted, unspoken wishes were anticipated, and he did not hesitate to press us urgently to make fresh demands; yet still there was something new to surpass our dreams.
