CLA 010C Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Imperium, Comitium, Plebs
11 Aug 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
With%or%without%headdress
○
Symbolizes%manhood
○
Slaves%wore%only%a%tunic
§
Dress%showed%status%and%authority
○
Toga
•
Could%be%acquired%if%appropriate
§
Could%been%seen%as%a%gift%for%the%conquered
○
Both%parents%have%to%be%born%in%Rome
§
Exceptions:%citizen%woman%with%slave%or%unknown%father
□
Parents%have%right%to%coniubium%(legal%marriage)
§
Birth:%can't%just%be%born%in%Rome
○
Freeborn:%has%first%class%citizenship
□
Children%will%have%1st%level%citizenship
®
Freedman:%2nd%class%level%of%citizenship
□
Difference%between%freedman%and%freeborn
§
Manumission:%"sent%away%by%the%hand";%freeing%of%the%slave
○
Allies,%etc.
□
Can%be%given%to%whole%communities
§
To%soldiers%of%auxiliary%forces
§
Latin:%Latin-speaking%or%part%of%Latiam
□
To%magistrates%of%Latin%communities
§
To%individuals%by%emperor
§
Government%grant
○
Roman%Citizenship
•
Registration%of%citizens
○
Updated%every%5%years
○
Kept%by%censors%(sp?)
○
Birth%registration%started%after%AD%4
○
The%Census%at%Rome
•
Legal%children
§
Legal%marriage
○
Voting%(suffragium)
○
Access%to%political%office
○
"commercium":%trade
○
Make%contracts,%or%legal%documents
○
If%slaves%were%lucky,%their%masters%could%adopt%their%children%(keep%
slave%family%together)
§
Adoption
○
Making%wills;%inheritance
○
Rights%of%a%first%class%Roman%Citizen
•
Elected%by%assembly
§
Years%named%after%consuls
§
2%Consuls%(emblems:%lictors,%fasces)
○
Also%in%charge%of%summoning%assembly%for%voting
§
Praetors%(justice%system)
○
Public%buildings,%public%archives
§
Aediles%(public%works)
○
Most%started%here%before%working%their%way%up
§
Quaestors%(financial)
○
Body%of%elevated%individuals,%usually%from%noble%families
§
Could%also%be%made%of%ex-Consuls
§
Decrees%of%war
§
The%Senate%(legislative)
○
Ex.%Julius%Caesar
§
Ex.%Invasion%of%city□
~6%months□
Only%allowed%to%exist%at%times%of%emergency;%temporary%role%usually%
given%to%an%aristocrat%with%military%experience
§
Dictators
○
Censors
○
One%power%is%the%power%to%end%a%person's%life
§
Tribunes%gradually%become%part%of%Roman%culture%b/c%they%
are%lower%class%officials
□
Consuls,%dictators%and%"master%of%the%horse",%praetors,%censors,%and%
tribunes
§
Magistrates%with%major%authority%(imperium)
○
Major%magistrates•
people%organized%by%centuries
§
Original%military%assembly
§
Took%place%in%Comitium□
Voting
§
Centuriate%assembly%(comitia%centuriata)
○
Later%comitia%tribuna
§
Plebeian%Assembly%(concilium%plebis)
○
Roman%Popular%Assemblies•
Had%to%be%a%free%Roman
§
Important%because%they%could%influence%policies
§
Gentes:%clans,%groups%of%households%(familia)
○
Extended%family%(unit%within%any%house)
§
Paterfamilias:%head%of%family,%usually%a%father%or%the%eldest%son
§
Familia:%household
○
Usually%held%an%office%(usually%consul)□
Patricians:%nobles%or%aristocrats
§
Plebeians:%middle,%working,%and%lower%classes
§
As%Republic%grew,%problems%arose%between%the%two%classes%(Conflict%
of%the%Orders)
§
Classes:
○
Social/Political%Divisions•
Being%true%to%one's%word
§
Politics:%more%experienced%man%with%younger%boy%under%his%
wing
□
More%clients%means%the%patron%has%more%money
®
Also%a%sign%of%keeping%their%word
®
Personal:%more%wealthy%person%and%their%clients□
Important%in%politics%and%patron-client%relationship
§
Fides:%faithfulness,%loyalty
○
Deal%justly%with%allies,%observe%fides,%offer%justice
§
Virtus:%manhood,%good%character,%courage,%etc.
○
Pietas:%respect%for%gods,%country,%parents
○
Includes%strict%morality
§
Gravitas:%seriousness
○
Concepts%essential%to%Roman%Society•
Lecture'3:'Being'a'Roman'citizen
Thursday,% January%7,%2016
10:20%PM
