Social Structures during the Roman Republic

Social Structures during the Roman Republic

Offices, Assemblies, and ReligionOffices, Assemblies, and Religion

Political OrderPolitical Order 4th century to end of the Republic Direct participation of citizens All roles performed under the watch of the public

eye Officials dealt directly with those they governed -

lack of a bureaucracy Government dominated by a few elite families

4th century to end of the Republic Direct participation of citizens All roles performed under the watch of the public

eye Officials dealt directly with those they governed -

lack of a bureaucracy Government dominated by a few elite families

Government Offices Government Offices Quaestors

Formed in the mid 5th century Oversaw public money Supervised the treasury (Temple of Saturn) and the

fund that generals took on campaigns Aediles

Elected annually Two plebian and two patrician (curule aediles) Maintained temples, city streets, markets Judged disputes that arose in the markets

Quaestors Formed in the mid 5th century Oversaw public money Supervised the treasury (Temple of Saturn) and the

fund that generals took on campaigns Aediles

Elected annually Two plebian and two patrician (curule aediles) Maintained temples, city streets, markets Judged disputes that arose in the markets

Government Offices Government Offices Praetor

Elected annually Originally one, then two (242 BC), then more as the

empire expanded Office opened to plebians through the Conflict of

Orders Leading officials in Rome when consuls were absent

on campaign Acted as judge Different praetors had different roles Propraetor - govern a province Wore the toga praetexta, held imperium, 6 lictors

Praetor Elected annually Originally one, then two (242 BC), then more as the

empire expanded Office opened to plebians through the Conflict of

Orders Leading officials in Rome when consuls were absent

on campaign Acted as judge Different praetors had different roles Propraetor - govern a province Wore the toga praetexta, held imperium, 6 lictors

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Government Offices Government Offices

Consul 2 consuls chosen each year Generals of the army Made sacrifices, presided over meetings of the

senate, addressed assemblies, listened to complaints, made judgments

Proconsul - govern a province Toga praetexta, curule, imperium, 12 lictors

Consul 2 consuls chosen each year Generals of the army Made sacrifices, presided over meetings of the

senate, addressed assemblies, listened to complaints, made judgments

Proconsul - govern a province Toga praetexta, curule, imperium, 12 lictors

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Government OfficesGovernment Offices Tribune of the Plebs

Office formed during the Conflict of Orders Most important of the lesser officeholders Had the right to summon citizens to vote Ability to block public actions that they thought were

unlawful or inappropriate Veto power over consuls (except when appointing a

dictator) Protects the Plebians They could not prevent praetors and consuls from

acting as they wished outside the city of Rome (so they could not interfere with campaigns)

Tribune of the Plebs Office formed during the Conflict of Orders Most important of the lesser officeholders Had the right to summon citizens to vote Ability to block public actions that they thought were

unlawful or inappropriate Veto power over consuls (except when appointing a

dictator) Protects the Plebians They could not prevent praetors and consuls from

acting as they wished outside the city of Rome (so they could not interfere with campaigns)

Government OfficesGovernment Offices

Censor 2 censors Elected very 5 years, held office for 18 months Counted citizens and assigned them to

centuries and tribes Based on place of residence, property, dependents,

and even character Selected the 300 senators based on rank

Highest ranking senator was given the title princeps senatus

Censor 2 censors Elected very 5 years, held office for 18 months Counted citizens and assigned them to

centuries and tribes Based on place of residence, property, dependents,

and even character Selected the 300 senators based on rank

Highest ranking senator was given the title princeps senatus

Dictator Dictator Elected in times of emergencies Senate would declare that a dictator was needed,

and the consuls would select one In power for 6 months All other magistrates, except Tribune of the

Plebs, were suspended 24 lictors, highest imperium Magister Equitum - master of the horses

appointed as second in command 6 lictors, praetor role

Elected in times of emergencies Senate would declare that a dictator was needed,

and the consuls would select one In power for 6 months All other magistrates, except Tribune of the

Plebs, were suspended 24 lictors, highest imperium Magister Equitum - master of the horses

appointed as second in command 6 lictors, praetor role

Imperium and Auspicium Imperium and Auspicium Imperium

a special right to command Religious association Gave magistrates authority to lead armies and punish

offenders Imperium limited by office and presence of higher

offices Auspicium

Right to seek the approval of the gods for their tenure in office and their official actions

Rituals of divination known as auspices, read by augurs

Imperium a special right to command Religious association Gave magistrates authority to lead armies and punish

offenders Imperium limited by office and presence of higher

offices Auspicium

Right to seek the approval of the gods for their tenure in office and their official actions

Rituals of divination known as auspices, read by augurs

Cursus Honorum Cursus Honorum

Problem with same people holding officesOrder of public offices Minimum age for each office (patricians

could subtract 2 years from minimum age) Though rarely allowed in the 1st century BC

It was a mark of great political success to obtain a position in suo anno Cicero - “new man,” elected to consul in suo

anno

Problem with same people holding officesOrder of public offices Minimum age for each office (patricians

could subtract 2 years from minimum age) Though rarely allowed in the 1st century BC

It was a mark of great political success to obtain a position in suo anno Cicero - “new man,” elected to consul in suo

anno

Cursus HonorumCursus Honorum 10 years of military duty (20-30)

Military Tribune - 24 legion commanders Quaestor (30) Aedile (36)

Not required to move on to next step Praetor (39) Consul (42)

Highest office Censor (usually had to have served as consul)

10 years of military duty (20-30) Military Tribune - 24 legion commanders

Quaestor (30) Aedile (36)

Not required to move on to next step Praetor (39) Consul (42)

Highest office Censor (usually had to have served as consul)

The Senate The Senate

300 menusually all office holders were senators,

usually lifelong membershipMet when summoned by consul, praetor,

or tribunes of the plebs Advisory role to the officials of RomeGradually assumed more active role

300 menusually all office holders were senators,

usually lifelong membershipMet when summoned by consul, praetor,

or tribunes of the plebs Advisory role to the officials of RomeGradually assumed more active role

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Assemblies Assemblies Open to all male citizens Not representative Voted on officeholders, laws, and trials Officials determined the agenda, citizens

only discussed and voted Contiones - occasions just for discussion

and debate Comitia and concilia - voting All assemblies met in Rome (or near)

Open to all male citizens Not representative Voted on officeholders, laws, and trials Officials determined the agenda, citizens

only discussed and voted Contiones - occasions just for discussion

and debate Comitia and concilia - voting All assemblies met in Rome (or near)

Comitia Centuriata Comitia Centuriata Organization mirrored the army Elected consuls, praetors, and censorsVoted on matters of war and peace Only an official with imperium could

summon the assembly Voting done by century (determined by

class) Each century got one vote Favored upper classes

Organization mirrored the army Elected consuls, praetors, and censorsVoted on matters of war and peace Only an official with imperium could

summon the assembly Voting done by century (determined by

class) Each century got one vote Favored upper classes

Comitia TributaComitia Tributa Organized by tribes

4 tribes in the city 31 in the country

One vote per tribe no matter how many people in assembly

Elected quaetors, curule aediles, and military tribunes

Had the power to try cases (though taken away in later reforms)

Legislative power

Organized by tribes 4 tribes in the city 31 in the country

One vote per tribe no matter how many people in assembly

Elected quaetors, curule aediles, and military tribunes

Had the power to try cases (though taken away in later reforms)

Legislative power

Concilium Plebis Concilium Plebis

Assembly for plebeians Passed laws, elected magistrates (tribunes

and plebeian aediles), and tried judicial cases

Organized based on tribes

Assembly for plebeians Passed laws, elected magistrates (tribunes

and plebeian aediles), and tried judicial cases

Organized based on tribes

Religion Religion Not separated from governmental institutions Cheif magistrates performed major rites of the

city Officials were often advised by priests Pontifex (pontifices) exercised general

supervision over the religion, rites, and the Roman calendar

9 pontifices by 3rd century, 15 in 1st century Headed by the pontifex maximus

Not separated from governmental institutions Cheif magistrates performed major rites of the

city Officials were often advised by priests Pontifex (pontifices) exercised general

supervision over the religion, rites, and the Roman calendar

9 pontifices by 3rd century, 15 in 1st century Headed by the pontifex maximus

Religion Religion

Augurs Auspices which confirmed officials power in

the eyes of the gods Vestal Virgins Wives of pontifex maximus and the priest

of Jupiter (flamen Dialis) took part in some of their husbands ritual responsibilities

Augurs Auspices which confirmed officials power in

the eyes of the gods Vestal Virgins Wives of pontifex maximus and the priest

of Jupiter (flamen Dialis) took part in some of their husbands ritual responsibilities