HUMA 3110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Lex Julia, Sestertius
Document Summary
Senate suffered much in the last 100 years of conflict. Seen to be powerless to defend the state. Regarded as a group of wealthy individuals who were more occupied with supporting themselves than actually supporting the roman people. One of octavian"s first acts was to purge the senate: could have been an attempt to block political opponents. Unlikely though: octavian also cut down on a number of quaestors. By cutting down the number of senators, augusts could better regulate the senate and improve the quality of the senators: also restored the prestige of the senate. Augustus also raised the property value you needed to join the senate: 400,000 sesterces before augustus, but after augustus it was 1,000,000 sesterces. Augusts also promoted senatorial families: allowed sons of senators to wear a special distinction, up to three generations. Senators could not marry the lowest classes on society or appear on stage as entertainers.
