CLAS 1061 Notes, 2.13.13 (Class 4)Emerging Roman Elites: Defining political offices [post-Punic wars]Were Roman elites prepared for Empire?- lack of leadership- scattered legions- revival of the Senate (attempted revival but it’s not going well)- Decline in political prestige?- increase in political officials- **prorogation: idea that there are checks and balances in the system to assure people didn't hold office for too long (nothing would change, aristocratic noble order)o they don't have people to fill all the offices so now the terms of each office is extended (at times, extended for life)o a problem because things revert back to the old ways, more turmoil- desire for military assignment- casting of lots: : causes a problem and the people don't like it; still being dictated by the aristocratic class and it's corruptedEstablishing provinces…- military, supplies, food, taxes, provincial governance, new Roman towns- but not everyone wants to be conquered- problems with citizenshipo What does it mean to be an individual, a part of the Roman Empire?o Get to vote on political events, etc.; many attempts in the late republic to give people citizenship but they will fail miserablyThe Senate’s Supreme Power- 300 officials each with their own agenda- Strict mandates established for those seeking political officeCursus Honorum“The Senate and the People of Rome” (SPQR)- Who’s really ruling Rome?o Consuls, Praetors, and Tribune of the Plebs could call citizens to voteo Citizens had to travel into the city to voteo Mid-2nd century BCE: 400,000 adult male citizens, but only 70,000 could it in the Campus Martius (area that is not developed, “the field of Mars”)You’re either with us or against us1. Go quietly or pay the penalty in the latter half of the 2nd century BCE2. What constitutes a roman citizen?3. New distinctions between romans, latins, and municipia4. Local administration?5. Roman law in the provinces6. **Does conquest mean assimilation or imposition?a. Rome and roman culture has always been discussed as an entity that assimilated everything on its ownb. They start off assimilating things but once they create their own roman psyche, how much are they imposing it on the citizens?7. Do both parties benefit from roman expansion?- Roman generals bled the provinces of valuables (gold, silver, art, currency, spolia) and brought themto Rome to increase their political and social statureAll rich men are not created equal- Nobilies vs. Novus Homo (Cicero)o Noble lineage vs. “new money” one could say- Landowners vs. entrepreneurs- Wherever the 4 of these categories came from, they’re all building Elite Roman Villas - Small percentage of citizensExample. Manubiis – Manubial Temple- Temple of Hercules Victor – Forum Boarium- Extreme wealth- Aediles – Lucius Aemilius Lepidus & Lucius Aemilius PaulusImmense influx of Greek culture- Theater at Epidaurus – circa 4th century BCE- Primarily during the Macedonian wars- Most influx shown in theater- “conquered Greece took her uncultivated conqueror captive and invaded rustic latium”Labor and Roman SocietyA. Slave society = at least 20% slaves: Italy 35% circa 100 BCEB. devaluation of laborC. levels of worka. unskilled labor (labor for rent): e.g. farmhand, miner, textilesb. skilled labor (work rented out): e.g. goldsmith, painter, transportc. professionals (honoraria): e.g. doctor, teacherThe changing dynamic of Rome- extensive campaigning abroad by Roman generals, and the rewarding of soldiers, led to a general trend of soldiers becoming increasingly loyal to their general rather than to the state- several slave uprisings during this period, in part because vast tracts of land had been given over to slave farming in which the slaves greatly outnumbered their roman masters- increased internal unrest: 135 – 71 BCE- in the last century BC, at least 12 civil wars and rebellions occurredThe rich get richer, and the roman soldier is left to suffer…- Legions being used as political instruments…- (widening the gap between rich and poor)- As this gap continues to widen…massive civil war and bloodshedThe 2nd century BCE: Murder, massacre, and the struggle for powerThe senate vs. the private and provincial politician- Roman republican government = all citizens have the right to vote- Roman republic by 44 BCE, the year that Caesar is assassinated- How is one supposed to make sure the people in modern-day turkey are following checks and balances unless there’s some sort of military presence or roman-appointed official present there?The Roman Forum and Roman law- Tried to focus on developing a political epicenter for the city- Reconstruction shows many structures dedicated to political means- A lot of things were rebuilt or made in stone at this time- The idea is that the senate is a permanent structure or entity in the city, the roman senate will always remain through historyElectoral system and Cursus Honorum challenged by the people directly (people want the right to choose)- People were appealing to the mob instead of following protocol that had been in place for a few centuries at this point- Somebody of great social wealth could convince a lot of people that they should be in the Tribune of the Plebs and would be voted inScipio Aemilianus (Africanus)- 185-129 BCE- Third Punic war- Too young for consul- Had not held praetor which came before consul- Supposed to go in order in office- Casting lots???o Rallied the mob into such a riot that they decided to let him be voted in- Good to have the mob on your side- Conflicts with other military elites- Appius Claudius Pulcher- Metellus MacedonicusSource on these events: Appian, Punic Wars 112Controlling the Roman mob becomes increasingly more and more important so the good politicians figure out how to do it- Caesar was unbelievably good at controlling them, he focused on the people and nothing else, making the mob happy was his focusTiberius Gracchus- 168 – 133 BCE- Tribunate in 133 BCE- Ager Publicus Populi Romani: he wanted to get land back to the Roman people- Breaking up wrongfully acquired estateso He wants to take land away from the wealthy that didn’t deserve it and give it back to those who deserved it- Less landowners decreased the number of military recruits and increased conscriptions- Reduce the number of slave-run estates- Remove large numbers of poor people from Rome – improving social stability- Not a plebe (of noble descent): his father was one